Some advice re: Qualified Train Driving

[parallellines]

Hey guys I dont post much but I'd really like to become a Train Driver, I have done for years but until now always had a steady job and it felt like too big a risk to leave incase I didnt pass.

Anyway, I was in a job last year and applied to Scotrail and got through all the different selction procedures and was supposed to start the Trainee Driver program but, being a little naive at the time I didnt realise that the contract I had signed with my employer at the time meant that because someone else had left the company he wouldnt allow me to leave (until a particular job was completed as there was no one else to do it and it was for a large contract) and threatened legal action against me if I started with Scotrail.

I was totally gutted about this and was trying to talk him round right up until the last minute, I was especially disappointed as he was fully aware that I had been taking holidays etc to attend the assessments, interviews etc to try and get through the Trainee Driver selection process. Anyway I was trying to get Scotrail to allow me to start on a later Trainee program which would have allowed me to complete the job with my employer and then start on a later Trainee Driver program but they wouldnt allow this.

I then applied again in the next lot of vacancies but due to the fact that I couldnt start on the first one I was told that they wouldnt take my application any further. I even offered to work for free until I had paid back any money that they had wasted on my application and then have a greatly reduced wage as I dont need all the money that qualified Drivers get, I would have been happy to stay on the Trainee Driver wage. However I was not allowed to progress with my application. I can understand it to a certain extend as there are so many applicants they can afford to be picky. Im just still gutted about it.

My question is, is there any sort of training course that you can do to become a qualified driver? I know you can train to be a busdriver, digger driver, pilot etc so was wondering if there was a course to become a qualified train driver which means I could take this route and maybe get a job with another organisation? Thanks very much for taking the time to read this and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[yardman]

Hi P'Lines

Am fairly new here as well, (and not one to post that often).

I was curious about this question myself as like you i too wanted to get into the railways through train driver program.

Now from what i gather, all ATOC have their own training program suited to the particular lines they cover so the idea of training "outside" of these companies would be very difficult if not impossible. I was told that you could not do 3rd party training, but others on here could either confirm or deny this.

With regards to your employer tho, and not to rub salt in it, but i am certain that your contract would not have allowed for them to keep you on if you had already given notice. The only claim they would have had would be if you left before your notice period and only then they could legally not pay you for that time. Seems a shame though as now you have probably picked the worst time (like me) to try get into this industry with all the financial troubles surrounding the railways.

I wish you luck though.

Yardman

 

[westcoaster]

im afraid to say that you can not train externally, all training is done with the relevant toc's (trains companies)/foc's(freight).
To the thread starter, i believe because you have passed the assesments and interviews and was offered a place on the course, then there would be no harm in contacting other toc's in your area and explaining your position, if they have vacancies as iirc your pass is valid for 5 years (needs to be confirmed), and see if they would accept this to enter there training program, im not sure how binding this would be as it might be a grey area, scotrail might not want to give over your results, but as always give the HR department a call (if you can get through) and talk it through with them.

Hope that helps+ good luck its worth the wait.

 

[ungreat]

All drivers are trained to the exact same standard and rules countrywide,and it is impossible to do driver training outside of the railways.You would be surprised how many ask this question.

I would,personally,have told your current employer to go and multiply with himself and just started with Scotrail! I am a driver with First (not Scotrail) and they aren't a bad employer in the main.

I believe westcoaster is correct with regards to the aptitude test pass being valid for 5 years,although I am not certain also.

I would certainly have a ring around other companies and see what they can offer..you never know your luck..although I wouldn't go for freight right now as they seem to be cutting more than passenger companies.

I wish you well

 

[parallellines]

Hi P'Lines

Am fairly new here as well, (and not one to post that often).

I was curious about this question myself as like you i too wanted to get into the railways through train driver program.

Now from what i gather, all ATOC have their own training program suited to the particular lines they cover so the idea of training "outside" of these companies would be very difficult if not impossible. I was told that you could not do 3rd party training, but others on here could either confirm or deny this.

With regards to your employer tho, and not to rub salt in it, but i am certain that your contract would not have allowed for them to keep you on if you had already given notice. The only claim they would have had would be if you left before your notice period and only then they could legally not pay you for that time. Seems a shame though as now you have probably picked the worst time (like me) to try get into this industry with all the financial troubles surrounding the railways.

I wish you luck though.

Yardman

Hey thanks for the reply, well the Operations Director of the company told me that under normal circumstances he would have let me leave but because the only other person he had that was trained to do the job required for the completion of the contract had left (he worked his notice period etc....it was just none of us knew he was leaving until he had actually left....company hushed it up and I heard after it they threatened him with legal action too but because his contract had expired there was nothing they could do) he was making me stay until this contract (£200,000) had been fulfilled. He said that I still had 3 months to run on my contract but after the job was completed I could leave then as it would mean he would have time to find someone else and the contract would have been fulfilled. Anyway, its all done now but I fear that I may have had my chance and blew it so to speak. By the way I wish you luck as well mate as it does seem really hard to get in especially as there doesnt seem to be any external training.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---



Thanks a lot for the other replies guys its greatly appreciated.

 

[GB]

The expirey date of the apptitude tests is a funny one as it seems TOCs and FOCs specify how long they can last....which is why you generally find figures of 2 to 5 years.

However you may be required to resit them if you choose to go with another TOC as some TOCs do not always carry them over.

If your desperate to get into the industry it might be wise to look for other jobs within the company as drivers jobs are usually advertised internally before externally