SJN
Member
Normally they like all on the course to stay at the hotel regardless of where they live.
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Apprentice Train Driver - Crosscountry - Multiple Locations (09/02/2021)
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R
RailUK Forums
65k on the ASLEF website, not sure if changes by depot.
xabi83
Member
Closer to 75k now i know a driver and his mate is a driver at Cross country
Evolution
Member
No it isn’t. That will be with overtime.
theironroad
Established Member
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- 21 Nov 2014
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- 3,717
...and that overtime will include Sundays which are outside the week. I think xc have "committed" Sundays.
With committed Sundays , late running, late finishes, early starts, I imagine 75 is reasonably easy to attain without doing other FDW.
Davidh1998
Member
Does anyone know if XC are doing interviews or tests first? I saw that the trainee position for Grand central owned by Arriva are doing interviews first.
Driver068
Member
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- 20 Feb 2014
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- 638
Id imagine, unless the process is different with XC the pay would be scaled after basic training. For Qualified roles previously advertised it went as followed...
£59, 990 once core route and traction signed.
£60,006 after a year's experience
£59, 990 once core route and traction signed.
£60,006 after a year's experience
TrainTracks
Member
Hey? A £16 increase after a year? Don’t get me wrong - i’d never turn away extra money, but £16 seems a strange amount.
Driver068
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Apologies- £65,006
TrainTracks
Member
Agh makes more sense. Wouldn’t turn either down but £65k is great! Thanks for clarifying
That was quick, I take it they want a cover letter?
D Rivers
Member
Last year they did 2 online tests. Then interview, then psychos!
Davidh1998
Member
What were the 2 online tests, and did you just have one interview or two?
D Rivers
Member
RAAT was one. Don’t remember the name of the other. Followed by DMI interview. Followed by OPC assessment day and MMI.
PickleTree
Member
Are you waiting to start with them still @D Rivers?
Yeah, he is. I never hear the end of it!
For those inquiring about salaries, this is what the current score is roughly:
£28,400 trainee new entrant
£37,700 competent after training school (approx 35 weeks)
£54,900 fully qualified driver with core routes and traction
then rises in increments overtime before hitting the jackpot
£65,000 by the 3rd year
Normally everyone stays in the hotel regardless of your depot, simply for the sake of forming a bond with your classmates and to aid revision as the conference room is normally available. However, currently, if you can commute from home then do so, otherwise, the hotel very close to the school and the station is open.
I'm aware some TOCs in the past (looking at you Virgin) have done apprenticeship drivers before, but it's been a cheap way of getting people in. The only change with XC (and similar for other TOCs I believe) is that you do a week and a bit of Maths, English, and ICT. But if you're a jammy bugger like me and can prove you've got valid GCSE (or similar) certificates, you may be off the hook for the week where you do the assessments.
D Rivers
Member
Im still confused how the classroom training is 35 weeks. What does this entail with XC, as it seems very drawn out? Is it due to the apprenticeship?Yeah, he is. I never hear the end of it!
For those inquiring about salaries, this is what the current score is roughly:
£28,400 trainee new entrant
£37,700 competent after training school (approx 35 weeks)
£54,900 fully qualified driver with core routes and traction
then rises in increments overtime before hitting the jackpot
£65,000 by the 3rd year
Normally everyone stays in the hotel regardless of your depot, simply for the sake of forming a bond with your classmates and to aid revision as the conference room is normally available. However, currently, if you can commute from home then do so, otherwise, the hotel very close to the school and the station is open.
I'm aware some TOCs in the past (looking at you Virgin) have done apprenticeship drivers before, but it's been a cheap way of getting people in. The only change with XC (and similar for other TOCs I believe) is that you do a week and a bit of Maths, English, and ICT. But if you're a jammy bugger like me and can prove you've got valid GCSE (or similar) certificates, you may be off the hook for the week where you do the assessments.
The hotel idea seems like a good one, at my TOC you’re only offered one if you live more than 90 mins from the training centre you’re allocated. Having everyone in a hotel for revision and to bond is a nice touch. I had some of the best times of my life in the hotels, but it would have been nice if my whole group with there. I don’t mind my own company (just as well as a train driver I guess), but having people there to revise with is priceless (and to drink with...).
35 weeks includes your manual handling. So you have 13 weeks of actual classroom-based training, then you do your manual handling. Once you've done that and you're able to drive a train, the paygrade goes up.
Oh okay, that makes more sense....maybe a bit towards the other end of the scale now though in that it seems too little time
PickleTree
Member
Thanks for this information @Potato185 do you work for XC?Yeah, he is. I never hear the end of it!
For those inquiring about salaries, this is what the current score is roughly:
£28,400 trainee new entrant
£37,700 competent after training school (approx 35 weeks)
£54,900 fully qualified driver with core routes and traction
then rises in increments overtime before hitting the jackpot
£65,000 by the 3rd year
Normally everyone stays in the hotel regardless of your depot, simply for the sake of forming a bond with your classmates and to aid revision as the conference room is normally available. However, currently, if you can commute from home then do so, otherwise, the hotel very close to the school and the station is open.
I'm aware some TOCs in the past (looking at you Virgin) have done apprenticeship drivers before, but it's been a cheap way of getting people in. The only change with XC (and similar for other TOCs I believe) is that you do a week and a bit of Maths, English, and ICT. But if you're a jammy bugger like me and can prove you've got valid GCSE (or similar) certificates, you may be off the hook for the week where you do the assessments.
Not a problem. I have just started as a trainee driver, yes.
PickleTree
Member
Good stuff how is going so far? Going back to the GCSE bit, if you haven’t got say a C or above in Maths this wouldn’t matter because they would put you through it anyway?
Going well so far thanks! Great bunch on my course and the trainers seem to be on the ball. I'm excited about the forthcoming weeks!
If you don't have the certificates or quals, you just go through the apprenticeship as normal. They're very supportive too apparently so if you're struggling, they'll help.
Davidh1998
Member
Can I ask what questions were you asked at your interview?
PickleTree
Member
Thanks @Potato185 good luck with the rest of the training etc. Where will you be based once you have qualified? I am really hoping they will take into account my enhanced passes and MMI as part of this recruitment.
Honestly, I can't remember. I did my interview in March just as the Wuhan Flu was kicking off. It was the usual competency-based types though. 'Tell us of a time when you've done this' 'Tell us when you've done that' etc. Nothing unusual about them.
Many thanks Pickle. I'll be based in Leeds. Put it this way, I did my assessments with another TOC (my former employer) and I managed enhanced on all bar one test which I got to national level. XC took my results.
PickleTree
Member
Perfect thanks @Potato185 that is reassuring. Was it just a DMI for you then?
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