Isle of Wight Driver

[357]

Not advertised too often from what I understand.

First Careers

www.firstgroupcareers.com

IOW Driver
South Western Railway is committed to equal opportunities employment, and your application will be reviewed by the hiring panel with personal information removed. In order to assist this process please ensure that any attachments such as CV's or covering letter have personal details removed (this includes your name, address and email address). Any other attachments such as professional qualifications can be left unedited. Applications not following this guidance may be rejected.

Looking for an opportunity to join an exciting new team?

Are you safety focused?

Do you place the customer at the heart of everything you do?

Why not become part of our Driver team based at the Island Line Depot, our unique and special operation on the Isle of Wight.

Adaptable
Ready to go the extra mile
Positive, proactive and professional
Highly professional and a great communicator
Dedicated to safety
Looking to continue your professional development with an inclusive employer
Driving a train is a highly disciplined, safety critical job with strict rules and regulations. The safety of our customers and employees is a vital part of who we are.

Our Train Drivers must have good eyesight and perfect colour vision. Speed and distance perception should be excellent. You will also need to be fit enough to climb in and out of cabs from platform or trackside.

Drivers can work unsociable hours including weekends and some bank holidays; a long attention span and strong personal commitment are essential to your success in this role.

To be eligible for this role, you must live within 45 minutes maximum travelling distance of Ryde St John's Road Station. Sometimes shifts can start as early as 03.00 and so having your own method of transport is preferred. The minimum age limit for driver applications is 21.

The salary for a fully productive driver is £43,362.

These roles are highly sought after, and we receive far more applications than we have vacancies. Because of this, our adverts for these positions may close before the application deadline due to a high volume of applications. We aim to deal with every application as quickly as possible.



Working Pattern

As a full time Island Line Driver, you will work an average of 37 hours per week over 5 days week.



In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits including free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employee, free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependant), 75% discount on many other train operating companies, a range of retail benefits and an excellent pension scheme.



At SWR we believe our people are our greatest asset.

Our vision is to recruit and retain the best talent from the most diverse pool of candidates across our regions.

We are committed to establishing a sense of inclusion for all and to value each person for the unique contribution they bring.



Ref:020119
Companyouth Western Railway
Website Skillset:Train Driver
Contract Type:Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours:37
Location:Isle of Wight - Ryde
Salary:£43,362 per annum
Closing Date:9 September 2022

 

[43066]

Not advertised too often from what I understand.

First Careers

www.firstgroupcareers.com

Terrible salary! Why are they not paid the same as SWR on the mainland?!

 

[Gloster]

That is the second one in about a year. They are still asking for applicants who will ‘go the extra mile’: not a good idea on Ryde Pier.

 

[357]

Terrible salary! Why are they not paid the same as SWR on the mainland?!

Is the line still maintained by SWR and "Not NR infrastructure"?

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Terrible salary! Why are they not paid the same as SWR on the mainland?!

Several factors at play here. Isle of Wight is a relatively low wage economy with many retired people and low paid seasonal jobs so will look like a good wage to many locals who are interested. The drivers probably have the most restricted route and traction knowledge of any driver in the UK.

 

[nb2001uk]

Terrible salary! Why are they not paid the same as SWR on the mainland?!

Very different work, very different locations Why would they get the same (65k?) as SWR drivers?

Like asking why London tram drivers are on £45k

 

[bramling]

Several factors at play here. Isle of Wight is a relatively low wage economy with many retired people and low paid seasonal jobs so will look like a good wage to many locals who are interested. The drivers probably have the most restricted route and traction knowledge of any driver in the UK.

The latter may be the case now, but one could make a case to say that when they had the 483s they had to work with one of the more complex traction types to be found anywhere.

Terrible salary! Why are they not paid the same as SWR on the mainland?!

The answer to this is probably in the initial advert where it says they receive many more applicants than there are roles available, so a simple case of supply and demand. A bit mean, though, as Island Line drivers seem to be on the go quite intensively (unless they have their own carve-ups?).

 

[43066]

Is the line still maintained by SWR and "Not NR infrastructure"?

Maybe that has something to do with it.

Very different work, very different locations Why would they get the same (65k?) as SWR drivers?

Because most TOCs pay the same (possibly plus or minus a London weighting).

Like asking why London tram drivers are on £45k

It isn’t like asking that at all, though. They aren’t driving trams on line of sight.

The answer to this is probably in the initial advert where it says they receive many more applicants than there are roles available, so a simple case of supply and demand. A bit mean, though, as Island Line drivers seem to be on the go quite intensively (unless they have their own carve-ups?).

Indeed, very different to the approach usually taken. As per @357 ’s post, perhaps it’s something historical because they’re driving on captive infrastructure rather than Network Rail, and of course a very limited and simple route. I have no idea whether it’s standard signalling down there? I’m due a visit in the near future so will have a look.

 

[westcoaster]

Terrible salary! Why are they not paid the same as SWR on the mainland?!

They only drive one traction and about 8 miles of track.
If on full wage every driver and his dog would love the gig, and apply.

 

[nb2001uk]

It isn’t like asking that at all, though. They aren’t driving trams on line of sight.

Point was its comparable. Length of route knowledge. Traction knowledge. As stated above 1 traction. 8miles of route.

 

[greatkingrat]

The answer to this is probably in the initial advert where it says they receive many more applicants than there are roles available, so a simple case of supply and demand. A bit mean, though, as Island Line drivers seem to be on the go quite intensively (unless they have their own carve-ups?).

But every TOC in the country receives hundreds if not thousands of applications every time they advertise so that is not unique to the Isle of Wight.

 

[43066]

They only drive one traction and about 8 miles of track.
If on full wage every driver and his dog would love the gig, and apply.

*cough* Heathrow Express *cough* (not that many would fancy one very short route).

But every TOC in the country receives hundreds if not thousands of applications every time they advertise so that is not unique to the Isle of Wight.

Indeed. It clearly isn’t just down to that.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

*cough* Heathrow Express *cough* (not that many would fancy one very short route).



Indeed. It clearly isn’t just down to that.

Bit more than 8 miles from Paddington to T5 (nearer 12) and the layout is a bit more complicated than the Isle of Wight.

Do HEX drivers only do the single route or do they do other GWR work as well?

 

[43066]

Bit more than 8 miles from Paddington to T5 (nearer 12) and the layout is a bit more complicated than the Isle of Wight.

True!

Do HEX drivers only do the single route or do they do other GWR work as well?

Still just that as far as I understand it.

EDIT: they’re still treated as a separate entity in terms of pay and Ts and Cs AFAIK (I work with an ex HEX driver). Presumably they can now move to other work and routes within the GWR links - no idea how that works in terms of pay and Ts and Cs. @Mintona might know.

 

[bramling]

But every TOC in the country receives hundreds if not thousands of applications every time they advertise so that is not unique to the Isle of Wight.

I suppose we could put it another way, do they receive hundreds if not thousands of applicants who meet the standard, get through the training, stick the shift work, and do the job day in day out without having incidents? On the demand (for labour) side the job on the Island Line will be easier to learn and carry out than elsewhere, whilst on the supply side there’s probably slightly more people who fit all the above criteria, especially as it’s a small number of people required in the first place. Both these factors would drive down the market wage in the absence of any other factors.

I suppose we can also add that over time they don’t have the political sway to bargain for higher wages in the form of the cost of strikes, which on the island would be fairly negligible both in terms of impact or providing alternative transport. From having been on the island earlier this year and speaking to staff, I get the feeling they are still pretty unionised though.

At the end of the day, if IL find they don’t get the people they need, they would have to increase the salary (or adjust the terms and conditions in compensation). Just like the mainland is probably going to have to increase salaries of certain roles to attract quality people in order to address the current shortages, much as this will infuriate people like Shapps. Same with TFL, where things are returning to the 80s in terms of recruitment difficulties (in terms of calibre if not bare number of applicants).

 

[ComUtoR]

Point was its comparable. Length of route knowledge. Traction knowledge. As stated above 1 traction. 8miles of route.

But we don't work on a sliding scale.

I sign 3 'types' of traction and a huge metro area. I do mainline and metro routes and up to 100mph running.

If the Isle of Wight Driver gets £43k. Just for 1 traction and 8miles. Would that justify me getting £100k a year for more than double the work ?

Even within my own TOC there is a split between depots with routes and traction vastly different. Would that justify a massive wage disparity ?

 

[nb2001uk]

But we don't work on a sliding scale.

I sign 3 'types' of traction and a huge metro area. I do mainline and metro routes and up to 100mph running.

If the Isle of Wight Driver gets £43k. Just for 1 traction and 8miles. Would that justify me getting £100k a year for more than double the work ?

Even within my own TOC there is a split between depots with routes and traction vastly different. Would that justify a massive wage disparity ?

Merseyrail , scotrail, se, greater anglia and a few more are all on £50k - £54k.

So why would iow drivers get £65k the same as SWR for doing one route, one traction? Especially when iow is a lcol area. It's not a appropriate to make a direct comparison between swr and iow and say that they should be paid the same £65k wage.

The pay difference between a mtr cr driver and a ga driver is 17k. The difference between a iow driver and a ga driver is £9k?

 

[driverd]

Island Line is a separate franchise, or atleast a sub-operation within the franchise - thus when the RMT balloted for strike, IL voted no, whilst SWR voted yes. Different operator, different T&Cs.

Why do Scotrail get closer to £50k whilst SWR closer to £70k? Nature of a franchised network, basically.

 

[43066]

Island Line is a separate franchise, or atleast a sub-operation within the franchise - thus when the RMT balloted for strike, IL voted no, whilst SWR voted yes. Different operator, different T&Cs.

Why do Scotrail get closer to £50k whilst SWR closer to £70k? Nature of a franchised network, basically.

It seems that is indeed the case, but that isn’t immediately apparent from the outside looking in. Branding wise it’s classified as part of SWR, on their website etc.

 

[ComUtoR]

So why would iow drivers get £65k the same as SWR for doing one route, one traction? Especially when iow is a lcol area. It's not a appropriate to make a direct comparison between swr and iow and say that they should be paid the same £65k wage.

Your trying to justify their low wage based on route/traction. At my TOC we have depots that sign most of the routes and most of the traction and other depots that only sign 1 traction and pretty much 1 route.

Island Line is a separate franchise, or atleast a sub-operation within the franchise - thus when the RMT balloted for strike, IL voted no, whilst SWR voted yes. Different operator, different T&Cs.

This I'm interested in. Is the Island line a separate TOC as its not listed independently but listed as part of SWR. ? I can fully accept different TOC, different salary.

Why do Scotrail get closer to £50k whilst SWR closer to £70k? Nature of a franchised network, basically.

Yes, I understand that. I wouldn't try to justify my wages against Scotrail because they are a completely different TOC

 

[nb2001uk]

Your trying to justify their low wage based on route/traction. At my TOC we have depots that sign most of the routes and most of the traction and other depots that only sign 1 traction and pretty much 1 route.



This I'm interested in. Is the Island line a separate TOC as its not listed independently but listed as part of SWR. ? I can fully accept different TOC, different salary.



Yes, I understand that. I wouldn't try to justify my wages against Scotrail because they are a completely different TOC

If you read properly. I also stated about it being a low cost of living area. Very different to a driver based at LW and one based at IOW. Others have also gave reasons for the lower wage so I needn't expand further in prevention of repetitiveness of what has already been said. No one is justifying anything, if anything its that other way round.

 

[43066]

This I'm interested in. Is the Island line a separate TOC as its not listed independently but listed as part of SWR. ? I can fully accept different TOC, different salary.

Historically different (a standalone franchise) but part of SWT/R since 2007. Seems an odd and unique setup.

 

[ComUtoR]

If you read properly. I also stated about it being a low cost of living area. Very different to a driver based at LW and one based at IOW.

Normally I would agree as that would follow the traditional wage patterns but on the railway the wage disparity across the entire network doesn't follow the normal rules. I work for a London based TOC and there are plenty of other TOCs further 'tup norf that are paid more than me.

Historically different (a standalone franchise) but part of SWT/R since 2007. Seems an odd and unique setup.

I believe there is a TOC that has a similar setup where there is an east/west (I think) because they have never been able to harmonise the T&Cs

I wonder why the Island line never went for harmonisation. Did they just get TUPE'd over and have always remained behind ?

 

[43066]

I believe there is a TOC that has a similar setup where there is an east/west (I think) because they have never been able to harmonise the T&Cs

Northern? Possibly mine too, come to think of it….

I wonder why the Island line never went for harmonisation. Did they just get TUPE'd over and have always remained behind ?

No idea. If they’d been tuped over you might have expected favourable harmonisation towards mainland drivers, which is permitted under TUPE. I expect they’re wishing that had happened now.

 

[ComUtoR]

No idea. If they’d been tuped over you might have expected favourable harmonisation towards mainland drivers, which is permitted under TUPE. I expect they’re wishing that had happened now.

Wage disparity across the network is terrible; even within a TOCs own structure. You could run the island as a single link.

Book on, PASS FRY to IOW

 

[D6130]

You could run the island as a single link.

It is....or certainly was when I worked there in the late 1980s.

 

[43066]

Book on, PASS FRY to IOW

Then Pass RYD to ORP, 10 Orpy - Vics, a sludge green rounder via the scum and the Strood shunt, in a Metcam with a busted seat at each end*.

Good grief .

*I weirdly miss driving networkers…