Eurostar: International Train Driver (Qualified) - 05/07/2022

[whoosh]

Without RDW how do TOCs cover turns when crew call in sick/unavailable ? Do they just make sure they have adequate spare turns in the roster ? Lots of drivers sitting in the messroom drinking tea on the occasions they're not needed.

They have adequate spare turns in the roster. I believe they have more movement on spare turns at the weekly markup stage (when the next week's sheets go up) for more flexibility, with less movement after that.
They do not normally have rest day working. It's only happened in rare cases of being short of staff.

Living close to St Pancras is expensive. Even if you can hotel the night before on early turns. Although if they hotel you before every turn then maybe one could live a little further afield and just go home on the eve of your rest days.

I believe that a hotel stay/taxi are an option for turns that start before 06:00 (08:00 on Sundays) or finish after 23:30. Or something along those lines. It isn't every turn.

I looked into it once, and at the time (which might still be the case) you were not entitled to PRIV rate season tickets to get you to/from work on other TOCs (unless you were ex-BR), although there was a 'travel to work subsidy' of x% off the first so much £s, then a smaller % off the next so many £s, and so on, like a sliding scale.
You'd need to look into those arrangements to get you to work especially if you travel any distance.
Saying that I think they got PRIV rate tube travel, so if you can get in on the tube it's favourable.

Would GCSE French be adequate ? I'd be happy to go do the staying with a french family thing to get back my fluency.

Previously the criteria was that you had to be capable of learning French to a standard to be able to use it in operational safety critical conversations - obviously the French signallers speak in French, and the Belgian signallers (if you went on to do the Brussels route) also speak French.
I suppose you could apply and find out. Sometimes copying and pasting happens in recruitment, and it may be that the language criteria for other jobs has been placed accidentally. OR they could've changed their criteria this time.
Applying anyway could be a way of finding out!

 

[TJ123]

I know half a dozen Eurostar drivers and a few drivers that knows some too. I don't know how true it is but I heard four. But a couple of months ago I was told that they are getting seriously short. Also been told that in future that they might stop recruiting qualified and go trainee to depot route in future.

I heard the same thing, but again don't know how true it maybe. I was talking to a friend who has just applied and she recently spoke to a few ex colleagues of hers who had made the move to Eurostar and they told her that it was being looked at, that in future the role would become an apprenticeship with drivers starting as depot drivers, (that is a whole other discussion in its own right) She also mentions about the French about weather this next group of drivers will need it or not, but going forward it will be a requirement to be able to speak French to the B1 standard.

 

[choochoochoo]

They have adequate spare turns in the roster. I believe they have more movement on spare turns at the weekly markup stage (when the next week's sheets go up) for more flexibility, with less movement after that.
They do not normally have rest day working. It's only happened in rare cases of being short of staff.

I believe that a hotel stay/taxi are an option for turns that start before 06:00 (08:00 on Sundays) or finish after 23:30. Or something along those lines. It isn't every turn.

I looked into it once, and at the time (which might still be the case) you were not entitled to PRIV rate season tickets to get you to/from work on other TOCs (unless you were ex-BR), although there was a 'travel to work subsidy' of x% off the first so much £s, then a smaller % off the next so many £s, and so on, like a sliding scale.
You'd need to look into those arrangements to get you to work especially if you travel any distance.
Saying that I think they got PRIV rate tube travel, so if you can get in on the tube it's favourable.



Previously the criteria was that you had to be capable of learning French to a standard to be able to use it in operational safety critical conversations - obviously the French signallers speak in French, and the Belgian signallers (if you went on to do the Brussels route) also speak French.
I suppose you could apply and find out. Sometimes copying and pasting happens in recruitment, and it may be that the language criteria for other jobs has been placed accidentally. OR they could've changed their criteria this time.
Applying anyway could be a way of finding out!

Thanks for the info. I'll put in an application.

Although if they're only looking for 4 drivers, it's going to be tricky.

 

[Class2ldn]

Dont know if you don't apply

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

Some 4 have to get it, no reason it shouldn't be any of you, well, assuming u can speak French apparently

 

[LowLevel]

Plenty of Eurostar crew live along the MML out towards Bedford taking advantage of the 24 hour (ish) Thameslink services.

 

[class373]

Would we say speaking French is the most important quality they look for?

 

[Lancy99]

Part of the interview would be in French i’d imagine.

 

[ExRes]

Would we saying speaking French is the most important quality they look for?

I certainly wouldn't say that, it's just one cog in the wheel

 

[iSquared]

Without RDW how do TOCs cover turns when crew call in sick/unavailable ? Do they just make sure they have adequate spare turns in the roster ? Lots of drivers sitting in the messroom drinking tea on the occasions they're not needed.



Living close to St Pancras is expensive. Even if you can hotel the night before on early turns. Although if they hotel you before every turn then maybe one could live a little further afield and just go home on the eve of your rest days.



Would GCSE French be adequate ? I'd be happy to go do the staying with a french family thing to get back my fluency.

Are you equating a GCSE to language fluency?

 

[A12]

There will be no shortcuts. You must speak french and you must pass an exam to the level mentioned in the advert.

 

[choochoochoo]

Are you equating a GCSE to language fluency?

Yes. I have an A* in GCSE French and have never struggled to communicate whilst I've been in France.

I could easily make an Railway Emergency Call in French without hesitating. Take instructions from a signaller (I'd probably just need to brush up on a bit of specialist railway vocab).

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

Yes. I have an A* in GCSE French and have never struggled to communicate whilst I've been in France.

I could easily make an Railway Emergency Call in French without hesitating. Take instructions from a signaller (I'd probably just need to brush up on a bit of specialist railway vocab).

Would be great but you need TCF Level B1 min not GCSE lol. Unless you fancied applying and doing the TCF exams before the first stage I suppose.

 

[choochoochoo]

Would be great but you need TCF Level B1 min not GCSE lol. Unless you fancied applying and doing the TCF exams before the first stage I suppose.

I'm happy to go take a TCF exam if needed.

Although I've only got a GCSE, I've spent a lot of time in France, but never needed a formal qualification other than that I got at school. Time to go get something more official.

 

[DonkeyKong]

After nearly going bust through covid they clearly need to make savings so cutting out the expensive in house language school will save them a fortune.

I applied back in 2019 and made it through to the final interview stage. It was a good experience and i enjoyed the selection process.

Alot has changed within the last 2 years so I'm not sure it's as appealing as it was pre covid.

I was told that they want to cut the amount of existing drivers so this advert surprised me. Unless they've had some jump **** or retire. Also i was told that London will lose alot of work to due to the Thalys merger.

I think I'm going to give it a miss this time round.

 

[Astro_Orbiter]

Yeahhhh that's not accurate at all lol

 

[baz962]

I was told that they were going to be quite short of drivers in the not too distant future

 

[Shunted]

Quite funny all us Brits getting flustered about the fact we would have to speak some French to get the job but if it was the other way round, I imagine for 80% of French people, English is a given!

 

[theking]

Quite funny all us Brits getting flustered about the fact we would have to speak some French to get the job but if it was the other way round, I imagine for 80% of French people, English is a given!

Well it's not really the same is it.

English is one of, if not the most spoken language(s) in the world.

If you are French you need to learn English if you want to be international as it is pretty much the default language.

French is not.

 

[A12]

It's not too difficult. B1 is as below and you would need to prove this level.
If you can - Apply

A French speaker moves away from the most simplistic language usage and is able to cope with most of the situations they are likely to encounter when travelling around a French-speaking country

 

[D6130]

Much has obviously changed since I applied in September 2000. Then the interviews, psychometric tests, language tests, etc. took place at the South West Trains training centre at Basingstoke and I acquitted myself pretty well apart from failing the Group Bourdon test....I marked all the groups of four dots correctly and didn't miss any, but I took three seconds to long (ironically, because I passed it with no problems on the BR assessment twelve years earlier!).

In those days many Eurostar drivers - including two of my ex-colleagues from Skipton - lived in Milton Keynes, as the then involvement of Virgin in Eurostar entitled them to free travel on WCML services to and from Euston....and house prices there were considerably cheaper than most of the leafy 'stockbroker belt' towns closer to London.

 

[BB1991]

Do Eurostar drivers get any travel perks. Like a priv card/fib/Oyster card etc? There’s nothing on the ASLEF website

 

[whoosh]

@BB1991


When I looked into it a few years ago, there was no priv, or priv season ticket (unless you were ex-BR), there was an allocation of free Eurostar trips, and they got a priv Oyster for the tube.

They did get a 'travel to work allowance'.

In 2018 pay deal travel to work allowance proposals were as follows:

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2018 – Eurostar

	CURRENT​	PROPOSED​
100% of the first £1065 to be claimed as a cash allowance	£1032	£1065
50% of the next £534 to be claimed as a cash allowance	£ 258	£ 267
25% of the next £536 to be claimed as cash allowance	£ 129	£ 134
Nothing to be claimed on the remainder of the price
Total cash allowance to be claimed (subject to tax and NI)	£1419	£1466

In 2022 the RMT stated as part of the 2022 pay award:

Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2022 – Eurostar International Ltd

www.rmt.org.uk

....In addition, an increase the home to work allowance for employees to £3.5k for front line roles and £2.5k for employees able to work flexibly and simplify process. This allowance will continue to rise in line with the annual rail fare increase usually published in January.

I know that's RMT, but I'm pretty sure the Drivers get that as well. When I was looking I found similar info on the TSSA website and it mentioned 'International Drivers' as one of the grades the allowance applied to.


That might give you some idea, although it isn't all accurate upto date information.

 

[BB1991]

@BB1991


When I looked into it a few years ago, there was no priv, or priv season ticket (unless you were ex-BR), there was an allocation of free Eurostar trips, and they got a priv Oyster for the tube.

They did get a 'travel to work allowance'.

In 2018 pay deal travel to work allowance proposals were as follows:

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2018 – Eurostar

In 2022 the RMT stated as part of the 2022 pay award:

Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2022 – Eurostar International Ltd

www.rmt.org.uk

I know that's RMT, but I'm pretty sure the Drivers get that as well. When I was looking I found similar info on the TSSA website and it mentioned 'International Drivers' as one of the grades the allowance applied to.


That might give you some idea, although it isn't all accurate upto date information.

That’s great thanks for the information

 

[anglian96]

Has anyone heard back that applied??

 

[class373]

Has anyone heard back that applied??

Yep, getting to the final stages now.

 

[anglian96]

Yep, getting to the final stages now.

Oh jeeze take it I didnt make the mark then haha good luck mate all the best

Yep, getting to the final stages now.

Just out of curiosity can you speak French...?

 

[Relebo]

Eurostar International

Chez Eurostar, nous nous efforçons de rendre l'expérience de voyage la plus appréciée d'Europe encore meilleure que jamais. Rejoignez-nous et vous ferez partie d'une équipe dynamique, connectée et cosmopolite qui se sent chez elle dans cinq...

apply.workable.com

Description​

Eurostar Train Drivers are some of the proudest Train Drivers we know. Their expertise in driving High Speed Trains, over an international network, has helped shape a service that is high in reliability and focused on the Customer Experience.
Joining the Eurostar family as an International Train Driver you too will take pride in the service you provide.
Safety and reliability will be at the heart of everything you do and you will make it your job to deliver a service that not only stands true to these values but also offers the very best experience to our customers.

​

Requirements​

A bit about you and what you need…

• You will be able to communicate and express yourself clearly in English and French
• This role requires a level of technical understanding that will enable you to fault find and rectify issues where possible.
• You will need to learn and follow important safety rules and regulations and also demonstrate a good level of judgement in applying them.
• You will be self-disciplined.
• This is a role that will require you to work well on your own as well as enjoying engaging with others, be it our customers or the rest of the Eurostar family.
• You will already be a qualified Train Driver with three year’s train driving experience with a good safety record.

Salary: from £64,779.71 whilst training rising to £81,147.44 for a senior qualified International Train Driver (3 years post final validation), rising periodically in the interim.
Shift Patterns: varied over 24 hours/7 days per week.
Hours: 35 hours/4 days average per week over the course of a year
Holidays: 33 days
This role is an RFJ garde based in SPI

Benefits​

• Travel benefits for work and play
• A great pension
• Exclusive discounts and perks

We offer an attractive salary plus a range of benefits from an impressive final year salary pension (part of the railway pension scheme) to advantageous travel facilities for you and your family and protected safe guarded status for continuous rail employees.
If you feel like your skills and experience are relevant for the role, please don't hesitate to apply!
Eurostar is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Hi, is there any French language course or school that you could recommend,and how indepth knowledge of it I should have, please.

Oh jeeze take it I didnt make the mark then haha good luck mate all the best


Just out of curiosity can you speak French...?

Chad please could you recommend an French courses or school, cause I think there is a specific language skills are required, or I'm wrong.

 

[anglian96]

Hi, is there any French language course or school that you could recommend,and how indepth knowledge of it I should have, please.


Chad please could you recommend an French courses or school, cause I think there is a specific language skills are required, or I'm wrong.

Hi mate you need to be to the level of B1. There's plenty of online courses you can do. Hope this helps

 

[Relebo]

Hi mate you need to be to the level of B1. There's plenty of online courses you can do. Hope this helps

Thx bro