GTR/1878 - Orpington Depot

[Terryp1984]

Where did you hear that? I emailed Trudy today but no response yet?

 

[MelTD@CFT]

Where did you hear that? I emailed Trudy today but no response yet?

I called Trudy this morning. Back in November she said to give her a call about the medical if I hadn’t heard from her by mid-January which I did today. If you hear back from her let us know.

 

[bionic]

Please note this is based on rumour, not fact... but...

I'm still fully expecting most of the Orpington GTR depot vacancies to go to SE drivers from the same location, over 60 of whom already sign the routes and traction. That sucks for people waiting to get in there as trainees but the general consensus among many is that's what will happen.

I hope I'm wrong, but if I was waiting for these jobs I'd also be busily looking elsewhere to start my driver training.

 

[Niek88]

I called Trudy this morning. Back in November she said to give her a call about the medical if I hadn’t heard from her by mid-January which I did today. If you hear back from her let us know.

Did Trudy tell you this directly?

 

[MelTD@CFT]

Did Trudy tell you this directly?

She did and she didn’t want to commit to future dates.

 

[Niek88]

She did and she didn’t want to commit to future dates.

Wow. Not good news at all. Well, i guess that is that. Back to the drawing board.

 

[MelTD@CFT]

Yeah you’re right, although you never know... Best to keep your options open.

 

[Terryp1984]

Gutted tbh.
Can't believe they would do all interviews last year if there were no courses or start dates just seems crazy

 

[Need2]

Please note this is based on rumour, not fact... but...

I'm still fully expecting most of the Orpington GTR depot vacancies to go to SE drivers from the same location, over 60 of whom already sign the routes and traction. That sucks for people waiting to get in there as trainees but the general consensus among many is that's what will happen.

I hope I'm wrong, but if I was waiting for these jobs I'd also be busily looking elsewhere to start my driver training.

I'm not.
From what I understand a few SE drivers applied and then the process of Thameslink 'poaching' drivers was stopped abruptly, it was then supposedly to restart in December.
It hasn't to my knowledge.
I have spoken to a few SE drivers and none of them are aware of any drivers from Orpington SE going over to Thameslink............................(yet!)

 

[bionic]

I'm not.
From what I understand a few SE drivers applied and then the process of Thameslink 'poaching' drivers was stopped abruptly, it was then supposedly to restart in December.
It hasn't to my knowledge.
I have spoken to a few SE drivers and none of them are aware of any drivers from Orpington SE going over to Thameslink............................(yet!)

That's because SE drivers currently do the work for less than GTR drivers. MORE than half of Orpington SE depot applied for GTR jobs after a flyer SPECIFICALLY ASKING SE DRIVERS TO APPLY was left "lying around" at all SE metro depots except Orpington. Notably GTR took on drivers from other depots without them having to honour their notice period. It's not in their interests to take Orpy drivers until SE lose the work. Then half the SE depot will be left twiddling it's thumbs. They'll take Orpington SE drivers en masse when the time is right. If they don't I'll eat my hat!

 

[Need2]

That's because SE drivers currently do the work for less than GTR drivers. MORE than half of Orpington SE depot applied for GTR jobs after a flyer SPECIFICALLY ASKING SE DRIVERS TO APPLY was left "lying around" at all SE metro depots except Orpington. Notably GTR took on drivers from other depots without them having to honour their notice period. It's not in their interests to take Orpy drivers until SE lose the work. Then half the SE depot will be left twiddling it's thumbs. They'll take Orpington SE drivers en masse when the time is right. If they don't I'll eat my hat!

The drivers pay might be less for a SE driver but overall it costs more to get SE to do the work than a TL driver!
There's not 1 ex SE driver at my depot and are you saying that SE employed and trained drivers specifically to cover Thameslink work so that when the work is taken back by TL they will have nothing to do?

 

[Niek88]

Is there likely to be any trainee courses further down in the year? It would be nice to get an official update as to what is going on.

 

[ComUtoR]

It's not in their interests to take Orpy drivers until SE lose the work. Then half the SE depot will be left twiddling it's thumbs. They'll take Orpington SE drivers en masse when the time is right. If they don't I'll eat my hat!

There's not 1 ex SE driver at my depot and are you saying that SE employed and trained drivers specifically to cover Thameslink work so that when the work is taken back by TL they will have nothing to do?

May I politely suggest you take this to private messages. The internal discussions about Orpington/GTR/SE/Poaching etc and the in's and outs aren't really suitable for public consumption and would be close to breaching the social media policy.

Should a depot lose a fair portion of their work they may become over establishment and therefore have a surplus of Drivers. Whether this would be resolved by TUPE or Redundancy is a matter for those involved and certainly would be done after consultation and most likely voluntary. There would most likely be a shuffle of work between the Metro depots and Orpington may even get their Mainline work back etc etc. There is also a question of the franchise and if any new incumbent would continue the working arrangements etc. Time will tell and I know that the establishments level at Vic is on the increase and they normally change overt ime regardless.

Before I digress further. Remember this is a recruitment thread.

 

[bionic]

The drivers pay might be less for a SE driver but overall it costs more to get SE to do the work than a TL driver!
There's not 1 ex SE driver at my depot and are you saying that SE employed and trained drivers specifically to cover Thameslink work so that when the work is taken back by TL they will have nothing to do?

Yes. That is exactly what I'm saying.

 

[Lab]

Gutted tbh.
Can't believe they would do all interviews last year if there were no courses or start dates just seems crazy

Have you spoken to Trudy lately?

 

[Lab]

So is it a matter of waiting and is there a possibility this course would be this year

 

[KentDriver]

May I politely suggest you take this to private messages. The internal discussions about Orpington/GTR/SE/Poaching etc and the in's and outs aren't really suitable for public consumption and would be close to breaching the social media policy.

Should a depot lose a fair portion of their work they may become over establishment and therefore have a surplus of Drivers. Whether this would be resolved by TUPE or Redundancy is a matter for those involved and certainly would be done after consultation and most likely voluntary. There would most likely be a shuffle of work between the Metro depots and Orpington may even get their Mainline work back etc etc. There is also a question of the franchise and if any new incumbent would continue the working arrangements etc. Time will tell and I know that the establishments level at Vic is on the increase and they normally change overt ime regardless.

Before I digress further. Remember this is a recruitment thread.

What ComUtoR said

 

[Terryp1984]

Have you spoken to Trudy lately?

Nothing yet I emailed her on Monday but no reply may just have to call her

 

[bionic]

Should a depot lose a fair portion of their work they may become over establishment and therefore have a surplus of Drivers. Whether this would be resolved by TUPE or Redundancy is a matter for those involved and certainly would be done after consultation and most likely voluntary.

To be honest your mentioning of TUPE and redundancies is quite alarming and courts contoversy far more than any personal opinions myself and others may have mooted on the subject. Clearly you are privy to inside information. I never dreamt there would be talk of drivers being TUPE'd across or voluntary redundancies.

I just assumed GTR would cherry pick the drivers they wanted and the others would stay working for SE. That was just an opinion. Based on what you've posted about possible redundancies, I've obviously been barking up the wrong tree.

I know that the establishments level at Vic is on the increase

And what's the increasing establishment at Victoria got to do with any of this?

You suggested people should keep their personal opinions to private messages and then went and dropped a bombshell!

Point taken. I'll not say another word on the subject.

 

[bigbeerbelly]

Does anyone have an email address for the recruitment team at GTR? Would have messaged one of you directly but no idea how to do that on here!!

 

[Terryp1984]

The only email I have is for Trudy. Just spoke to her on the phone. There is no courses now booked she didn't know why. Said she is waiting for an update as to when that might be. So frustrating to be sitting in limbo

 

[Lab]

Any news anyone?

 

[Ray90]

Not yet, though Trudy advised me to call back in April, when she should have more info/news. I'll call back then.

 

[MelTD@CFT]

Not yet, though Trudy advised me to call back in April, when she should have more info/news. I'll call back then.

It seems like everyone is receiving the dreaded email from Trudy that training dates in 2019 are unlikely, regardless of the depot. Just received mine, as did people for Cricklewood & Hornsey...

 

[Niek88]

Its just a matter of being patient ladies and gents. The email did not rule out an eventual start date.

 

[DM92]

I've been waiting for course date with Gtr since March 2016. Still told same thing.

 

[ESONEULB]

I've been waiting for course date with Gtr since March 2016. Still told same thing.

Wow 3 yrs ,

You must be number 1 in the queue

 

[Cavey81]

I just find it hard to understand why they would waste so much time and resources on recruitment then just keep people waiting for years. Doesn't make sense.

 

[Terryp1984]

Long shot I know but has anyone heard anything yet?

 

[Niek88]

Apart from the recent update email, nothing. Fingers crossed for 2020.