GWR Conductor Training

[pjuk79]

Good afternoon,

Is anyone able to give me an idea of what the training is like for the conductor role at GWR, please? I would like to know:

How long the training usually lasts?
Where the training usually takes place?
Is accommodation provided if the training is away from your home station?
Is there anything I should try to learn in advance of the training?

Any tips at all would be greatly appreciated

PJ

 

[WestieRail]

Hi,

Welcome to GWR! I think that it's a fantastic company to work for Where will you be based?

Training should last around 3-4 months.

My training mostly took place in Swindon, with some in Bristol (PTS and Train Evacuation). I had some great trainers, and the course was well laid out. I've heard of training taking place in Newton Abbot for other trainees.

If your home depot is more than 2 - 2.5 hours away from the training centre, then accomodation is provided along with a meal allowance of £25 per night, plus breakfast.

There is a lot to learn and take in. I'd recommend coming prepared with plenty of spare paper and pens! My group was very supportive, so we all learnt at a similar pace. I'm sure your group will be similar! The trainers will ensure to help if you are stuck on anything.

I found both the training, and I find the job to be, very enjoyable. I hope you will too

 

[Stigy]

Good afternoon,

Is anyone able to give me an idea of what the training is like for the conductor role at GWR, please? I would like to know:

How long the training usually lasts?
Where the training usually takes place?
Is accommodation provided if the training is away from your home station?
Is there anything I should try to learn in advance of the training?

Any tips at all would be greatly appreciated

PJ

Can’t really add much to what @WestieRail said, but will add that you’ll more than likely be advised against reading ahead of the course as it’s designed to take you through the rules from start to finish, and assumes everyone has no prior Railway knowledge. I’m a trainee driver for GWR, but fundamentally the principle is the same. I was Railway before becoming a trainee driver, but more operational experience didn’t stretch much beyond PTS; I kind of regret not reading up on rules etc before starting as I feel in hindsight this would have helped. I passed all my assessments with ease, but feel I struggled where others with more knowledge didn’t.

I was in a hotel for 15 weeks or so and can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my working life. I’ve met some friends for life, and our group is particularly close. I was the only one in a hotel, but to be honest that didn’t bother me.

Good luck!

 

[pjuk79]

Hi,

Welcome to GWR! I think that it's a fantastic company to work for Where will you be based?

Training should last around 3-4 months.

My training mostly took place in Swindon, with some in Bristol (PTS and Train Evacuation). I had some great trainers, and the course was well laid out. I've heard of training taking place in Newton Abbot for other trainees.

If your home depot is more than 2 - 2.5 hours away from the training centre, then accomodation is provided along with a meal allowance of £25 per night, plus breakfast.

There is a lot to learn and take in. I'd recommend coming prepared with plenty of spare paper and pens! My group was very supportive, so we all learnt at a similar pace. I'm sure your group will be similar! The trainers will ensure to help if you are stuck on anything.

I found both the training, and I find the job to be, very enjoyable. I hope

Hi WestieRail,

I'll be based in Redhill. I've never worked on the trains before so I really appreciate the information and advice you have given. Very helpful

Where are you based?

Regards,

pjuk79

Can’t really add much to what @WestieRail said, but will add that you’ll more than likely be advised against reading ahead of the course as it’s designed to take you through the rules from start to finish, and assumes everyone has no prior Railway knowledge. I’m a trainee driver for GWR, but fundamentally the principle is the same. I was Railway before becoming a trainee driver, but more operational experience didn’t stretch much beyond PTS; I kind of regret not reading up on rules etc before starting as I feel in hindsight this would have helped. I passed all my assessments with ease, but feel I struggled where others with more knowledge didn’t.

I was in a hotel for 15 weeks or so and can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my working life. I’ve met some friends for life, and our group is particularly close. I was the only one in a hotel, but to be honest that didn’t bother me.

Good luck!

Thanks Stigy,

I am new to working on the trains so I'm not familiar with any of it. Is there somewhere I can get a copy of "The Rules" so I can get a head start? I worked on flights before and when I did my training for the planes I felt a little lost as I didn't even know a lot of the terminology that was used! I'm glad that they teach us all as if we have no previous railway knowledge. That gives me some comfort

Thank again, pjuk79

 

[Stigy]

Hi WestieRail,

I'll be based in Redhill. I've never worked on the trains before so I really appreciate the information and advice you have given. Very helpful

Where are you based?

Regards,

pjuk79


Thanks Stigy,

I am new to working on the trains so I'm not familiar with any of it. Is there somewhere I can get a copy of "The Rules" so I can get a head start? I worked on flights before and when I did my training for the planes I felt a little lost as I didn't even know a lot of the terminology that was used! I'm glad that they teach us all as if we have no previous railway knowledge. That gives me some comfort

Thank again, pjuk79

The RSSB Rulebook is what you’ll be working from. You won’t be able to sign up for an account without a Railway email as far as I’m aware, so you’ll have full access once you start.

I believe there are modules readily available online though? What I would say is though, don’t read it excessively. Just a bit now and then as it will just overwhelm you and you don’t need to actually know half of it? Maybe limit yourself to Module G1 to start with? (Basically what you’ll be doing in PTS and is very basic track safety rules).

 

[tiptoptaff]

If you're Redhill based then the "depot" stuff that Westie Rail did at Bristol will likely be done at Reading.

Apart from that, I've nothing to add to what has been said above.

 

[pjuk79]

The RSSB Rulebook is what you’ll be working from. You won’t be able to sign up for an account without a Railway email as far as I’m aware, so you’ll have full access once you start.

I believe there are modules readily available online though? What I would say is though, don’t read it excessively. Just a bit now and then as it will just overwhelm you and you don’t need to actually know half of it? Maybe limit yourself to Module G1 to start with? (Basically what you’ll be doing in PTS and is very basic track safety rules).

Awesome Thank again!

If you're Redhill based then the "depot" stuff that Westie Rail did at Bristol will likely be done at Reading.

Apart from that, I've nothing to add to what has been said above.

Thank you I'm guessing the rest of my training will be at Swindon. Not sure if things have changed because of Covid?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Awesome Thank again!


Thank you I'm guessing the rest of my training will be at Swindon. Not sure if things have changed because of Covid?

Unfortunately I couldn't tell you. I do know the training schools are open and running, Driver courses at Bristol SPM have been running but with groups split down in to sub-groups with staggered start times to observe social distancing and room capacity rules

 

[pjuk79]

Unfortunately I couldn't tell you. I do know the training schools are open and running, Driver courses at Bristol SPM have been running but with groups split down in to sub-groups with staggered start times to observe social distancing and room capacity rules

thanks again!

 

[WestieRail]

Hi again,

In which case: welcome to the Redhill team, I look forward to meeting you! It's a small depot, with some great people.

I echo what's been said above. In regards to Rules etc, you'll get all of the access you need during your training. Others in my group didn't have a Railway background, but we all picked things up quickly. So I'm sure you will be fine

Your training will most likely be in Swindon and Bristol, with accomodation optionally provided. (As Redhill to Swindon is doable in a day, but it's a long journey. I mostly did the journey, but took the option of a hotel in Rules Week 4). Redhill to Bristol is another matter. I stayed in a hotel for that week. As mentioned above, I also made some great friends during training.

You will get your training dates and locations closer to your start time. It's all very organised.

 

[pjuk79]

Hi again,

In which case: welcome to the Redhill team, I look forward to meeting you! It's a small depot, with some great people.

I echo what's been said above. In regards to Rules etc, you'll get all of the access you need during your training. Others in my group didn't have a Railway background, but we all picked things up quickly. So I'm sure you will be fine

Your training will most likely be in Swindon and Bristol, with accomodation optionally provided. (As Redhill to Swindon is doable in a day, but it's a long journey. I mostly did the journey, but took the option of a hotel in Rules Week 4). Redhill to Bristol is another matter. I stayed in a hotel for that week. As mentioned above, I also made some great friends during training.

You will get your training dates and locations closer to your start time. It's all very organised.

Thanks, I look forward to meeting you too .

I think I would prefer to stay in Swindon rather than drive, especially during training, so I'm hoping that will be an option for me. It's great if they provide a hotel, that doesn't happen at the airlines!

I'm guessing that being based at Redhill it would be on the Gatwick to Reading route?

 

[Stigy]

Thanks, I look forward to meeting you too .

I think I would prefer to stay in Swindon rather than drive, especially during training, so I'm hoping that will be an option for me. It's great if they provide a hotel, that doesn't happen at the airlines!

I'm guessing that being based at Redhill it would be on the Gatwick to Reading route?

GWR are in a minority as far as supplying accommodation goes. It’s probably going to be quicker on the train to Swindon than driving.

 

[pjuk79]

GWR are in a minority as far as supplying accommodation goes. It’s probably going to be quicker on the train to Swindon than driving.

Thanks, Stigy. I would probably stay over in Swindon for most of the training if I can, rather than commuting every day. It would probably be an extra 4 hours of commuting every day otherwise.

 

[WestieRail]

The train journey takes about 2 hours each way, so it is quite a lot. You will have a temporary travel pass for it as it's all on GWR trains from Redhill. I got paid overtime for this travelling time though, seeing as Redhill is right on the cusp of the max travelling time for a hotel stay. I did get offered a hotel stay if I needed it, though.

At Redhill, we do Gatwick Airport to Reading and Reading to Basingstoke. On Class 165s/166s and soon 769s.

 

[Steam Man]

Thanks, Stigy. I would probably stay over in Swindon for most of the training if I can, rather than commuting every day. It would probably be an extra 4 hours of commuting every day otherwise.

You’ll do alright

 

[pjuk79]

You’ll do alright

Thanks

The train journey takes about 2 hours each way, so it is quite a lot. You will have a temporary travel pass for it as it's all on GWR trains from Redhill. I got paid overtime for this travelling time though, seeing as Redhill is right on the cusp of the max travelling time for a hotel stay. I did get offered a hotel stay if I needed it, though.

At Redhill, we do Gatwick Airport to Reading and Reading to Basingstoke. On Class 165s/166s and soon 769s.

Great... thanks again WestieRail. Very helpful information. Appreciate it!

 

[WestieRail]

You're most welcome!

 

[Steam Man]

Thanks


Great... thanks again WestieRail. Very helpful information. Appreciate it!

You’ll do better than I would’ve done for sure because you’re bright and I’m as thick as 2 short planks.

 

[Stigy]

The train journey takes about 2 hours each way, so it is quite a lot. You will have a temporary travel pass for it as it's all on GWR trains from Redhill. I got paid overtime for this travelling time though, seeing as Redhill is right on the cusp of the max travelling time for a hotel stay. I did get offered a hotel stay if I needed it, though.

At Redhill, we do Gatwick Airport to Reading and Reading to Basingstoke. On Class 165s/166s and soon 769s.

What’s a 769?

 

[tiptoptaff]

What’s a 769?

They're converted Cl319s, so rather than being pure AC electric units, they'll be able to run off diesel and DC 3rd rail as well. Making them, as GWR have marketed, tri-mode. But I don't like that, they're dual voltage bi-modes

 

[pjuk79]

Hi again,

In which case: welcome to the Redhill team, I look forward to meeting you! It's a small depot, with some great people.

I echo what's been said above. In regards to Rules etc, you'll get all of the access you need during your training. Others in my group didn't have a Railway background, but we all picked things up quickly. So I'm sure you will be fine

Your training will most likely be in Swindon and Bristol, with accomodation optionally provided. (As Redhill to Swindon is doable in a day, but it's a long journey. I mostly did the journey, but took the option of a hotel in Rules Week 4). Redhill to Bristol is another matter. I stayed in a hotel for that week. As mentioned above, I also made some great friends during training.

You will get your training dates and locations closer to your start time. It's all very organised.

Hi WestieRail,

I hope you don't mind me contacting you again. I've been informed that I should learn all the stops along my route, the stations that we stop at and also those that we don't. I've been told that I will need to learn the landmarks such as bridges too. Is this correct?

Cheers,

Paul

 

[WestieRail]

Hi,

Happy to help. Indeed, Route Learning will involve learning the order of every station from Gatwick Airport to Reading, and Reading to Basingstoke (learning some landmarks is so you know where you are on the route). Along with other aspects of the route, such as line names and controlling signallers. You will have quite a few days to learn this after your classroom training though, so we were told it's best not to start learning it until then (there is also a day given during classroom training, where the trainer will explain it in detail).

Sorry for the late response!

 

[pjuk79]

Great... thanks again