Got the trainee train driver job with Southern

[A-driver]

Hi JB, I'm getting what's been called 'proper' training (no iPads here), with a gent called Trevor, so far so good. Done the PTS - 'Competent' and got my SwID card yesterday. Today, done my 1st day of 'Cab Experience' with Jim; saw the PM for a timesheet and saw where VicPaul has his pigeon hole for his mail - "It's quite full by the way matey - have a look!" lol

Just a friendly word of caution and I don't mean any offence by this but I would be very careful about posts like the above. I know that southerns social media team read this forum and they now know exactly who you are (and who you are doing your footplate turns with). Read what your contract says about media and be aware you will now be on their 'list' as there is little doubt of your true identity!

I'm not trying to scare you etc and obviously you haven't said anything that they may take issue with but all it takes is a lack of thought before posting a few years later something against your employer or something relating to an incident you may have had etc and you could find yourself in hot water. Plus, being a trainee, you could potentially drop 'jim' in it by posting in other threads along the lines of 'my DI nearly missed xyz station today-luckily step 3 stopped us just intime' etc.

Ask around about the Victoria conductor who almost lost his job over a Facebook post and perhaps consider deleting your account here and setting up a new username - I know that it sounds over the top and I mean this in a friendly way but I know your employer and other TOCs definitely read this forum and id hate to see anyone loose their job over a comment made on here.

But glad you are enjoying the job so far-just be careful.

 

[Degsi00]

Thanks for the friendly word of caution, by no means was that my opinion just repeating an expression from a couple of older fellows who like the old days of the secondman from the steam age. Lol, suffice to say, even what I'm currently doing doesn't meet there standards "oh, the good old days hey?!?".
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[A-driver]

Thanks for the friendly word of caution, by no means was that my opinion just repeating an expression from a couple of older fellows who like the old days of the secondman from the steam age. Lol, suffice to say, even what I'm currently doing doesn't meet there standards "oh, the good old days hey?!?".
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I didn't mean specifically what you said there with the name but meant more that you have now identified yourself on here and your employer now knows what your username on here is so take extra care in future posts as you have given them a great deal of evidence to ID you (we know your depot, start date, 10day DI, training school group/trainer etc) so it's not hard for them to find out who you are!

 

[Degsi00]

it's not hard for them to find out who you are!

Understood and appreciated. It's never been my character to rant and rave about my employer or colleagues on the interweb, but I get your drift and it's very welcome - cheers buddy.

 

[A-driver]

Understood and appreciated. It's never been my character to rant and rave about my employer or colleagues on the interweb, but I get your drift and it's very welcome - cheers buddy.

No worries. Enjoy the training!

 

[Degsi00]

I didn't mean specifically what you said there with the name but meant more that you have now identified yourself on here and your employer now knows what your username on here is so take extra care in future posts as you have given them a great deal of evidence to ID you (we know your depot, start date, 10day DI, training school group/trainer etc) so it's not hard for them to find out who you are!

No worries. Enjoy the training!

Currently trying to make sense of the rule book as we speak *sad - I know*

Enjoy the weekend

 

[Vicpaul]

Currently trying to make sense of the rule book as we speak *sad - I know*

Enjoy the weekend

It will all sink in and if you need it deciphering give me a shout

 

[Degsi00]

It will all sink in and if you need it deciphering give me a shout

Cheers mate, not that I'm trying to digest the whole thing! - However, I'll keep you to that!

 

[Vicpaul]

Never a problem, I'm away for a week but JB25 knows his stuff.

 

[JB25]

Never a problem, I'm away for a week but JB25 knows his stuff.

Apparently.

 

[TDK]

Do you know what.. Good point, it didn't occur that it might offend. *Edits* in order.

Ta.

Seriously degsi you need to keep all posts to PM and not on an open forum. Especially names, training and what your are doing and anything at all about your new employer. I know you are excited but I have seem people pulled in and warned for posting on FB, forums etc. I suggest strongly you delete your post with names in.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Currently trying to make sense of the rule book as we speak *sad - I know*

Enjoy the weekend

The best thing with the rule book is to keep it shut until you are trained on rules, it will only confuse you and make your rules training a lot more difficult.

 

[Degsi00]

Thanks TDK for both bits of advice. However, the first bit is gonna require the help of a Moderator or everyone amending their quoted posts?!? I'll contact ADMIN.

Cheers.

 

[TDK]

Thanks TDK for both bits of advice. However, the first bit is gonna require the help of a Moderator or everyone amending their quoted posts?!? I'll contact ADMIN.

Cheers.

No problem. As a now railway employee you need to think before you post. Just look at the post and think you are a manager reading it

 

[NewForest]

I've just been browsing this thread - I have no connection with Southern or any other TOC (except as a passenger) and no opinions on the above. I note that the OP quickly edited his posts to remove the names of individual staff members, when suggested. And yet those names are still there in the quotes provided by others who drew his attention to this! For example, post #31 in this thread. How ironic! Perhaps those commenters should do the OP a service and edit/remove their quotes as well! Just a thought...

 

[Beveridges]

No problem. As a now railway employee you need to think before you post. Just look at the post and think you are a manager reading it

If I looked at my posts and imagined my manager was reading them then half of the stuff I come out with would never end up on the forum!

 

[TOCDriver]

Somebody at my depot only very recently got sacked for posting pictures and defamatory words about our employer on twitter. Not only was he taking pictures of customers and making derogatory comments about them, but he was also taking pictures of cabs and other TOC trains that he was travelling on to to reach his next services. Not good - believe you me, your employers really do monitor social media like a hawk!

 

[Beveridges]

LOL have they got anything better to do in their free time after they've done a long day in the office than to sit in front of a computer in their spare time trying to drop employees in the 5hit ?

 

[Dieseldriver]

I was told that people are employed specifically for the purposes of monitoring social networking and auction sites in some companies?

 

[DistrictDriver]

I was told that people are employed specifically for the purposes of monitoring social networking and auction sites in some companies?

London Underground certainly do. They monitor social media, forums (such as this) and Ebay etc. Amazing the amount of LU stuff that was on Ebay at one time!

 

[Clip]

LOL have they got anything better to do in their free time after they've done a long day in the office than to sit in front of a computer in their spare time trying to drop employees in the 5hit ?

The same could be said of posters who actually use the forums in the first place.

Difference being is they get paid to do it at work and not in their spare time. There are wise words for others out there who post on here about their inductions and all the other stuff that goes with it - dont unless you want to get yourself in bother. There is more than one reason why they scan forums and social media and its not just to make sure the company name doesnt get sullied by staff members.

Eyes and ears everywhere when you work on the railway and for good reason at times too.

 

[Beveridges]

The same could be said of posters who actually use the forums in the first place.

Not really - most of the time I'm on here is when I'm on one of my numerous breaks that I get between 'playing trains' at the premier depot.

Difference being is they get paid to do it at work and not in their spare time. There are wise words for others out there who post on here about their inductions and all the other stuff that goes with it - dont unless you want to get yourself in bother. There is more than one reason why they scan forums and social media and its not just to make sure the company name doesnt get sullied by staff members.

Eyes and ears everywhere when you work on the railway and for good reason at times too.

What a waste of corporate money - I am sure they have they got better things to spend it on

 

[A-driver]

Not really - most of the time I'm on here is when I'm on one of my numerous breaks that I get between 'playing trains' at the premier depot.




What a waste of corporate money - I am sure they have they got better things to spend it on

I'm sure they could find better uses for the money to but with private companies running the railways HR have a great deal of power and company image/bringing the company into disrepute is high on their agendas.

 

[Vicpaul]

more time should be focused on running the railway and keeping the thousands of punters that slate the company happy

 

[Clip]

What a waste of corporate money - I am sure they have they got better things to spend it on

Probably, but the people who do monitor them are involved in other stuff too as it falls within the customer services dept so its just another role tagged on.

more time should be focused on running the railway and keeping the thousands of punters that slate the company happy

Sorry but other departments are used to focus on the railway and trying to keep the millions of apparently apathetic customers who do not complain happy. Unless you are saying we should do away with customer servies departments alltogether so people dont even get a reply when they do complain?

 

[Vicpaul]

Not at all and I wont be dragged into openly discussing my beliefs on an open forum

 

[Clip]

Not at all and I wont be dragged into openly discussing my beliefs on an open forum

But you miss my point. The CS department is solely there to keep passengers happy and one of the things they do is monitor social media and forums like this one and especially MSE mainly to deal with CS issues but if they come across someone who is thick enough to gob off about their own company then that will get passed down the line.

I openly use this forum and my role within the railway is known here but I do not mention my company at all because its the sensible thing to do. If people fail to understand that then thats not anyones fault but their own.

 

[Vicpaul]

I don't miss your point at all.

If you are silly enough to jump on any open platform and bring either your employer or your colleagues into disrepute then its only fair to suffer the consequences.

 

[ninja_man]

I recently applied for trainee train driver in january, I havent heard anything back but, I emailed southern and I was told my application was still being considered. How long did it take you guys to get a response?