Network Rail signaller

[Sammy h]

Just seen a job vacancy to be a signaller close to where I live, already work on the railway and it is something I would be really interested in.

Just a couple of questions...

- Are Sundays inclusive of the working week? Or will they be paid additionally?
- Is there room for career progression? Where can I go from there?

 

[Alistair G.]

Sundays are extra, but they will roster you them (if your box is open on a Sunday, not all are!) you can turn a Sunday down but only if they can cover you for it. If not you will have to work the Sunday.... But it would still be on top of your "basic" salary

As for progression, depends what you want to do, once you're in at network rail you get a lot of internal posts come up, but within signalling itself there is only really bigger boxes, SSM roll (shift manager) and LOM (local ops manager) and then it starts going HQ kind of route.

Hope that makes sense

 

[Bodiddly]

Just seen a job vacancy to be a signaller close to where I live, already work on the railway and it is something I would be really interested in.

Just a couple of questions...

- Are Sundays inclusive of the working week? Or will they be paid additionally?
- Is there room for career progression? Where can I go from there?

If you are in a steady railway job, don't leave it to become a signaller! There will be a massive cull in signal boxes over the next few years with scores of signallers being made redundant. They can't put all displaced signallers in the big ROC's. NR were even boasting recently that their Manchester ROC does away with 800 signal boxes! That's a lot of signallers!
It's probably not the company to be quitting a job to work for, even the maintenance staff are being decimated and even more so after ERTMS kicks in proper, reducing the need for fixed signals. I'd stay put if I were you!

 

[Sammy h]

Thanks for your advice. That was going to be my next question about job security as I have heard whispers that signal boxes are dying and they have in fact just torn one down near my way at Bare Lane so I did wonder.

Could have been an interesting switch, but I think I will take your advice and stay put. Cheers guys.

 

[TomBoyd]

Thanks for your advice. That was going to be my next question about job security as I have heard whispers that signal boxes are dying and they have in fact just torn one down near my way at Bare Lane so I did wonder.

Could have been an interesting switch, but I think I will take your advice and stay put. Cheers guys.

On the flip side of what's been said signalling is going through a massive change, and sure, we're losing a lot of staff, but if you make it through (which, given the amount of VR, retirement and natural wastage, isn't actually that unlikely) you'll have an awesome job for life, with incredible career progression. The NR internal jobs list is the best thing about joining the company!

We're recruiting off the street for a lot of the ROCs because current signallers can't or won't take jobs in them. It's not all doom and gloom!