Rail operator GB freight

[Gooner18]

As per above title , is the role of a rail operator for GB freight just another title for a depot drover ?

 

[train_lover]

As per above title , is the role of a rail operator for GB freight just another title for a depot drover ?

It's a shunter role. However there might be some yard driving at certain locations.

 

[Gooner18]

It's a shunter role. However there might be some yard driving at certain locations.

cheers , so general duties if it’s a shunter. I’ve been told training is around a month to month and half ?

 

[GB]

cheers , so general duties if it’s a shunter. I’ve been told training is around a month to month and half ?

Rail Operator is indeed a shunter but has elements of loco preps and loco/train movements off network depending on location. 40 hours a week at roughly £33k p.a. 2-3 weeks classroom work then a further *3-4 weeks on-site (location) training.
*can be more or less depending on location.

 

[Bear_with_me44]

Would a Rail Operator aka Shunter, receive the same level of training as a usual mainline driver? Does the training make them a fully qualified driver?
TIA.

 

[GB]

Would a Rail Operator aka Shunter, receive the same level of training as a usual mainline driver? Does the training make them a fully qualified driver?
TIA.

Definitely no on both counts.

 

[Heaps92]

Would a Rail Operator aka Shunter, receive the same level of training as a usual mainline driver? Does the training make them a fully qualified driver?
TIA.

To be a mainline driver.you need 10 week classroom training 2 week in simulator and 150 hours of train handling with a mentor *mininum*

 

[Gooner18]

On the face of it seems a good wage. However you don’t get final salary pension, also if I read up on it correctly, you don’t know your working week until the week before also you Can have you rest days cancelled ?

 

[GB]

You are right about not knowing what you are working untill the week before (Thursday), but your rest days are yours unless you have offered to work them. If you are rest day not available they can't demand you come in.

 

[D5581]

You are right about not knowing what you are working untill the week before (Thursday), but your rest days are yours unless you have offered to work them. If you are rest day not available they can't demand you come in.

Not what I was told when I joined GB regarding rest day working. You had to state you wasn't available for rest day working otherwise they was entitled to make you work a rest day if you hadn't said you was unavailable.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Not what I was told when I joined GB regarding rest day working. You had to state you wasn't available for rest day working otherwise they was entitled to make you work a rest day if you hadn't said you was unavailable.

Which is what GB said - they can't roster you if you're Rest Day Not Available

 

[GB]

Which is what GB said - they can't roster you if you're Rest Day Not Available

Exactly. There are several different ways you can plan your RD's or RDW. You can be available all the time and they will roster you as they see fit, you can be RDNA all the time and they can't use you...or you can take it on a week by week basis but in that case you must tell them your availability by 1800 the Monday before the following week. Even if you are rest day available, if they haven't used you on the weekly or daily roster they can't then demand you come in should a job become available.

You can chop and change throughout the year as you see fit.