does anyone know how the signallers gradings work. I have been invited for an interview and realise that if offered the job would start as grade 1 which is very low salary. Was wondering how long it takes to move up the gradings and thus decent money.
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Grade 1 to Grade 10 of which the last two are usually box supervisor grades. If you are starting as a Grade 1 then it is most likely a crossing keepers job or you will be paid at a lower rate whilst training for a higher graded box. It always used to work that you were paid at the grade below the one you were training for but I am not sure if this still applies these days.
The higher the grade, the more busy the box, the big power boxes are usually grades 6 to 8. The ease of getting into one of these jobs will depend on the area, in some cases it is (or has been) possible to be appointed to one of the higher grades straight away. It will also depend on whether there are any such boxes in an area and, if there are, how many other people are in that area want to go there as well. If you are prepared to move then it will give you more options for gaining promotion.
The higher the grade, the more busy the box, the big power boxes are usually grades 6 to 8. The ease of getting into one of these jobs will depend on the area, in some cases it is (or has been) possible to be appointed to one of the higher grades straight away. It will also depend on whether there are any such boxes in an area and, if there are, how many other people are in that area want to go there as well. If you are prepared to move then it will give you more options for gaining promotion.
A Grade 1 in the Signalling grades is not a Signaller,they are a Crossing Keeper,there is a world of difference.In order to achieve Grade 2 and upwards you have to be assessed and attend Signalling school.
Don't confuse salary with wages,a Grade 1 Crossing Keeper can earn more than a Grade 2 Signaller if the former's box does night shifts and Sundays and the latter's doesn't..
Don't confuse a busy box with Signalling trains,you can be a small box with a lot of line and as such have a lot of Engineering work,and as you will learn there is just as much involvement to that as there is actually signalling trains.
Crossing Keepers get nothing like the amount of assessments,and require a fraction of the knowledge and responsibilty that a Signaller does,which may be worth keeping in mind in your quest for promotion.
So good luck!
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Don't confuse salary with wages,a Grade 1 Crossing Keeper can earn more than a Grade 2 Signaller if the former's box does night shifts and Sundays and the latter's doesn't..
Don't confuse a busy box with Signalling trains,you can be a small box with a lot of line and as such have a lot of Engineering work,and as you will learn there is just as much involvement to that as there is actually signalling trains.
Crossing Keepers get nothing like the amount of assessments,and require a fraction of the knowledge and responsibilty that a Signaller does,which may be worth keeping in mind in your quest for promotion.
So good luck!
....No, if you haven't applied for a particular box,it's two at least,possibly three.That said, as the poster above says if you are somewhere like London you could go straight into a seven etc.
It's a great job,but make no mistake you will have to know your stuff,both during and after Signalling school.When you are being interviewed,safety and communications are paramount,and when you do start properly, every word you speak over the phone is recorded.You have lead responsibilty over everyone bar an ECO,so if say a Driver doesn't repeat your instructions back and you don't remind him,it's you that gets the bollocking, not him,and the same goes for COSS's PICOP's , MOM's,and everyone else you deal with.
Anyhow one step at a time,get the job first, and remember what I said about safety and communications.....
It's a great job,but make no mistake you will have to know your stuff,both during and after Signalling school.When you are being interviewed,safety and communications are paramount,and when you do start properly, every word you speak over the phone is recorded.You have lead responsibilty over everyone bar an ECO,so if say a Driver doesn't repeat your instructions back and you don't remind him,it's you that gets the bollocking, not him,and the same goes for COSS's PICOP's , MOM's,and everyone else you deal with.
Anyhow one step at a time,get the job first, and remember what I said about safety and communications.....
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