GWR Par Depot

[Bono]

Noticed GWR have had an advert for qualified drivers at Par Depot for some time now. I’ve read a bit on here about the routes/traction etc, but after some further info if anyone can help.

Roughly how many drivers are at the depot? What would a typical day/shift look like? Is it a rolling three week roster? Currently, what are the earliest start/latest finish times?

Feel free to message if preferred.

TIA

 

[Bono]

In case anyone missed this first time around, any insight would be appreciated.

 

[irish_rail]

Cant help with all your questions, but yes it's a 3 week shift pattern with long weekend every 3 weeks. Earliest book on is quite late, can't remember exactly, but its about 6am or something ! Similarly no particularly late finishes and no nights at present. Driver number, I don't know but I'd estimate its about 20 to 30 drivers, or thereabouts. So it's not a tiny depot, but it's far from large either.

 

[Ashley Hill]

AFAIK it’s mostly early,middle and late work. I don’t think there’s a night ferrying turn. There is a lot of travelling passenger to get around the various branches too. A typical day may involve 5 trips to Falmouth and one Newquay,or 1 Gunnislake and 3 Looes. There’s little straight mainline work at Par. I don’t know what there link patterns are like though.

 

[irish_rail]

AFAIK it’s mostly early,middle and late work. I don’t think there’s a night ferrying turn. There is a lot of travelling passenger to get around the various branches too. A typical day may involve 5 trips to Falmouth and one Newquay,or 1 Gunnislake and 3 Looes. There’s little straight mainline work at Par. I don’t know what there link patterns are like though.

I'd say they have a lot more mainline work than previously. Whether that will change when Cornwall metro comes in is up for debate.

 

[Bono]

Thank you @irish_rail @Ashley Hill

 

[westcoaster]

Always seems to be one of those depots looking for qualified drivers all the time.
Guess it's like the remote ScotRail depots, people like the thought of the remotness, but the reality is much different.

 

[irish_rail]

Always seems to be one of those depots looking for qualified drivers all the time.
Guess it's like the remote ScotRail depots, people like the thought of the remotness, but the reality is much different.

Not really fair as the turnover at Par is very low. Its more to do with their increasing workload why they are constantly recruiting. A few years back Par has virtually no mainline work now they do loads between Penzance and Plymouth. And of course the Cornish metro will require lots of extra drivers and planning for it has been in the pipeline for several years. Very few drivers go to Par then leave. It isn't quite as remote as you'd think, being on the doorstep of Cornwalls largest town (St Austell). Its far less "cut off" than its far northern Scottish equivalents.

 

[Gloster]

That part of Cornwall is not remote, unless you define remote as being a long way from London, Birmingham or other big cities with lots of entertainments. I lived in Dobwalls for a while and sometimes wish I had never left.

 

[State]

Sounds like a good depot for qualified and a good place to live