conductor to Driver?

[adam0]

Hello,

Any advise on how easy/hard it is to go from conductor to driver? or even train manager?

Just how easy or hard is it to swap between tocs? (in same roles)

just asking as i like to know my career choices and options before i pursue a career in this industry.

thanks.

 

[Bromley boy]

Hello,

Any advise on how easy/hard it is to go from conductor to driver? or even train manager?

Just how easy or hard is it to swap between tocs? (in same roles)

just asking as i like to know my career choices and options before i pursue a career in this industry.

thanks.

If you want to be a driver you might be better off going straight for that. Quite a few TOCs are taking on trainee drivers at the moment (depending on where you live, obviously).

As a conductor/guard in order to become a driver you would still have to pass the driver assessments which have a "2 strike and you're out" rule. If you're unsuccessful twice you could end up stuck in a job you don't really want with no chance of a driver role, ever. Plus you'll no doubt have read about the current DOO disputes, DOO may seriously affect your job security as a guard (again, depending on location).

Just my two-penneth.

 

[12guard4]

There are 2 sides to the coin. First if you're a conductor you will already have a base knowledge of all the rules which will help you training to be a driver and potentially will have been in some of the situations a driver will find themselves in. However if you're a conductor working with one TOC and move to a driver not only do they have to train you they always have to train your replacement. Not a great business practise.

 

[Bromley boy]

There are 2 sides to the coin. First if you're a conductor you will already have a base knowledge of all the rules which will help you training to be a driver and potentially will have been in some of the situations a driver will find themselves in. However if you're a conductor working with one TOC and move to a driver not only do they have to train you they always have to train your replacement. Not a great business practise.

Yep. I agree with every word of that.

 

[red2005]

It's horses for courses obviously and it's all very personal but I'd always personally recommend going from a guard to driver..... you get such a good training base and attitude from having been in such a safety critical role beforehand. Also having worked alongside a driver already you get an insight into what the job is really like..... so many people get to the grade and find out its not what they thought it was..... This way you can find out for yourself.

The ease of the transition?.....well its as easy or as hard as you want to make it really..... you can go at the recruitment process wholeheartedly and with lots of hard work and flexibility and make it relatively straightforward or you can do what some do and try and wing your way through it......fail........don't use the feedback...... fail again and there's your chances gone!

You're always going to be in with a better shout having been a guard first.....If not for the job itself.....but for the experiences you've had that you can then put forward in an interview environment....... Whilst others are pausing completely flummoxed by a question chances are you'll have scenario upon scenario you can reel off.

I get what people say when they say it's always more difficult because your toc then has to replace you as a guard......but this is where the flexibility comes in..... there's nothing to say you have to apply to the same toc you're already a guard with!...... Some companies don't even take drivers from guards positions so you'd have to apply elsewhere anyway.

Some people for family reasons for example can't have that level of flexibility if things like relocation are required but it does certainly help.

As I say I can only speak from a personal perspective but having took that route myself it certainly did me no harm!.....it's still not a certainty just because you'd of been a guard as you have to jump through the same hoops as everyone else....but it's certainly no hindrance.....hope that helps!

Red

 

[IKB]

If you want to be a driver, then apply to be a driver.

You do not need prior railway experience. The competencies TOCs look for in the recruitment process (e.g. the multi-modal interview) can be gained in other working environments outside the railway industry. If you feel you can already answer those questions, then apply for a trainee driver post. If your local TOC(s) only recruit internally then thats another matter......

 

[Bellbell]

Double edged sword. The issue over having to train your replacement is unquestionable but if you can/will change TOCs doesn't really matter, and for some TOCs even internally it may not be such an issue.

DOO is a real cloud on the horizon, particularly if your location limits you to just one TOC, as many have minimum time in a guard's role before you can apply for other roles.

They are very different roles and some dtm's/HR may be wary about people making the move and not liking it.

However, if your background doesn't otherwise lend itself to such scenarios then it really does give you an absolute well of relevant examples to draw from in applications and interviews. It does also give you the most realistic insight you're like to get into whether or not you'd really like to be a driver, so good from that perspective.

If you'd hate to be a guard, I wouldn't do it just to get a driver's job but if you wouldn't mind or actually want to do it, you could certainly consider it.

As for moving between TOCs, not uncommon with drivers, seemingly less common with guards. No idea why.

 

[craigybagel]

The last three vacancies for trainee drivers at my depot were open to external candidates. All 3 jobs went to internal conductors. The same was the case at one of our neighbouring depots, and at the other internal conductors vastly outnumbered all other sources of staff.

It's not going to be the same everywhere, but at some TOCs at least it's clear they do like to hire conductors.

 

[danbarnstall]

The last three vacancies for trainee drivers at my depot were open to external candidates. All 3 jobs went to internal conductors. The same was the case at one of our neighbouring depots, and at the other internal conductors vastly outnumbered all other sources of staff.

It's not going to be the same everywhere, but at some TOCs at least it's clear they do like to hire conductors.

Merseyrail when recruiting drivers only do so from existing Guards so it is a well trodden path.

 

[craigybagel]

Merseyrail when recruiting drivers only do so from existing Guards so it is a well trodden path.

Indeed - although if they get their way they'll have to come up with a different plan in a few years :cry:

 

[red2005]

The last three vacancies for trainee drivers at my depot were open to external candidates. All 3 jobs went to internal conductors. The same was the case at one of our neighbouring depots, and at the other internal conductors vastly outnumbered all other sources of staff.

It's not going to be the same everywhere, but at some TOCs at least it's clear they do like to hire conductors.

Definitely the case at my toc!! And I'd heard that from the horses mouth!

I just feel given the competition for driving jobs it's all about giving yourself any advantage that you can!.....no matter what your background you've still gotta stay on your toes throughout the process....... In the latter stages of the process though I'd always fancy the chances of someone with a conductor background over any other external candidate.

 

[Bellbell]

The last three vacancies for trainee drivers at my depot were open to external candidates. All 3 jobs went to internal conductors. The same was the case at one of our neighbouring depots, and at the other internal conductors vastly outnumbered all other sources of staff.

It's not going to be the same everywhere, but at some TOCs at least it's clear they do like to hire conductors.

Sounds good, any chance they're hiring?

 

[adam0]

Thanks all, some great posts.

Encouraging to know. To answer some...." if you want to be a driver then just apply for that and not conductor" well the short of it is, no! At present I don't want to be a driver. I like to mix with the general public and deliver a great service, hopefully making a positive difference to someone's day. The reason I asked the original question was because thing change, attitude, outlook, motivations ect. Plus with doo being a current issue then I am just checking my potential career paths.
I may well spend the rest of my working life as a conductor and at present I would be happy too.

 

[craigybagel]

Sounds good, any chance they're hiring?

Talent pools for both grades are currently freshly stocked I'm afraid

Thanks all, some great posts.

Encouraging to know. To answer some...." if you want to be a driver then just apply for that and not conductor" well the short of it is, no! At present I don't want to be a driver. I like to mix with the general public and deliver a great service, hopefully making a positive difference to someone's day. The reason I asked the original question was because thing change, attitude, outlook, motivations ect. Plus with doo being a current issue then I am just checking my potential career paths.
I may well spend the rest of my working life as a conductor and at present I would be happy too.

It sounds like you'd be very happy as a conductor, so by all means go for it! I absolutely love the role - but at the same time I'm painfully aware the job is at risk, and is unlikely to still be around by the time I retire. There's much more security in the front cab that's for sure....

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Thanks all, some great posts.

Encouraging to know. To answer some...." if you want to be a driver then just apply for that and not conductor" well the short of it is, no! At present I don't want to be a driver. I like to mix with the general public and deliver a great service, hopefully making a positive difference to someone's day. The reason I asked the original question was because thing change, attitude, outlook, motivations ect. Plus with doo being a current issue then I am just checking my potential career paths.
I may well spend the rest of my working life as a conductor and at present I would be happy too.

This is a very important point. Some become conductors with the expectation that it would be a stepping stone to driver but then find that the public interaction is so rewarding that spending so much of their working day alone in the front cab would be soul destroying. Equally there are drivers who started as conductors but were so uncomfortable in the role that becoming a driver was a better outcome for all concerned. And drivers who have never done anything else on the railway have many different outlooks. It's unfortunate that getting a cab pass for a day's "work experience" for those considering it as a serious option is not a realistic possibility.

 

[TJ123]

Thanks all, some great posts.

Encouraging to know. To answer some...." if you want to be a driver then just apply for that and not conductor" well the short of it is, no! At present I don't want to be a driver. I like to mix with the general public and deliver a great service, hopefully making a positive difference to someone's day. The reason I asked the original question was because thing change, attitude, outlook, motivations ect. Plus with doo being a current issue then I am just checking my potential career paths.
I may well spend the rest of my working life as a conductor and at present I would be happy too.

Hahaha i remember many many years ago when i first started on the railways i was told, if you like talking to people become a guard if you dont then become a driver. As a driver now i like chatting to people cleaners, guards, revenue etc even the general public

 

[Gemz91]

Thanks all, some great posts.

Encouraging to know. To answer some...." if you want to be a driver then just apply for that and not conductor" well the short of it is, no! At present I don't want to be a driver. I like to mix with the general public and deliver a great service, hopefully making a positive difference to someone's day. The reason I asked the original question was because thing change, attitude, outlook, motivations ect. Plus with doo being a current issue then I am just checking my potential career paths.
I may well spend the rest of my working life as a conductor and at present I would be happy too.

Biggest fear I had when I became a driver was that I would miss the passenger interaction. But at my Toc, we tend to get 5 - 10 minutes at terminating stations before we return when I can chat to people. Also the traction I sign allows me to drop my window and chat to passengers as they get on and off trains (although both those things all depend on what TOC you work for if you can do it or not I suppose). Best bit is, if I'm in a grump I can just keep the window shut and not acknowledge the passengers.

But also I only work 4 days a week, leaves me three days to do other things, so I've started to volunteer at a charity where I can meet people, interact and chat. Your work place isn't the only place where you can mix with people and provide good customer service.