Avanti train driver career

[sky2456]

Hi all, I've been reading this forum for around 6 months now with a view to learning about the industry and applying for a trainee driver position.

My location means that Avanti would probably be my top choice of TOC to apply for and I'd be keen to hear from anyone who has joined them as a trainee driver since they took over from Virgin, if anyone has? How is the training, what are they like to work for etc?

I check every day but haven't seen any roles advertised yet, so I'm just wondering if anyone has any insider knowledge on whether they advertise externally or not? And do they expect prior industry experience? Obviously I appreciate they're unlikely to recruit during the current pandemic.

Also, does anyone know where the training would take place in that first year or so?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

I don't work for them or live anywhere near them but from what I hear they tend to recruit mostly qualified drivers but I'm sure they had some kind of apprenticeship thing for driving recently. If I was in your shoes I'd be checking the careers page of every TOC nearby and applying for any and all trainee driver jobs (check freight too).

 

[sky2456]

Thanks Astro, I'm also registered on all of the other TOC recruitment sites for my area, just wondered about Avanti specifically.

Does anyone know where all North West TOCs do their training? My local main stations are Crewe, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester to give you an idea where I'm based.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Thanks Astro, I'm also registered on all of the other TOC recruitment sites for my area, just wondered about Avanti specifically.

Does anyone know where all North West TOCs do their training? My local main stations are Crewe, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester to give you an idea where I'm based.

Northern Rail and Transport for Wales will probably be your best chance. Avanti West Coast don’t usually take on trainees not sure if that’s changed recently. Possibly Transpennine Express although not sure if they are predominantly qualified only.

 

[donny12]

Sounds like there's a bit of a split between TOCs with some offering trainee positions (e.g. Northern) and others mainly hiring qualified drivers (Xc, Avanti, TPE etc). Does this mean there is a natural progression in the industry, with people starting out at the likes of Northern and moving onwards and 'upwards' (thinking particularly about salary and longer routes here) to other TOCs?

Starting out, should potential trainee drivers set their sights on the Northerns of this world and then further down the line look to move?

Also - disclaimer before people start saying just get a trainee role first - it's interesting to know about people's career paths and the potential for movement in the industry so would just be good to understand that. I fully appreciate any driving role with (most!) TOCs is difficult to get and is an ambition of many.

 

[rail-god]

Hi all, I've been reading this forum for around 6 months now with a view to learning about the industry and applying for a trainee driver position.

My location means that Avanti would probably be my top choice of TOC to apply for and I'd be keen to hear from anyone who has joined them as a trainee driver since they took over from Virgin, if anyone has? How is the training, what are they like to work for etc?

I check every day but haven't seen any roles advertised yet, so I'm just wondering if anyone has any insider knowledge on whether they advertise externally or not? And do they expect prior industry experience? Obviously I appreciate they're unlikely to recruit during the current pandemic.

Also, does anyone know where the training would take place in that first year or so?

Thanks in advance for any help

Avanti West coast is a dead mans shoes job. Thats for qualified drivers.

 

[rail-god]

Also - disclaimer before people start saying just get a trainee role first - it's interesting to know about people's career paths and the potential for movement in the industry so would just be good to understand that. I fully appreciate any driving role with (most!) TOCs is difficult to get and is an ambition of many.

Don`t forget about FOCs.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Sky2456

If you are serious about a trainee driver role - Northern & Transpennine Express are your best bet if you live in the North West. Unfortunately, Avanti West Coast only seem to recruit qualified drivers from other TOCs. Merseyrail is another TOC which is dead man's shoes for driving roles. Transport for Wales do recruit for trainee drivers working from Chester & Crewe but this is only every so often.

CJ

 

[rail-god]

Sky2456

Merseyrail is another TOC which is dead man's shoes for driving roles. Transport for Wales do recruit for trainee drivers working from Chester & Crewe but this is only every so often.

CJ

I believe with Merseyrail you need to be a guard first. I dont think they have ever recruited trainiee drivers off the street. Closed shop.

 

[FManc]

You’re only realistic chance to join Avanti West Coast would be as a qualified driver or as an internal candidate. They do rarely recruit for trainees/apprenticeships externally but it’s not often and normally not many are taken on and the competition is insane. The training structure itself hasn’t changed since Avanti took over; the company as a whole hasn’t changed. Initial training takes place at Crewe before becoming depot specific for handling and route learning.

 

[jamesst]

I believe with Merseyrail you need to be a guard first. I dont think they have ever recruited trainiee drivers off the street. Closed shop.

Correct

 

[irish_rail]

I believe Avanti take on lots of trainees these days but 100 percent internal, so best bet is to get in with another job then apply from within.

 

[FManc]

I believe Avanti take on lots of trainees these days but 100 percent internal, so best bet is to get in with another job then apply from within.

Yeah there’s been a massive internal recruitment drive for trainees over the last 12-24 months.

 

[richfoz84]

Thanks Astro, I'm also registered on all of the other TOC recruitment sites for my area, just wondered about Avanti specifically.

Does anyone know where all North West TOCs do their training? My local main stations are Crewe, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester to give you an idea where I'm based.

Northern rail do their training in either Manchester or Leeds.. I’m currently awaiting my start date!

TFW do most of theirs in Cardiff & some in Chester.. I failed the assessment centre last year.

My closest station is Crewe which I believe Avanti train at but I’ve never seen trainee jobs advertised since I started looking 2 years ago

 

[C J Snarzell]

Northern rail do their training in either Manchester or Leeds.. I’m currently awaiting my start date!

TFW do most of theirs in Cardiff & some in Chester.. I failed the assessment centre last year.

My closest station is Crewe which I believe Avanti train at but I’ve never seen trainee jobs advertised since I started looking 2 years ago

Avanti train their staff at the Talent Academy which is actually half a mile from the Crewe Station on a Business/Technology Park.

 

[Red1980]

Avanti West coast is a dead mans shoes job. Thats for qualified drivers.

No it's not.....they've had loads of trainees ranging from apprenticeships externally and normal trainees internally over the past couple of years..... The catch is he'd probably have to join in another grade first and apply internally if he wants a trainee job with them.

Trust me with the retirement/ early retirement stats at Avanti that have been and are coming up it's FAR from dead man's shoes.....it's closer to a shortage than anything else so trainee positions will be a frequent thing over the next few years.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

No it's not.....they've had loads of trainees ranging from apprenticeships externally and normal trainees internally over the past couple of years.....

And normal trainees externally...

 

[Red1980]

And normal trainees externally...

Yeah. It's not dead man's shoes just right place at the right time.

 

[StevieH]

And normal trainees externally...

Well only 1 external apprenticeship vacancy per depot on a one off and one depot didn't have a position. They did take extra for Euston but only because nobody can afford to live there. Almost all trainee positions are internal as like people have said they like you to start at the bottom and work your way up which is fair enough. It's the top job in the industry so nobody leaves that's why it's dead man's shoes and their depots aren't that big either so less vacancies to fill. It is what it is.

 

[rail-god]

No it's not.....they've had loads of trainees ranging from apprenticeships externally and normal trainees internally over the past couple of years..... The catch is he'd probably have to join in another grade first and apply internally if he wants a trainee job with them.

Trust me with the retirement/ early retirement stats at Avanti that have been and are coming up it's FAR from dead man's shoes.....it's closer to a shortage than anything else so trainee positions will be a frequent thing over the next few years.

Interesting. So why are they not advertising for qualified drivers then??

Do they prefer internal trainee`s over external qualified?

 

[StevieH]

Interesting. So why are they not advertising for qualified drivers then??

Do they prefer internal trainee`s over external qualified?

They do advertise for qualifieds and this makes up a big chunk of vacancies. But as I said before there are just very few vacancies in the first place as they have a small amount of drivers to begin with compared to regional operators and nobody wants to leave as it's the best job.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Interesting. So why are they not advertising for qualified drivers then??

Do they prefer internal trainee`s over external qualified?

The last time they advertised for qualified drivers was in November just prior to the Virgin/Avanti change over. It was a talent bank though, with the roles based in Euston.

CJ

 

[rail-god]

The last time they advertised for qualified drivers was in November just prior to the Virgin/Avanti change over. It was a talent bank though, with the roles based in Euston.

CJ

Many thanks. Missed that one.

 

[4F89]

They do advertise for qualifieds and this makes up a big chunk of vacancies. But as I said before there are just very few vacancies in the first place as they have a small amount of drivers to begin with compared to regional operators and nobody wants to leave as it's the best job.

Debatable if it's the BEST job. A decent one, but the best? Same route every single day, same traction every single day? Sounds boring as hell to me tbh.

 

[StevieH]

Debatable if it's the BEST job. A decent one, but the best? Same route every single day, same traction every single day? Sounds boring as hell to me tbh.

Each to their own I suppose. But they have the top pay and best T and C's, really nice company to work for and get treated as good as anywhere, a fifth of the work load of most smaller regional TOCs, and plenty get away very early shifts compared to other TOCs who begrudge letting you away an hour early. But as I say each to their own.

 

[Red1980]

Debatable if it's the BEST job. A decent one, but the best? Same route every single day, same traction every single day? Sounds boring as hell to me tbh.

Define what's the best? There's not many drivers out there who don't drive the same traction and go over the same routes most days.

Some would say that doing the same stuff most days gives you a sense of certainty about your day and it helps with planning your workload and your personal life.

I did the job and didn't find it boring any more than my previous urban work! You show me a driver on this network at any TOC who says their day is a non stop Mardi gras and doesn't have boring elements to it and I'll show you a liar......this is Train driving not the circus...... although it sometimes feels like one.

 

[Red1980]

Interesting. So why are they not advertising for qualified drivers then??

Do they prefer internal trainee`s over external qualified?

No idea....I'm sure the franchise needs / swap must have meant they'd of had to review a lot of things including recruitment.

I wouldn't say there's a preference either way to be honest. Although they have advertised again for internal trainees again a few weeks ago. Don't take on board that "dead man's shoes" stuff though mate.....it's not Virgin anymore remember....that was just their approach.

 

[4F89]

Define what's the best? There's not many drivers out there who don't drive the same traction and go over the same routes most days.

Some would say that doing the same stuff most days gives you a sense of certainty about your day and it helps with planning your workload and your personal life.

I did the job and didn't find it boring any more than my previous urban work! You show me a driver on this network at any TOC who says their day is a non stop Mardi gras and doesn't have boring elements to it and I'll show you a liar......this is Train driving not the circus...... although it sometimes feels like one.

I'm not saying my driving doesnt have its boring elements, but down to euston, break, back. Boring AF.

 

[StevieH]

I'm not saying my driving doesnt have its boring elements, but down to euston, break, back. Boring AF.

So which TOC would be your number one choice to drive for?

 

[Red1980]

I'm not saying my driving doesnt have its boring elements, but down to euston, break, back. Boring AF.

What's boring about it exactly? What magical things are on other parts of the network that make driving exciting for an entire career?

Everything has a novelty factor no matter how exciting a route there is.

So let's see......Pennines..... beautiful AF......5 years later oh look more fields.

North Wales coast.....look at how beautiful the see is......5 years later...... Oh look it's the sea again.

How lucky am I to be a train driver for TFL.......5 years later......oh look another 50+ stops a day to look forward to.