A career as a signaller

[Woody27]

Did you manage to fix this? I need to get on to check up on some applications but every time I do I get the “incorrect login details” message. I’ve tried different browsers, deleting cookies on both, using a private/incognito window, all with the same result. If other people are experiencing the same that would be reassuring!

I had the same problems, I just go to the networkrail careers page, and login from there

 

[Kraken]

I find it works sometimes and doesn't others. I use Chrome both on my phone and laptop and my password is saved automatically. I find if I close the window and try again it works most of the time on the 2nd or 3rd attempt. Very occasionally it doesn't work at all and I just leave it for a few hours or until the next day

Perhaps I shall look tomorrow then, glad it’s not just me! Thanks for the reply MrsP. It’s frustrating knowing that something seems to have progressed but not being able to have a look - still, nothing happening over the weekend I guess ☺️

 

[Kraken]

I had the same problems, I just go to the networkrail careers page, and login from there

Thanks Woody, no joy on that front unfortunately - I shall have a look tomorrow.

 

[Ducatist4]

Really just forget about it - they will email you if anything moves on - the careers web site is so unreliable even when its working!

 

[MrsP2010]

Really just forget about it - they will email you if anything moves on - the careers web site is so unreliable even when its working!

Actually that's not quite true. I've got an application in at the moment and it's saying one thing but I've not received an email or letter in the post yet. I'm not worried because it's good news but it would be nice to have it in ink as it were!! It's not the first time that I've seen it on the website before I've been officially notified and when you're waiting for a response it awful just waiting and waiting without doing anything!

 

[Ducatist4]

Thats what i mean, the web site is unreliable even when its working! I've heard of people on line status changing to rejected and then back to under considerations all within a few hours.

 

[Danny5213]

That’s strange. I applied for the Scotland region and I have not received anything for me to do the questions or any tests. Does anyone know why this is? Many thanks.

Hi, the questions are the actual application form. Apparently there are 70 questions on the normal application form but on the future opportunities for north/eastern, there are only 6. For the future opportunities role, I completed the application form (6 questions) along with attaching my CV. I received an email the next day saying they’d received my application. A day or 2 later I received another saying my application is under consideration and if successful I will be invited to an ‘online virtual assessment’ and video interview but a decision won’t be made until after the closing date. With the normal process I think if you pass the application stage (70 questions) you get an email inviting you to those shl tests.

 

[Javagem]

Hi, the questions are the actual application form. Apparently there are 70 questions on the normal application form but on the future opportunities for north/eastern, there are only 6. For the future opportunities role, I completed the application form (6 questions) along with attaching my CV. I received an email the next day saying they’d received my application. A day or 2 later I received another saying my application is under consideration and if successful I will be invited to an ‘online virtual assessment’ and video interview but a decision won’t be made until after the closing date. With the normal process I think if you pass the application stage (70 questions) you get an email inviting you to those shl tests.

Correct, that’s how it worked for me. Online application of 70 questions plus CV, then SHL assessments, then interview.

 

[Danny5213]

Did you manage to fix this? I need to get on to check up on some applications but every time I do I get the “incorrect login details” message. I’ve tried different browsers, deleting cookies on both, using a private/incognito window, all with the same result. If other people are experiencing the same that would be reassuring!

The only way I can log on is by clicking on 'apply' for any random job. It then allows me to log on, then just go on to your profile or home button to get to your application info.

 

[mattsfc]

Found the online test very hard. Especially the maths part. Been out of eduction a while now and present employment only really requires basic numeracy skills.
The practice test didn’t really hear me up for what was to come.
Would advise anyone thinking of applying, who like myself is a bit out of touch, pay for practice. I know I will be should I get the opportunity again.

 

[Danny5213]

Found the online test very hard. Especially the maths part. Been out of eduction a while now and present employment only really requires basic numeracy skills.
The practice test didn’t really hear me up for what was to come.
Would advise anyone thinking of applying, who like myself is a bit out of touch, pay for practice. I know I will be should I get the opportunity again.

I agree. Its a strange one because the questions on the shl website were really difficult but the 8 practice ones were quite easy only for some of the real ones to be quite difficult.

 

[MrsP2010]

I agree. Its a strange one because the questions on the shl website were really difficult but the 8 practice ones were quite easy only for some of the real ones to be quite difficult.

I changed jobs recently (not rail related) and was told that with their online tests that if you got an answer wrong, the next question is easier and if you got it right, the next question is harder and so on

 

[Wilsonj194]

Thanks Woody, no joy on that front unfortunately - I shall have a look tomorrow.

Still no lick from me, no option mentioned has worked and when I log into my network rail account there's no evidence that I've applied. I had to ring careers support who confirmed that they had not received my application and told me to submit it manually by emailing them my C.V and Cover letter and IRC Number so that's what I've done

 

[cpowell93]

Mine is still at 'test completed', Network Rail jobs page seems to have a mind of its own.

Best of luck.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Does anyone have the shift pattern for the abercynon box?

A mix of 8hrs & 12hrs i believe, just be aware the Core Valley lines have now been taken over by TfW - the future of signalling will be Taff Wells Pebble.

The signalling staff are currently still Network Rail staff, but this will change on the next 18-24 months.

 

[Tom Quinne]

Word of reassurance guys when your actually in and apply for a new job the internal notification system is as poor!

I got a phone call the day before an interview asking why I hadn’t replied to rhs invite they sent a week before, which I never got.

As an internal you need to be released from duty (if your booked to work that day) lucky I was rest day, but it could of had a negative effect on my app if I’d had to decline the interview or have it rescheduled.

 

[bramling]

And I would suggest that is very bad advice!!
It might be entertaining but it is no way to think you are going to learn anything about being a signaller.

I don’t agree with this.

SimSig is pretty realistic when it comes to working VDU-based locations - indeed a slightly different version of it is or has been used for signaller training. It also gives a flavour of the pressure signallers can be under in busier locations.

Yes there’s elements missing especially things like comms, line blocks, engineering work and the like, but on the whole it’s not a bad representation of real life at all.

It won’t replace training, but it certainly can help someone develop the right mindset, and give the opportunity to see things and try things in a consequence-free environment.

I’d say give it a go, but treat is as no more than useful entertainment.

Some of the sims are also very good practice for control-type roles. For a decent experience try something like Merseyrail on full ARS with failures / delays turned on, and focus on making the interventions necessary to keep the service going and getting it back on time. Some knowledge of how crewing works makes this even more realistic as one can plan interventions based on how driver diagrams work. 20 hours of this with constant failures and you’re guaranteed to go to sleep with numbers and times spinning round in the head - just like the real thing!

 

[Allaboard78]

A mix of 8hrs & 12hrs i believe, just be aware the Core Valley lines have now been taken over by TfW - the future of signalling will be Taff Wells Pebble.

The signalling staff are currently still Network Rail staff, but this will change on the next 18-24 months.

Thank you Tom. Always appreciate your knowledge

 

[Javagem]

Has anyone on here recently been through Signaller school on the back of a ‘Future Opportunities’ application?

What happens if you haven’t found a role within the 12/13 week training period? Are you then placed at different locations to build experience in advance of a role becoming available?

 

[ChrisRS]

What schools are doing courses at the moment? Are they still going ahead currently or are they on a break?

York signal school we got sent back home for 1 week. Got rebooked into another hotel, had to restart the week which we left off from.

No new starters, 6 to a class. Others in the group got to sent to other schools/told to stay home.

 

[Allaboard78]

Which hotel have they put everyone in?

 

[9tfrizzco]

What happens if you haven’t found a role within the 12/13 week training period? Are you then placed at different locations to build experience in advance of a role becoming available?

The offer letter implies there is no expectation to find a permanent role that quickly, and indicates that yes you are along the right lines there.

 

[9tfrizzco]

Just given it a reread-

'Whilst your base location will be as stated above, upon successful completion of signalling school you, will be expected to apply for an advertised vacancy within a 75 minute radius. ' So states it, in fact

 

[Javagem]

Just given it a reread-

'Whilst your base location will be as stated above, upon successful completion of signalling school you, will be expected to apply for an advertised vacancy within a 75 minute radius. ' So states it, in fact

Yeah thanks - just wondered what happened in the interim period between school finishing and being successful in obtaining a role. Also curious as to why we were asked to give a preferred location when we applied. That doesn’t seem to have any bearing on where we could end up.

 

[9tfrizzco]

Also curious as to why we were asked to give a preferred location when we applied. That doesn’t seem to have any bearing on where we could end up.

Fair to say there is a fair bit of confusion around this. I selected somewhere outside York but there is no mention of this place in the offer letter, only York- which is fine. I think they just wanted to know our long-term ideals as part of the selection process

 

[Javagem]

Fair to say there is a fair bit of confusion around this. I selected somewhere outside York but there is no mention of this place in the offer letter, only York- which is fine. I think they just wanted to know our long-term ideals as part of the selection process

Did you get a list of the locations and grades? I got this as you could request it when applying. There were about 30 locations I think.

 

[Allaboard78]

....

 

[9tfrizzco]

Did you get a list of the locations and grades? I got this as you could request it when applying. There were about 30 locations I think.

Yeah I did

 

[Javagem]

Which hotel have they put everyone in?

Curious to know this too.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

There has been mention on this thread about travel concessions with SWR for Wessex area NR staff. Can anyone shine any light on how this works in practice and what the concessions comprise?

Thanks in advance