Hi guys, I've been offered a place on a conductors training course with Northern at Leeds on 27th February. I'm just curious as to what happens at training and if anyone knows the itinerary or training times at all, very excited and looking forward to starting and joining the railway family.
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Northern Rail Conductor Training
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yorkshirelad01
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Congrats Gdiu3456a. I'm also due to start Northern as a Conductor but a month later on the 27th March, pretty nervous as I've worked for the same company for 9yrs now but excited at the same time. I'm also interested in knowing what to expect from the training so if someone could share their experience/knowledge that would be helpful.
Lancs Lass
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Ditto - I start on 13 Feb. It must be a huge training centre as they seem to be running courses every week.
First off, massive well done all. Now the hard work really starts. The course normally lasts around 12 weeks, a mix of classroom and practical work.
1st week will be mainly introducing you to the company and customer service training. Then follows PTS training in the classroom and usually an assessment at a maintenance depot.
Then it's back to the classroom for signaling, followed by traction training. After traction training if I remember correctly you will be out with a Minder (an experienced member of staff) following their duties for a few days and actually operating the doors. This is followed by the interim assessment with your CTM at the depot.
After this its back to the classroom for retail training and then back out with a Minder for a week.
After that it is then your passout assessment, which normally take around three days.
That's the hardest 12 weeks you will have but it is worth it. You will struggle with some aspects of the course, everyone does, so don't be embarrassed to ask your fellow trainees for help.
It's a lot to take in and is very intense. Just find the way to learn that suits you. Personally I soaked up as much as I could in the classroom that day then went home and didn't open my books until the next day for 30 mins in the morning.
Finally from a relative newbie, welcome to the railway!
1st week will be mainly introducing you to the company and customer service training. Then follows PTS training in the classroom and usually an assessment at a maintenance depot.
Then it's back to the classroom for signaling, followed by traction training. After traction training if I remember correctly you will be out with a Minder (an experienced member of staff) following their duties for a few days and actually operating the doors. This is followed by the interim assessment with your CTM at the depot.
After this its back to the classroom for retail training and then back out with a Minder for a week.
After that it is then your passout assessment, which normally take around three days.
That's the hardest 12 weeks you will have but it is worth it. You will struggle with some aspects of the course, everyone does, so don't be embarrassed to ask your fellow trainees for help.
It's a lot to take in and is very intense. Just find the way to learn that suits you. Personally I soaked up as much as I could in the classroom that day then went home and didn't open my books until the next day for 30 mins in the morning.
Finally from a relative newbie, welcome to the railway!
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Lancs Lass
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Thanks for the info sportzbar! It sounds hardwork, but interesting and I really am looking forward to it. I'll report back after my first day and let the others know what to expect since it seems I am the first out of the 3 in the thread to start!
yorkshirelad01
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Thanks sportzbar. Just another quick question, how far in advance are you notified of your holidays? Also is a shift allowance paid for working sundays? Thanks again for your advice
Regarding holidays, unless already agreed then during initial training before you pass out at 12 weeks then these are generally not allowed. Understandable with the intensity of the course. However once you have passed out and start your route learning you should be able to take any holidays you have accrude just by speaking to your CTM. Once you have learnt all your routes you then go on to the link. Depending on which depot you are at this could take some time. My depot has 14. Once on the link you have to apply for any remaining holidays through rosters. Towards the end of the year you will then be allocated blocks of annual leave for the following year. You can usually find someone to swap with if they don't suit
Regarding Sundays it depends if your depot is East or West. Each side has a different agreement but both do have a premium.
Regarding Sundays it depends if your depot is East or West. Each side has a different agreement but both do have a premium.
Lancs Lass
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Great info sportzbar - very useful to know thank you. I will be Blackburn based, eventually, but obviously the depot wont be ready until the end of the year so not 100% sure what they are doing with me until then!
Lance Lass
Not 100% confirmed but I believe you will be joining us at Man Vic as a lot of the routes will be similar if not the same so would make sense to get you trained up on them then straight in when Blackburn opens. However it is Sunday and with this being the railway it could all change by Tuesday....
Not 100% confirmed but I believe you will be joining us at Man Vic as a lot of the routes will be similar if not the same so would make sense to get you trained up on them then straight in when Blackburn opens. However it is Sunday and with this being the railway it could all change by Tuesday....
Lancs Lass
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As you are being so helpful sportzbar you are now gonna get hounded with questions! Could you please post an example roster pattern for Man Vic. Thank you!
OK so basically at Vic you do a week of earlies followed by a week of lates. Very rarely does anyone start at exactly the same time, because you get 15 mins before your first train departs. For example I start at 06:05 tomorrow and finish at 14:35. Tuesday is 04:55-12:28 then two days off. Back in early Friday and Saturday then Sunday off. Monday through to Thursday on lates then Friday through to Tuesday off (long weekend which happens every third week at Vic. Other depots can be different). Back in Wednesday to Saturday lates then Sunday off again. In Monday and Tuesday earlies, off Wednesday and Thursday, back in Friday and Saturday, off Sunday. And repeat.
There are a few variations but it generally follows the same pattern. Naturally when you start you will be on the lower links so your earliest early will be a 4am start and your latest late could well be a 02.00 finish. The only downside is when you finish at 02.00 Sunday morning and then being back at 04.00 Monday morning. Takes a bit of getting used to but I tend to find I have so much more free time now than in a previous job and that's counting afternoon naps!
There are a few variations but it generally follows the same pattern. Naturally when you start you will be on the lower links so your earliest early will be a 4am start and your latest late could well be a 02.00 finish. The only downside is when you finish at 02.00 Sunday morning and then being back at 04.00 Monday morning. Takes a bit of getting used to but I tend to find I have so much more free time now than in a previous job and that's counting afternoon naps!
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Hi,
Just been reading up and there is some great info on here, really appreciate it. Just wondering if anyone could clear this up for me.
I received confirmation that I passed my medical just over a week ago and was offered a place on a training course on the 30th January in Leeds but still haven't received my final offer of employment. So how do Northern normally send you your contract and details of training? Via Email? Post?
Thanks.
Just been reading up and there is some great info on here, really appreciate it. Just wondering if anyone could clear this up for me.
I received confirmation that I passed my medical just over a week ago and was offered a place on a training course on the 30th January in Leeds but still haven't received my final offer of employment. So how do Northern normally send you your contract and details of training? Via Email? Post?
Thanks.
Lancs Lass
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I received mine through the post at the very last minute! I had to give 4 weeks notice at work and received the paperwork on the very day I had to give my notice in.
PS Great info sportzbar - thank you for the post, I can live with those sorts of shifts! I currently start between 6.30-7.30 and finish anywhere between half 5 - half 7 at night Monday-Friday. Can't wait to get started at Northern now!
Thank you
yorkshirelad01
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Does anyone know what the Salary is for a Trainee conductor at Northern? I'm sure I remember seeing it at around £19,000 but cant find the info anywhere and I haven't yet got my contract.
18,850 rising to £26,650 on my contract that I received last week.
yorkshirelad01
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Cheers Train1992. Which depot are you based at if you don't mind me asking.
Lancs Lass
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Good luck with your training Train1992 - please let me know how it went. I start mine in 2 weeks at Manchester for a Blackburn base.
I applied for a position at Piccadilly last year, had my interview/assessment last Tuesday & have received an email today saying i have been successful! now on hold pending a start date, so excited! ... without meaning to hijack the thread, could i ask how long you guys & girls have been on the waiting list for? my email says they'll be filling vacancies in the next 3/4 months pending a start date. I understand they're running a large number of training courses at the moment so hopefully won't be too long!
Lancs Lass
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Hi, I was successful about the same time as Cherry in November, I think for the same base - yet just before Christmas I was contacted with a start date and poor Cherry is still waiting. Hang on in there - I feel bad for you Cherry.
yorkshirelad01
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I was also put on hold in November and was contacted 2 weeks ago confirming the 27th March start date. I had to give my current employer 8 weeks notice so I asked to be made aware in plenty of time.
Thanks LancsLass. First day went well. There's a good group of 12 of us with 2 really enthusiastic trainers. Obviously the first day just consisted of ice breakers, an introduction to the company and sorting our staff passes/mobile phones out.
The two hour commute to Leeds is a bit of pain but I guess it gives me chance to go over my notes each day. Good luck with your start date!
Lancs Lass
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Thanks for the info!
yorkshirelad01
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Train1992 Do you know what the hours are during training? I think I have seen somewhere that it's 9-5 but is this for the full 3 months training? Thanks for all your info so far and sorry to keep hounding you with questions.
It's initially 9-4 while you're in the classroom but obviously when you visit your depot with your minder and for core routes it can be any working shift time. However that comes later in the training.
Happy to be of assistance haha
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