A career as a signaller

[Peak]

Good man! I've not anything either. If I don't hear anything by the end of this week, I'll chase them up. Question / offer for you, given that there are 5 of us starting at Hexham. Parking might be a premium at some of our signal boxes, because I'm coming from the Carlisle direction. If your based along the A69, carpooling for the first couple of weeks might make life a little easier.

Offer is there

Regards,

Ross

That's very kind of you Ross, I'm 3 minutes off the A69. I've sent you a PM

 

[Rizz]

Is there anybody at all going to scotland in February?

 

[AH23]

Is there anybody at all going to scotland in February?

Also off to Scotland, second week in Feb I believe!

 

[Rizz]

Also off to Scotland, second week in Feb I believe!

Oh thank god! I started thinking I was the only one

Have you had any info of which hotel or anything yet? I was told I will be contacted closer to the time.

 

[y0rkie287]

2 days until start date, absolutely buzzing now, then up to York next weekend, hope all goes well

 

[illberries]

2 days until start date, absolutely buzzing now, then up to York next weekend, hope all goes well

Good luck mate, hope it all goes well! I started Tuesday, so was a bit of a weird week (industrial action all week), but was so good getting in to the box, meeting people and starting the journey. I start IST on Monday, nervous but super excited!

 

[y0rkie287]

Good luck mate, hope it all goes well! I started Tuesday, so was a bit of a weird week (industrial action all week), but was so good getting in to the box, meeting people and starting the journey. I start IST on Monday, nervous but super excited!

Thank you mate, nervous is exactly how I feel about ist, hope we all pass

 

[Rizz]

2 days until start date, absolutely buzzing now, then up to York next weekend, hope all goes well 

Good luck! Im sure you'll do great!

 

[Railrunnerjb]

Good luck to everyone starting their IST tomorrow. If there is anyone here going to the Newport training, ill see you there.

 

[Canonite]

Good luck all

 

[SWTurbo]

I've recently been invited for an interview at BROC, does anyone have updated info on the new workstations and layout?
I understand it's 12 hour shifts and has the Feltham/Ascot/Strawberry Hill/Twickenham re-signalling project currently ongoing. What is the current state of the works?
What is the area divide and fringe boxes for the workstations?
Are there any more desks to come in? (I believe Staines and CCTV 2 are the last???)

TIA
SWT

 

[MostlyHarmless]

I've recently been invited for an interview at BROC, does anyone have updated info on the new workstations and layout?
I understand it's 12 hour shifts and has the Feltham/Ascot/Strawberry Hill/Twickenham re-signalling project currently ongoing. What is the current state of the works?
What is the area divide and fringe boxes for the workstations?
Are there any more desks to come in? (I believe Staines and CCTV 2 are the last???)

TIA
SWT

I'm sure @WoollyMammoth or @godfreycomplex will correct me if I'm wrong but Ascot and Strawberry Hill (panels 4 and 1 respectively) are now at BROC with panels 2 and 3 (Feltham and Staines) due to transfer there this summer. There were other desks due to move there at some point but I'm not of timescales. The fringe panels were Woking, Wokingham and Wimbledon

BROC has a 12 hour shift pattern.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Current state of play is

Strawberry Hill desk - broadly controls the former Feltham panel 1 area so Richmond platforms 1 & 2 to Norbiton, Shepperton & Whitton (and all areas included therein). Fringes to Wimbledon ASC Panel 3 at Norbiton and Panel 5 at Richmond, and Feltham ASC Panel 2 at Whitton. CCTV crossings at Strawberry Hill & Hampton. Grade 7

Ascot desk - broadly controls the former Feltham panel 4 area so Egham to Chertsey, Frimley & Bracknell. Fringes to Feltham panel 3 at Egham, Woking ASC Panel 1 at Chertsey and Panel 3 at Frimley and Wokingham SB at Bracknell. CCTV crossings at Sunningdale & Camberley. Grade 7

Crossing desk - controls Egham, Rusham and Chertsey CCTV crossings. Gives slots to Feltham Panel 3 for Egham and the Ascot desk for the other two. Grade 2

SSM desk - supervises all the above. Grade 8

Current schedule

August 2023 - Feltham Panels 2 and 3 close and the next desk opens (not sure what the name will be). That will be Whitton/Chiswick to Egham and Windsor, with fringes to the Strawberry Hill and Ascot desks, Wimbledon Panel 5 at Chiswick, and Acton Wells box at Kew triangle. There will also be another Grade 2 CCTV crossing keeper desk. Not 100% as to who will do what crossing wise but on this desk will be Grove Park, Wood Lane, Thorpe Lane, Pooley Green, Egham (already supervised by the existing crossing keeper), Datchet & Mays CCTV level crossings.

2024 - Wokingham SB closes and its control area added onto the Ascot desk, which means Bracknell/Blackwater to Woodley, and Star Lane & Wokingham CCTV crossings with fringe to Guildford SB at Blackwater and TVSC Twyford desk at Woodley

2024, maybe - Farncombe, Petersfield and Haslemere SBs close and the as yet unnamed desk covering the Portsmouth Direct line opens. Fringes to Guildford SB at Peasmarsh and Havant ASC at Buriton. Farncombe East, Farncombe, Milford, Liss Common, Liss, Princes Bridge, Sheet, Kingsfernsden & Petersfield crossings are on this. Some will be CCTV and some will be OD, but I’m not aware of the exact split.

Until the Portsmouth Direct line opens all signallers sign all desks including the crossing keeper desks. SSMs sign their own desk in addition to the above. The rest is as yet undecided.

 

[SWTurbo]

Current state of play is

Strawberry Hill desk - broadly controls the former Feltham panel 1 area so Richmond platforms 1 & 2 to Norbiton, Shepperton & Whitton (and all areas included therein). Fringes to Wimbledon ASC Panel 3 at Norbiton and Panel 5 at Richmond, and Feltham ASC Panel 2 at Whitton. CCTV crossings at Strawberry Hill & Hampton. Grade 7

Ascot desk - broadly controls the former Feltham panel 4 area so Egham to Chertsey, Frimley & Bracknell. Fringes to Feltham panel 3 at Egham, Woking ASC Panel 1 at Chertsey and Panel 3 at Frimley and Wokingham SB at Bracknell. CCTV crossings at Sunningdale & Camberley. Grade 7

Crossing desk - controls Egham, Rusham and Chertsey CCTV crossings. Gives slots to Feltham Panel 3 for Egham and the Ascot desk for the other two. Grade 2

SSM desk - supervises all the above. Grade 8

Current schedule

August 2023 - Feltham Panels 2 and 3 close and the next desk opens (not sure what the name will be). That will be Whitton/Chiswick to Egham and Windsor, with fringes to the Strawberry Hill and Ascot desks, Wimbledon Panel 5 at Chiswick, and Acton Wells box at Kew triangle. There will also be another Grade 2 CCTV crossing keeper desk. Not 100% as to who will do what crossing wise but on this desk will be Grove Park, Wood Lane, Thorpe Lane, Pooley Green, Egham (already supervised by the existing crossing keeper), Datchet & Mays CCTV level crossings.

2024 - Wokingham SB closes and its control area added onto the Ascot desk, which means Bracknell/Blackwater to Woodley, and Star Lane & Wokingham CCTV crossings with fringe to Guildford SB at Blackwater and TVSC Twyford desk at Woodley

2024, maybe - Farncombe, Petersfield and Haslemere SBs close and the as yet unnamed desk covering the Portsmouth Direct line opens. Fringes to Guildford SB at Peasmarsh and Havant ASC at Buriton. Farncombe East, Farncombe, Milford, Liss Common, Liss, Princes Bridge, Sheet, Kingsfernsden & Petersfield crossings are on this. Some will be CCTV and some will be OD, but I’m not aware of the exact split.

Until the Portsmouth Direct line opens all signallers sign all desks including the crossing keeper desks. SSMs sign their own desk in addition to the above. The rest is as yet undecided.

Thanks for the info! Really good to get up to date on it!
Are the signalling desks fitted with ARS? What system do they use? (MCS/Westcad etc)

 

[WoollyMammoth]

Thanks for the info! Really good to get up to date on it!
Are the signalling desks fitted with ARS? What system do they use? (MCS/Westcad etc)

Fully ARS. IECC Scalable by Resonate. Only thing to add from Godfrey is WS2 will be Staines.

Is this for the main roster or in-house relief roles?

 

[jayafc]

Hi guys. I am considering applying for a signaller position. From people’s experience how long does the recruitment process take from applying to being offered a position.

Is it as long as train driver recruitment for example?

Thanks guys!

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Hi guys. I am considering applying for a signaller position. From people’s experience how long does the recruitment process take from applying to being offered a position.

Is it as long as train driver recruitment for example?

Thanks guys!

Having done both I can say that it's quicker than driver recruitment, but it varies enormously from area to area. Railway recruitment is notoriously slow and you should be prepared to wait months rather than weeks!

 

[KendalR]

Hi guys. I am considering applying for a signaller position. From people’s experience how long does the recruitment process take from applying to being offered a position.

Is it as long as train driver recruitment for example?

Thanks guys!

When I joined in 2015, applied in September, Interview and confirmed I had the job in November, started in March so a looooooong 6 months. Nothing has changed much since.

 

[Coppernob2014]

Hi guys. I am considering applying for a signaller position. From people’s experience how long does the recruitment process take from applying to being offered a position.

Is it as long as train driver recruitment for example?

Thanks guys!

I applied beginning of June 2022, interviewed on July 7th, offered the role on July 18th, then didn’t start until October 17th!

Very much depends on the Initial Signaller Training courses available I think, and at the moment I know York is rammed!

 

[jayafc]

Thanks guys. Appreciate your feedback. It’s the new post in the north west I’m thinking about applying for

 

[illberries]

Hi guys. I am considering applying for a signaller position. From people’s experience how long does the recruitment process take from applying to being offered a position.

Is it as long as train driver recruitment for example?

Thanks guys!

I had my interview in August and got offered the job at the end of that month. I have just completed week 1 of IST, so be prepared for it to take a while. I also know of others where the whole process has taken around 1 or 2 months.

 

[y0rkie287]

I had my interview in August and got offered the job at the end of that month. I have just completed week 1 of IST, so be prepared for it to take a while. I also know of others where the whole process has taken around 1 or 2 months.

I applied in June 2022 and start go up to York for IST tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it but absolutely petrified at the same time, how has the 1st week gone?

 

[Coppernob2014]

I applied in June 2022 and start go up to York for IST tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it but absolutely petrified at the same time, how has the 1st week gone?

My group have just completed week ten. Doing our week 11 practical next week so will see you there! One of the guys on your course was on mine for a bit and he’s awesome.

I know it’s easy to say but don’t be petrified. It’s interesting and can be a lot of fun. You do definitely need to put in a lot of work though!

 

[y0rkie287]

Everyone has said the same, the signaller in the box I spoke to said h got there are was like 'what the hell have I done' but loves the job, can't wait to be honest, nerves aside, spent a lot of time awake last night before my journey up today, hope I sleep tonight or I'll be dead in school

 

[illberries]

I applied in June 2022 and start go up to York for IST tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it but absolutely petrified at the same time, how has the 1st week gone?

The first week was awsome, being completely new to the rail industry and coming home this weekend with alot more knowledge already has given a big confidence boost. However, saying that, it is already needed a lot of work, classes from 9am with revision/ homework going normally until 9pm. I'm also fully aware the first couple of weeks are the 'honeymoon period' and its going to a whole lot harder in the next few. I've just been told to trust the process, stick at it and it will be ok. Good luck in your first week, enjoy it mate.

My group have just completed week ten. Doing our week 11 practical next week so will see you there! One of the guys on your course was on mine for a bit and he’s awesome.

I know it’s easy to say but don’t be petrified. It’s interesting and can be a lot of fun. You do definitely need to put in a lot of work though!

Good luck in your final practical assessment! Hope all goes well for you.

 

[y0rkie287]

The first week was awsome, being completely new to the rail industry and coming home this weekend with alot more knowledge already has given a big confidence boost. However, saying that, it is already needed a lot of work, classes from 9am with revision/ homework going normally until 9pm. I'm also fully aware the first couple of weeks are the 'honeymoon period' and its going to a whole lot harder in the next few. I've just been told to trust the process, stick at it and it will be ok. Good luck in your first week, enjoy it mate.


Good luck in your final practical assessment! Hope all goes well for you.

Thank you mate, sat on train now at skeg waiting to depart, reading the bell codes again

 

[je1991]

Start my first day tomorrow my induction week then after that off to York on the 23rd of January anyone starting then

 

[Rizz]

Hello all, hope everyone has had a lovely weekend.















Good luck to all starting tomorrow and those Who are about to take their final assessments!







Random question! Has anyone's IST location been changed last minute? I've been looking at my journey and it will be 7.5 hours each way 

If I have to do it, it is what it is, but just wondering if I'll get lucky and they will move it a little closer lol.

I suppose I can use the journey for extra revision!



P.s. Has anyone had issues posting on here? Like words randomly getting jumbled or issues replying? I've tried everything, but it keeps happening 

 

[Jimbo9999]

Hi all,

I'm very glad to be starting a grade 2 position in West Cumbria in April, with the training due to take place in Preston. Is there anyone else due to attend?

Medical test tomorrow morning, fingers crossed everything goes ok!

 

[AH23]

Hi all

Just wondering if someone could help me out with the next pay date please? I’ve scrolled the forum and worked it out to be the 3rd Feb, can someone confirm if that’s correct? Thank you