Driver looking for career change...

[Traindriver40]

I've been an HGV driver, and i also worked in Transport management for a large HGV business, i can honestly say in my experience i would never return. The drivers are working close to 48 hours a week, being monitored on everything they do in terms of safe and fuel, efficient driving, heavy braking, cruise control expected to be used at around 87% of journey to heavy on the accelerator, cctv in cabs and out the front of them, sometimes dictated when to take holidays, disciplined for the most basic things. It;'s an industry i worked in for a number of years, you don't want to spend your days and nights on the road network in the UK its a mess, road closures, heavy traffic jams, half the people on the road don't drive properly, hgv drivers tend to get blamed for most incidents. You will in general be paid far less and have to work far more, you might find the odd job that isn't that but in general i would stay well away.

 

[Class2ldn]

That railway isn't that different nowadays unfortunately. Other industries are catching up with our pay and conditions now, yes there are some awful hgv jobs out there paying a pittance but I guess its finding the right balance.
I'm not against staying in the railway but it needs to be something different and interesting, not just driving some old shed of a dmu from one city to another hoping you'll make it without a fault lol.

 

[Lurcheroo]

That railway isn't that different nowadays unfortunately. Other industries are catching up with our pay and conditions now

Genuinely, if you can find me a job in any sector where no qualifications are required, or that will be paid for by the employer, that will pay me £71K base for a 4 day week, where everything such as holidays, overtime, how many hours my days work can be moved are tightly controlled for our benefit, Plus having days where I’m booked to do nothing and can go home after 6 hours whilst getting paid for 9 and even on days with booked work I can get ‘scoops’ or ‘fiddles’ that allow me to go home an hour or 2 early whilst still getting paid then I would genuinely be very intrigued. I enjoy the job but it’s not exactly the most rewarding or exciting.

Must be outside of London though.

 

[Class2ldn]

I've maintained that the railway in terms of conditions is better overall then the majority of jobs but the gap is certainly getting smaller now.
For me im certainly not on 71k and I'd have to work more hours then some of the other industries to get anywhere near that at my toc.

 

[NSEWonderer]

This thread does highlight in the sort of Golden Handcuffs one may be placed in with the Train Driver role especially if there isn't much wiggle room in terms of finances and family life. I know of a Driver who's recently gone to NR Signaling from a TOC, One has become a NR MOM and the other went abroad to take up a managerial role in Australia on their upcoming Metro project.

 

[llimma]

Genuinely, if you can find me a job in any sector where no qualifications are required, or that will be paid for by the employer, that will pay me £71K base for a 4 day week, where everything such as holidays, overtime, how many hours my days work can be moved are tightly controlled for our benefit, Plus having days where I’m booked to do nothing and can go home after 6 hours whilst getting paid for 9 and even on days with booked work I can get ‘scoops’ or ‘fiddles’ that allow me to go home an hour or 2 early whilst still getting paid then I would genuinely be very intrigued. I enjoy the job but it’s not exactly the most rewarding or exciting.

Must be outside of London though.

Which TOC/FOC is paying £71k for a 4 day week?

Satire? Because if not where do I send my CV.

 

[whoosh]

Which TOC/FOC is paying £71k for a 4 day week?

Satire? Because if not where do I send my CV.

South Western Railway must be on about that. C2c not far off.

London Overground on £78k !

The first two had a rise in 2022 though as the last year of a multi-year deal.
Overground has had rises every year.

LNER on about £70k for slightly shorter days but 4.25 day week on average.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Which TOC/FOC is paying £71k for a 4 day week?

Satire? Because if not where do I send my CV.

Satire ? Absolutely not. TFW pay £68,300 right this minute. Up to £71K in a December 2024 and then +RPI % for April 2025.
Sundays in the working week so that’s for a true 4 day week.
I’m sure Avanti aren’t far off £70K and caught up in the dispute so if Labour sort it out could be north of £70K, same for GWR I think.

 

[irish_rail]

Satire ? Absolutely not. TFW pay £68,300 right this minute. Up to £71K in a December 2024 and then +RPI % for April 2025.
Sundays in the working week so that’s for a true 4 day week.
I’m sure Avanti aren’t far off £70K and caught up in the dispute so if Labour sort it out could be north of £70K, same for GWR I think.

GWR is £62,000 ,nowhere close to 70k sadly! . One of the lower paid TOCs these days, especially in terms of Intercity operators.

 

[Lurcheroo]

GWR is £62,000 ,nowhere close to 70k sadly! . One of the lower paid TOCs these days, especially in terms of Intercity operators.

Gosh, does seem low! Sundays additional with that ?

 

[irish_rail]

Gosh, does seem low! Sundays additional with that ?

Yeah thats with Sundays outside, so if you opt to work the Sundays then you'd earn more.

 

[InkyScrolls]

GWR is £62,000, nowhere close to 70k sadly! One of the lower paid TOCs these days.

Gosh, does seem low!

Northern drivers are on £54,500, and I believe there are some TOCs which are lower. It takes three years to reach full pay, as well.

 

[Economist]

XC are on £65k, Sundays outside but committed, there's booking on/off payments for early starts and late finishes. I believe working the booked roster (including around 20 Sundays) brings in £73-£75k.

Qualified entrants are on full salary after 12 months, trainees after 2 years PQ IIRC.

Personally, I enjoy train driving, the only career I'd consider leaving it voluntarily for is flying.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Yeah thats with Sundays outside, so if you opt to work the Sundays then you'd earn more.

Ahh righto! Makes sense then.

 

[SeanW90]

RAIB Investigator? I’d love to apply for something like that although vacancies seem to be few and far between.

 

[The Puddock]

I know of a Driver who's recently gone to NR Signaling from a TOC, One has become a NR MOM

You'd need your head examining if you left train driving to do either of these jobs.

RAIB Investigator?

You need a degree for that, so not a career path open to all.

 

[irish_rail]

You'd need your head examining if you left train driving to do either of these jobs.


You need a degree for that, so not a career path open to all.

Plenty of train drivers have degrees nowadays.

 

[Signal_Box]

Unfortunately Train driving is in effect a dead end job. There isn't really any career progression.

There is driver management which I wouldn't do even for 100k a year.

I have great respect fo my DM but never in a million years would I want there job.

Maybe a signaller but it's 12 hour shifts

Even a grade 8 signaller salary is only about 50k ish

Basic yes, add in your booked Sundays and nights etc then your basic salary increases to circa £65k without any RDW.

 

[357]

You'd need your head examining if you left train driving to do either of these jobs.

Some people are simply that bored that they want to try something new

 

[NSEWonderer]

You'd need your head examining if you left train driving to do either of these jobs.

I understand where you're coming from, but not everyone does a job for the dosh. Some may have already reduced their debts to a level where they feel able to take on a more fulfilling role for themselves.

 

[Economist]

I think limited career progression in the driving grade isn't entirely a bad thing. So far, I've found it much easier to escape the politics on the railway compared with elsewhere and I'd put a fair bit of that down to the fact that a lot of drivers have no interest in doing a DI or DM role. The places I've worked where there have been a lot of career progression opportunities tend to have had big salary jumps between pay grades and a lot of politics as people try and outmanouvre each other for more power and money. I've seen family and friends in such places and a lot is determined by politics and who's friends with who etc.

Having a wage which puts me in the top 10-15% of UK employees whilst not having to deal with that nonsense is great, if I want to earn more money I can put in for a bit of overtime, there's usually plenty available.

 

[Turtle]

I think limited career progression in the driving grade isn't entirely a bad thing. So far, I've found it much easier to escape the politics on the railway compared with elsewhere and I'd put a fair bit of that down to the fact that a lot of drivers have no interest in doing a DI or DM role. The places I've worked where there have been a lot of career progression opportunities tend to have had big salary jumps between pay grades and a lot of politics as people try and outmanouvre each other for more power and money. I've seen family and friends in such places and a lot is determined by politics and who's friends with who etc.

Having a wage which puts me in the top 10-15% of UK employees whilst not having to deal with that nonsense is great, if I want to earn more money I can put in for a bit of overtime, there's usually plenty available.

Always best to avoid middle management. Quite often the additional salary is not worth the strife from higher management bearing down combined with less than cooperative individuals below.

 

[baz962]

Basic yes, add in your booked Sundays and nights etc then your basic salary increases to circa £65k without any RDW.

Aiui . If you are in a 12 hour roster , do you do a three day week.

GWR is £62,000 ,nowhere close to 70k sadly! . One of the lower paid TOCs these days, especially in terms of Intercity operators.

EMR on £58,000. Although if at st pancras you get London weighting.