GBRF Trainee Train Driver - London

[Oldnewbie]

Willesden. April 2022 start.
£23,000 through 12 months training

GB Railfreight Limited – Pioneering the digital rail freight revolution.

careers-gbrailfreight.icims.com

 

[Star S W 9]

Thanks.

 

[snakeydave24]

Am i missing something here ?

if only the people in recruitment had to be as skilled as the people they are trying to employ…


In order to be considered for the opportunity, you need to:

• live within 60 minutes of Crewe station

 

[Oldnewbie]

Am i missing something here ?

if only the people in recruitment had to be as skilled as the people they are trying to employ…


In order to be considered for the opportunity, you need to:

• live within 60 minutes of Crewe station

The same with the recent DRS job ad. It advertised for Trainees out of their London depot but the drop down list, to state what depot you wanted, only allowed you to select York!

 

[Jaytrains]

23k for 12 months that may lead to 18months, unless freight training is different to passenger train driving…

 

[1_on]

Am i missing something here ?

if only the people in recruitment had to be as skilled as the people they are trying to employ…


In order to be considered for the opportunity, you need to:

• live within 60 minutes of Crewe station

Was thinking the same thing

 

[Oldnewbie]

23k for 12 months that may lead to 18months, unless freight training is different to passenger train driving…

Once you pass your finals, presumably within 12 months, the salary increases to 80% of the full whack. After 6 months solo, you get full pay.

That £23k for a year would be painful though...

 

[jayafc]

Does everyone else read this as you must have already passed the tests already. Does that seem a bit unusual?

 

[Oldnewbie]

Does everyone else read this as you must have already passed the tests already. Does that seem a bit unusual?

Well it clearly says that to be considered for you have to have passed the psychometric tests to the national standard within the last 5 years! I haven't seen that stipulation before but it's probably there to speed the recruitment process up... It could work to the benefit of some.

 

[Jaytrains]

Hmmm I thought the same thing

 

[4-SUB 4732]

GB will not spend the money on the testing, and given how many people in London will be in a talent pool with passed tests, it makes perfect sense.

That said, if you are applying for this just make sure you manage your expectations about who you are going to work for and what sort of treatment you will receive. Look for any parts of the contract that force you to stay for a certain period and what not as well.

I’d personally recommend avoiding this if you can, unless you’re desperate for a licence.

 

[sleeperguy]

Well it clearly says that to be considered for you have to have passed the psychometric tests to the national standard within the last 5 years! I haven't seen that stipulation before but it's probably there to speed the recruitment process up... It could work to the benefit of some.

Seems standard for GBRF. Why would they waste money sending people for OPC tests when there is probably a load of people sat in talent pools chomping at the bit to get into a cab.

Also I would imagine the training backlog in operators like gbrf are considerably less than your average TOC, so delays due to lack of availablity could be less of an issue.

 

[Oldnewbie]

GB will not spend the money on the testing, and given how many people in London will be in a talent pool with passed tests, it makes perfect sense.

That said, if you are applying for this just make sure you manage your expectations about who you are going to work for and what sort of treatment you will receive. Look for any parts of the contract that force you to stay for a certain period and what not as well.

I’d personally recommend avoiding this if you can, unless you’re desperate for a licence.

Not exactly a glowing recommendation but potentially very useful to know, thanks!

 

[Tophat]

Not exactly a glowing recommendation but potentially very useful to know, thanks!

GB will not spend the money on the testing, and given how many people in London will be in a talent pool with passed tests, it makes perfect sense.

That said, if you are applying for this just make sure you manage your expectations about who you are going to work for and what sort of treatment you will receive. Look for any parts of the contract that force you to stay for a certain period and what not as well.

I’d personally recommend avoiding this if you can, unless you’re desperate for a licence.

Could you elebrate on why you’d avoid Gbrf please, as I’m awaiting outcome from an interview which seemed positive as did the company but I’ve obviously only seen it from a company point of view

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Could you elebrate on why you’d avoid Gbrf please, as I’m awaiting outcome from an interview which seemed positive as did the company but I’ve obviously only seen it from a company point of view

Poor rostering practices, poor treatment of staff, and a seemingly ongoing rise in safety-related incidents. Lots of very tired staff, and lots of difficult weeks with lots and lots of hours in.

Exploitative practices.

 

[Carl98k]

I’ve just emailed them to confirm the location.

 

[66701GBRF]

Willesden. April 2022 start.
£23,000 through 12 months training

GB Railfreight Limited – Pioneering the digital rail freight revolution.

careers-gbrailfreight.icims.com

That training wage is ridiculous and the extra “benefits“ are pretty poor!

 

[Tophat]

Poor rostering practices, poor treatment of staff, and a seemingly ongoing rise in safety-related incidents. Lots of very tired staff, and lots of difficult weeks with lots and lots of hours in.

Exploitative practices.

Thanks

 

[66701GBRF]

Poor rostering practices, poor treatment of staff, and a seemingly ongoing rise in safety-related incidents. Lots of very tired staff, and lots of difficult weeks with lots and lots of hours in.

Exploitative practices.

In all honesty I cannot dispute any of that. The union is pi33 poor and weaker than water too.

 

[Tophat]

In all honesty I cannot dispute any of that. The union is pi33 poor and weaker than water too.

Does it vary via depots or are all in the same boat in terms of what’s been said?

 

[4-SUB 4732]

In all honesty I cannot dispute any of that. The union is pi33 poor and weaker than water too.

That’s it. Old Ba**y needs to start remembering the drivers need to be treated properly and paid properly.

 

[66701GBRF]

Across the board sadly.

 

[Tophat]

Across the board sadly.

Thanks

 

[Driver0202]

A lot of negativity on here about Gb and I can personally say I enjoy it , get the odd chaos shift where nothing goes to plan and you end up in a different part of the country your diagrammed to be at but that’s makes it quite enjoyable tbh, they arnt a bad company to work for, far better than anywhere else I’ve worked. Not got great perks , but everyone is quite friendly if your friendly towards them. Every TOc/FOC has there issues but nothing is hidden on the contract. Anyway wanting a drivers job jump in for it.

 

[Carl98k]

A lot of negativity on here about Gb and I can personally say I enjoy it , get the odd chaos shift where nothing goes to plan and you end up in a different part of the country your diagrammed to be at but that’s makes it quite enjoyable tbh, they arnt a bad company to work for, far better than anywhere else I’ve worked. Not got great perks , but everyone is quite friendly if your friendly towards them. Every TOc/FOC has there issues but nothing is hidden on the contract. Anyway wanting a drivers job jump in for it.

Can you confirm if the job advertised is for Willesden? That add says Willesden but must live near Crewe. Thanks

 

[Spencer2511]

Shame , was looking at applying but not been able to take my tests yet so can’t apply, has anyone ever gone a private route to get the tests themselves?

 

[Carl98k]

Can you confirm if the job advertised is for Willesden? That add says Willesden but must live near Crewe. Thanks

Ignore this, I’ve applied. The jobs in London and training takes place in Peterborough

 

[NorthernTech]

Shame , was looking at applying but not been able to take my tests yet so can’t apply, has anyone ever gone a private route to get the tests themselves?

There is a company up in Manchester that we’re doing it called Railway Competence Group. About £500 if I recall. Same rules apply if you fail you lose a life etc. If you use the search function you’ll find other threads that have discussed doing the training privately. Having the tests definitely doesn’t guarantee you’ll progress any further though, but in this instance, would have allowed you to apply

 

[Spencer2511]

There is a company up in Manchester that we’re doing it called Railway Competence Group. About £500 if I recall. Same rules apply if you fail you lose a life etc. If you use the search function you’ll find other threads that have discussed doing the training privately. Having the tests definitely doesn’t guarantee you’ll progress any further though, but in this instance, would have allowed you to apply

Many thanks for that, I keep going for trainee but haven’t reached the test stage, torn between doing it myself or hoping I get there one day.

 

[NorthernTech]

Many thanks for that, I keep going for trainee but haven’t reached the rest stage, torn between doing it myself or hoping I get there one day.

No worries, I considered doing it through them last year but then had an invite to do the tests via a company where thankfully I passed. Still no further on though…like I said, doesn’t guarantee any further progress. Good luck moving forward