A career as a signaller

[Leeward]

Me too but for TVSC, did you ask for feedback? I got a very detailed email.

Yes, just got it. It's more positive than the feedback from my Worcester interview so at least I know I'm getting closer!

Just gotta keep trying!

 

[Shogun]

Yes, just got it. It's even more positive than the feedback from my Worcester interview so at least I know I'm getting closer!

Bad luck mate. I did the Psychometric test for a role on 8th September, have still not heard anything.

 

[Andy9gc]

How often do people get offered a job when they are reserve?

 

[Leeward]

How often do people get offered a job when they are reserve?

Having read through the entire thread, it appears to happen fairly often.

 

[High Dyke]

One for the current signallers: I'm hearing the proposed ORR/max 60hr working week is now off - or at least, could be off. This is despite some routes already having recruited dozens of extra staff in anticipation of its introduction (latest date quoted was year end) and rosters being tweaked - or in some cases entirely rewritten - to ensure compliance, etc etc.

Anyone heard anything?

Can one of our regular union posters such as high dyke let us know if they have any ideas what might be happening in January

I don't fully know myself about any possible changes. However, i am aware from various colleagues that some areas seem to have already dropped the introduction / recruitment for this proposal (as mentioned above) - even citing an unwillingness to pay for the additional signallers required. From my own area we've recruited additional staff and have already introduced new compliant rosters, I've also been involved in putting together new compliant rosters using the current National Rostering Principles (NRP), but adhering to the revised 60-hr criteria. The situation has become a bit of a mish-mash, with mixed messages from management about what TU reps can or can't propose for rosters. I have a meeting planned next week with local management, about a number of local TU issues. I can ask the question regarding my own area, but it may also give an insight into the wider Network Rail situation.

 

[Canonite]

Can one of our regular union posters such as high dyke let us know if they have any ideas what might be happening in January

What’s supposed to be happening in January?

 

[mac]

Thank you High Dyke it's getting bad when nobody knows what's happening and management is just doing whatever they want so close to January

Canonite we can currently work 72 hours over 7 days this was going to reduce to 60 in January but now nobody has a clue and as I've already put other industries have had a 48 hour average for years

 

[Canonite]

Thank you High Dyke it's getting bad when nobody knows what's happening and management is just doing whatever they want so close to January

Canonite we can currently work 72 hours over 7 days this was going to reduce to 60 in January but now nobody has a clue and as I've already put other industries have had a 48 hour average for years

Surely reducing the maximum is a good thing from a fatigue perspective?
My start date and IST is January that’s why I was asking. Wondered if something was afoot which may compromise me starting

 

[mac]

Fatigue is why they want to reduce the hours and why they have recruited so many more staff but nobody in management seems to know what's happening and lots of staff don't want things to change because they will lose money. Me I'd love to be limited to a 48 hour week

 

[illberries]

Got confirmation that I will be starting IST in Bristol on 9th January. Is there anyone else that is going?!

 

[godfreycomplex]

I don't fully know myself about any possible changes. However, i am aware from various colleagues that some areas seem to have already dropped the introduction / recruitment for this proposal (as mentioned above) - even citing an unwillingness to pay for the additional signallers required. From my own area we've recruited additional staff and have already introduced new compliant rosters, I've also been involved in putting together new compliant rosters using the current National Rostering Principles (NRP), but adhering to the revised 60-hr criteria. The situation has become a bit of a mish-mash, with mixed messages from management about what TU reps can or can't propose for rosters. I have a meeting planned next week with local management, about a number of local TU issues. I can ask the question regarding my own area, but it may also give an insight into the wider Network Rail situation.

I hope some logic comes out of that meeting.

Honestly even the possibility of abolition of the forthcoming 60 hour rule is shocking enough in and of itself, but for a real chance to reduce fatigue (the industry’s single biggest safety risk by some margin) to be missed because of essentially corporate miserliness to the point of active negligence (if the 72 hour average carries on it will cause a major accident, no ifs, buts or maybes) is horrifying, and I can only hope what I’ve also heard is an exaggeration.

One thing is increasingly certain, meaningful objective safety leadership is a precious commodity these days….

 

[bouff34]

I hope some logic comes out of that meeting.

Honestly even the possibility of abolition of the forthcoming 60 hour rule is shocking enough in and of itself, but for a real chance to reduce fatigue (the industry’s single biggest safety risk by some margin) to be missed because of essentially corporate miserliness to the point of active negligence (if the 72 hour average carries on it will cause a major accident, no ifs, buts or maybes) is horrifying, and I can only hope what I’ve also heard is an exaggeration.

One thing is increasingly certain, meaningful objective safety leadership is a precious commodity these days….

72hr maximum averaged across your roster rather than having to average 72hrs (which I know you meant but some non-signallers might completely misconstrue it and think they are about to become junior doctors!)

I'm quite happy doing more than 60hrs up to 72hrs during a week, I like to think I am mature enough to refuse if I did feel fatigued... But those that don't want to do overtime only have to refuse (at least in my area). A fair few signallers never do any overtime other than say to help out a colleague struggling to get a day off. There is no compulsion to do overtime which is what I like about this compared to how it was coming from the emergency services...

If a 60hr max was imposed then quite a few signallers would lose out financially...but as long as you are sensible enough not to finance yourself against non-guaranteed overtime...

If we were properly supervised (which we aren't due to high turnover of LOMS) you would like to think a LOM would recognise someone becoming fatigued and step in if they were doing too many hours...

 

[mac]

No matter what anyone says if you are working 72 hours a week or even 60 you are fatigued and nobody should even be asked to work such hours

 

[y0rkie287]

Hopefully they would respect the staff enough if they said "no sorry i'm worn out"

 

[Rav3n725]

Oh just actually had a look the closing date was only the 22nd Sept. I applied when it first opened a few weeks ago and was asked to do online assessments so I guess we should start to hear before too long.

First post, but been reading this thread for a little while now. Yeah I've applied for the three bridges grade 9 too, so in the same boat of the waiting game now... As you say it only closed last week so presumably they are going through all the applications now to decide who to interview!

 

[Seanymoz]

I work on the West Line, most people are very friendly but I would get in touch with the LOM to ask about visits, and to get the phone numbers of the box(es) you want to visit so you can ring and ask first so they know to expect you.

I've been told our roster is going to change come October time so if you're not starting until Jan then it'll be new, there are ongoing discussions as to what it will be.

Hi thanks for the reply. I’ve not been back on here in a while. Do you have any idea how I would get in touch with the LOM? I have asked the recruitment team on 3 separate occasions to put me in touch. I’m not even sure where the west line box(es) is?
Don’t suppose you can shed any light on this @HamSandwich ?
And can I ask if you have any knowledge of the new shift pattern yet?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Sep 2022 ==

Your dates are very similar to those that I’ve been told.

Are you likely to be training in York?

Hi, sorry for the very late reply. Yeah I’ve been told training will be in York end of Jan-Apr.
Is that the same as you?

 

[Mirri]

Is anyone else still waiting to hear back about their Signaller G2 (Scarborough, Ferrybridge, Immingham, Worksop, Hexham, Wakefield. Harrogate, Sheffield) application?

I applied on 25/07, had the interview almost three weeks ago and was told everyone should find out by 23/09, but haven't heard anything yet.

 

[Canonite]

Is anyone else still waiting to hear back about their Signaller G2 (Scarborough, Ferrybridge, Immingham, Worksop, Hexham, Wakefield. Harrogate, Sheffield) application?

I applied on 25/07, had the interview almost three weeks ago and was told everyone should find out by 23/09, but haven't heard anything yet.

They did the last of the interviews on 13th September so I’m not sure.

My application was as follows:
18th July - Applied
21st July - Invited to online testing
3rd August - Invited to interview
5th August - Scenario Assessment
24th August - Virtual Interview
26th August - Feedback Received
16th September - Phone call & Job Offer

Seems like it went on forever and now have to wait until January for IST to start which again seems like a lifetime away.

 

[HamSandwich]

Hi thanks for the reply. I’ve not been back on here in a while. Do you have any idea how I would get in touch with the LOM? I have asked the recruitment team on 3 separate occasions to put me in touch. I’m not even sure where the west line box(es) is?
Don’t suppose you can shed any light on this @HamSandwich ?
And can I ask if you have any knowledge of the new shift pattern yet?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Sep 2022 ==


Hi, sorry for the very late reply. Yeah I’ve been told training will be in York end of Jan-Apr.
Is that the same as you?

Keep asking the recruitment team, have you got more than one way of contacting them (different email addresses?)

Current shift pattern is:

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat
RD RD RD night night night RD
RD RD RD RD day day late
late night night RD RD RD early
early day day day RD RD RD

If someone came up the stairs at my box and I had no idea they were coming I would be a bit spooked - is it Hexham box you'll be working at?

 

[Seanymoz]

Keep asking the recruitment team, have you got more than one way of contacting them (different email addresses?)

Current shift pattern is:

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat
RD RD RD night night night RD
RD RD RD RD day day late
late night night RD RD RD early
early day day day RD RD RD

If someone came up the stairs at my box and I had no idea they were coming I would be a bit spooked - is it Hexham box you'll be working at?

Thanks so much for sharing @HamSandwich this is really helpful. Is this the new shift pattern or is this one due to change this month? I think you mentioned on an earlier reply it was changing in october?

Everything I applied for just says ‘Hexham-west line’ so I don’t really know to be honest!

Only have one email address for recruitment but will keep trying.

 

[Seejwalker]

I have as well but when most jobs are covered by the working time directive limiting working hours to 48 why can we be booked for 72

I make 100k a year out of it, so I don’t care.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2022 ==

Fatigue is why they want to reduce the hours and why they have recruited so many more staff but nobody in management seems to know what's happening and lots of staff don't want things to change because they will lose money. Me I'd love to be limited to a 48 hour week

Get on a 12hr roster then.

 

[Hylo]

Is anyone else still waiting to hear back about their Signaller G2 (Scarborough, Ferrybridge, Immingham, Worksop, Hexham, Wakefield. Harrogate, Sheffield) application?

I applied on 25/07, had the interview almost three weeks ago and was told everyone should find out by 23/09, but haven't heard anything yet.

Same boat, i almost don't want to email follow up in case it's bad news at this point. I think it closed two months ago. I interviewed on the 10th last month from memory.

 

[Seejwalker]

Same boat, i almost don't want to email follow up in case it's bad news at this point. I think it closed two months ago. I interviewed on the 10th last month from memory.

Just keep applying mate even whilst you wait, consider a short term relocation too if necessary.
Be persistent and you’ll get there.

 

[High Dyke]

Re: 60-hour week. I was speaking to my resources manager today. He advised that Network Rail have been granted a temporary non-compliance for the introduction of this. That said, East Midlands route are still rostering to this new format. What happens in other routes is up to them.

 

[mac]

Thanks for the update High Dyke did he say how long before they have until it will come in

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2022 ==

Seejwalker I'm someone who only works to earn enough money to enjoy my life and I can't think of anything worse than always being at work so I can come on here saying how much I enjoy working

 

[Seejwalker]

Thanks for the update High Dyke did he say how long before they have until it will come in

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2022 ==

Seejwalker I'm someone who only works to earn enough money to enjoy my life and I can't think of anything worse than always being at work so I can come on here saying how much I enjoy working

I envy that outlook mate I genuinely do.

 

[HamSandwich]

Thanks so much for sharing @HamSandwich this is really helpful. Is this the new shift pattern or is this one due to change this month? I think you mentioned on an earlier reply it was changing in october?

Everything I applied for just says ‘Hexham-west line’ so I don’t really know to be honest!

Only have one email address for recruitment but will keep trying.

This is the current roster pattern - no updates yet as to changing, we had a load of roster shift pattern proposals sent out to vote on but it's all gone very quiet on the change front. I'm really hoping we stay the same as the current pattern to be honest....

I guess if it's "Hexham - West Line" they could put you anywhere on the line, that's interesting. I hope they get back to you soon.

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks for the update High Dyke did he say how long before they have until it will come in?

No, sorry it wasn't mentioned. The introduction should've been in October this year. Like I say, different regions are approaching this in different ways.

 

[Hylo]

Just keep applying mate even whilst you wait, consider a short term relocation too if necessary.
Be persistent and you’ll get there.

Thank you for the kind words mate.

 

[Seejwalker]

Thank you for the kind words mate.

Being a signaller (with the salary) can be life changing for people, so advocate for anyone giving it a go.