-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
TFW (Trainee Train Driver Cardiff and Chester_
- Thread starter Leavesontrack
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Probably working through Chester first unless anyone in for Cardiff has had any mails through
Did your mate do the questionnaire yet?
Leavesontrack
Member
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2018
- Messages
- 80
In for the 'diff and no questionnaire, just an email to say i had applied
TOPCOVER71
Member
- Joined
- 9 Feb 2019
- Messages
- 16
I’m in for Cardiff and no email as of yet
TOPCOVER71
Member
- Joined
- 9 Feb 2019
- Messages
- 16
Didn’t get the questionnaire either
Leavesontrack
Member
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2018
- Messages
- 80
great..bang goes my theory of Chester first...didnt even make the first cut...
Railway123321
Member
Has anyone heard anything since doing the online test/application? 
Railway123321
Member
Ahhh at least i'm not the only one! Fingers crossed we will hear the outcome soon.
TOPCOVER71
Member
- Joined
- 9 Feb 2019
- Messages
- 16
Ahhh at least i'm not the only one! Fingers crossed we will hear the outcome soon.
In relation to the online test do you mean the questionnaire??Has anyone heard anything since doing the online test/application?
Railway123321
Member
Sorry yes the questionnaire! Wasn't a test haha.
Manda2194
Member
Thats a blow. Hopefully, it doesnt the number of trainee positions for us.
Thinking about it though I cannot think of too many other TOCs they can poach drivers from. Just Merseyrail perhaps?
Eccles1983
On Moderation
- Joined
- 4 Sep 2016
- Messages
- 841
Merseyrail, Northern and freight.
It will be attractive to a few qualified drivers.
At least 10 drivers applied last time they did it, and they took on 2.
irish_rail
Established Member
I'd be shocked if any driver took the risk of moving TOC at the present time. The only applicants they may get is from those who have been furloughed and have little to lose anyway.
Eccles1983
On Moderation
- Joined
- 4 Sep 2016
- Messages
- 841
From hull trains or GC? Bit far out to meet the 45 min travel time.
I don't know of any other toc that has furloughed anyone.
However I do expect TOC's to turn the taps off recruitment. Social distancing is going to be here for the long haul, and no training is happening, the ones already in the system are sitting at home with the sword of Damocles over them, as they are expendable with certain contractual nuisances, even route learning for qualified has been kicked in the long grass.
That with the likely fall in passenger numbers means that I wouldn't be hanging my hopes of any TOC going through with any recruitment drive in the near or medium future.
Manda2194
Member
This raises a good point actually of how training will go ahead. Obviously a massive part of training is sitting in the cab with your instructor. How will that work with social distancing?
Have all trainees been sent home so far?
Eccles1983
On Moderation
- Joined
- 4 Sep 2016
- Messages
- 841
Yes.
No second person in any cab, not even managers.
I can't see how any training is going to take place, classroom training is impossible unless they go for a massively reduced number in a class.
Even if they did then what? They can't go anywhere. And the amount of staff currently underused means that they don't require any more staff. I wouldn't be surprised to see voluntary redundancy offered to people in areas never mind in increase in staff.
No second person in any cab, not even managers.
I can't see how any training is going to take place, classroom training is impossible unless they go for a massively reduced number in a class.
Even if they did then what? They can't go anywhere. And the amount of staff currently underused means that they don't require any more staff. I wouldn't be surprised to see voluntary redundancy offered to people in areas never mind in increase in staff.
craigybagel
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 5,077
I wouldn't be that down hearted on it all just yet. The latest drivers course that was due to start AFTER the lockdown came in and all existing trainees were sent home still started on schedule, with all learning being done online for now. Whilst it is true that there are a lot of drivers at various stages of their manual handling hours who are stuck in limbo, I was told the other day that this issue is being looked at at present, and hopefully some kind of solution can be found.
As for whether staff are needed - at my own depot we have 1 or 2 in on rest day work pretty much every day. With the amount off sick even with the present much reduced timetable we can't cover all the work just through ordinarily rostered drivers - and that's before services start getting increased imminently. And when restrictions do get eased eventually there is going to be a massive backlog on route learning and assessments and goodness knows whatever else for everyone to catch up on.
Eccles1983
On Moderation
- Joined
- 4 Sep 2016
- Messages
- 841
Well at my depot we have at least 10 spare turns daily. I've driven a handful of trains in several weeks.
There is simply no work, and this is with cross cover work. No one except the odd night turn has been rest day work.
Chester links sign - Holyhead - Manchester Pic. Llandudno. Wrexham-Bidston. Chester-Shrewsbury via Wrexham/Crewe. Crewe/Salop local. Birmingham International, Stafford/Bescot* Manchester Airport*. Chester-Man Pic via Stockport*
Liverpool via Halton Curve.
*Link specific work.
There is simply no work, and this is with cross cover work. No one except the odd night turn has been rest day work.
Chester links sign - Holyhead - Manchester Pic. Llandudno. Wrexham-Bidston. Chester-Shrewsbury via Wrexham/Crewe. Crewe/Salop local. Birmingham International, Stafford/Bescot* Manchester Airport*. Chester-Man Pic via Stockport*
Liverpool via Halton Curve.
*Link specific work.
craigybagel
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 5,077
It's true it's mostly late shifts we're struggling with at our place (we also have several spare every morning) but it's definitely not a rare thing here. But then we do have several trainees stuck at home, at least two of whom should have been productive by now. I only got through in time myself by the skin of my teeth.
Manda2194
Member
do you mind if I ask if you work for tfw yourself.
- Status