Hello all,
The is my first post on here, though I have read though many of the threads on this part of the forum.
I have a question about becoming a train driver, and wonder if someone can help? Are there are any similarities between joining the rail industry to joining the airline industry? In the airline world you can look for training / sponsorship opportunities, however they are very few and far between. Most people will self fund their commercial pilots license so that they can join the airlines ready to start right away (Thats a bit simplified but in essence, that how it works).
I understand that in the rail industry, there are some opportunities to take direct entry driving jobs, but I know a lot of people move into driving from within the company - The one company who I have spoken to so far say there is no opportunities for direct entry driving jobs.
Is there anything that I can do, any tests I can sit or exams I can take that will start me on the road to becoming a driver? I am very nervous about giving up a well paid professional job to take another job with an TOC / FC just so I can get my foot in the door. If I'm going to give up what I already have, then I need to know (as best as is reasonably possible!) that it will lead me to where I want to be!
I appreciate that some people might think that if I want it bad enough then I'll give up my job and go for it, but its not so easy with a family to consider, and a mortgage to pay etc etc!!!
I know I can pay to sit the assessments myself and that is something that I am planning to do during the coming months. However if that goes well, is there anything else I can do that will help me land a driving job? Is there simply a training organisation who I can pay to teach me / give me the qualifications I need to become a train driver?
Many thanks
Mark
The is my first post on here, though I have read though many of the threads on this part of the forum.
I have a question about becoming a train driver, and wonder if someone can help? Are there are any similarities between joining the rail industry to joining the airline industry? In the airline world you can look for training / sponsorship opportunities, however they are very few and far between. Most people will self fund their commercial pilots license so that they can join the airlines ready to start right away (Thats a bit simplified but in essence, that how it works).
I understand that in the rail industry, there are some opportunities to take direct entry driving jobs, but I know a lot of people move into driving from within the company - The one company who I have spoken to so far say there is no opportunities for direct entry driving jobs.
Is there anything that I can do, any tests I can sit or exams I can take that will start me on the road to becoming a driver? I am very nervous about giving up a well paid professional job to take another job with an TOC / FC just so I can get my foot in the door. If I'm going to give up what I already have, then I need to know (as best as is reasonably possible!) that it will lead me to where I want to be!
I appreciate that some people might think that if I want it bad enough then I'll give up my job and go for it, but its not so easy with a family to consider, and a mortgage to pay etc etc!!!
I know I can pay to sit the assessments myself and that is something that I am planning to do during the coming months. However if that goes well, is there anything else I can do that will help me land a driving job? Is there simply a training organisation who I can pay to teach me / give me the qualifications I need to become a train driver?
Many thanks
Mark