Its not about offering the job. You have to apply for it. No matter what others say it is a promotion and you have to prove yourself worthy. An internal move from metro to mainline doesn’t require an interview etc.
I’m not so sure about it being a promotion.
I think most qualified drivers would agree that driving a train is driving a train. SE may try to market it as somehow more “prestigious” etc. but that’s just corporate spin.
Yes there’s HS1 and 140mph (briefly), and a different signalling system to learn, but then you’ll spend just as much time driving DOO on the north Kent line, crawling through the Medway towns at 30mph etc. And for £10k less than the GTR drivers on the same route.
I can see why that wouldn’t be attractive to someone already driving fully guarded SE services at one of the above depots.
Nor would it be attractive to drivers already working DOO services for most other TOCs - even with the uplift - the pay is well below par for that type of work.
As far as I know noone does full rounders as part of their work. It seems to be split up into sections.
Understood. I’ve been told that the diagrams don’t compare particularly favourably to the equivalent classic diagrams.
I’ve been told Depot drivers aren’t allowed to touch 395s until they’ve done 2 years and only high speed drivers are allowed to be in the cab on HS1.
In fairness only drivers (and certain other authorised persons) are allowed into the cab at all TOCs throughout the country. That does not make it special.
SE HS is not remotely prestigious - to say it is, is parroting the usual from SE. Most people who work there know it - hence why they have to recruit for externals for their “prestigious” HS jobs. Their own local drivers won’t even do it, even when they’re offered more money than the standard (poor) SE salary - yet still have to go begging for externals! They’d have to be pretty desperate!
Personally, as a qualified driver in the south east of England, with a decent safety record, if money was my only priority I’d go with GTR or ARL.
If I wanted to drive DOO trains through the seedier parts of Kent: Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Gravesend etc. I’d far rather do it for GTR and take the money.
Otherwise, I’d probably plump for proper intercity work - and still for a lot more money than SE HS drivers earn!
I’d trade 15mph less ultimate top speed (but far more of the overall route over 100mph) for far fewer stops (8- 20 max per shift), a proper guard giving me ding ding and away, and an army of people on the train, sometimes two guards, customer hosts etc.
Horses for courses!