Thameslink drivers

[ItchyRsole]

Hi all.

I'm sure It's here somewhere but the search option pretty much leads me to the same threads without a definitive answer.

Sorry in advance if these have been asked 1000 times.

I wanted to ask, when training as a trainee driver how many of the group usually pass their training % wise? I know It's a case of what effort you put in you'll get back but I was more thinking of those that have the effort and determination but just maybe not getting it?

When it comes to final exam time does it happen on a set date or could someone ask for another few weeks to brush up on their knowledge kind of thing?

What is the base roster like for a TL driver?

Annual leave allocation?

Thanks a lot

 

[Class2ldn]

You do a minimum of 250 hours driving so can only be put forward once you have completed that as a minimum, if you need more time then ask for it.
In terms of the roster its a rolling 3 week with long weekend every 3rd week giving you 5 days off that weekend.
The roster is set and the rest days are always the same in that 3 week rolling period so you can plan your days off years ahead.
Always finish on earlies before long weekend and go back on lates after the long weekend to get the maximum time off.
Annual leave you get 5 weeks allocated , 2 together in the summer , you can float 1 week of the other 3 and use the days as adhoc.
I think its 9 adhoc days you get aswell.
Sundays are outside.
New starters have to work 12 a year but they are paid extra so plenty of opportunity to earn some good money each month.

 

[ItchyRsole]

You do a minimum of 250 hours driving so can only be put forward once you have completed that as a minimum, if you need more time then ask for it.
In terms of the roster its a rolling 3 week with long weekend every 3rd week giving you 5 days off that weekend.
The roster is set and the rest days are always the same in that 3 week rolling period so you can plan your days off years ahead.
Always finish on earlies before long weekend and go back on lates after the long weekend to get the maximum time off.
Annual leave you get 5 weeks allocated , 2 together in the summer , you can float 1 week of the other 3 and use the days as adhoc.
I think its 9 adhoc days you get aswell.
Sundays are outside.
New starters have to work 12 a year but they are paid extra so plenty of opportunity to earn some good money each month.

Thanks a lot mate. Good info.

How did you find the training? If I ever got the opportunity I can 150% guarantee effort and application, just worried about all that info going in and staying there

 

[RedYellowGreen]

Itchy, have you tried germoloids? You seriously don't want any distractions when you're sat in rules class.

 

[ItchyRsole]

Itchy, have you tried germoloids? You seriously don't want any distractions when you're sat in rules class.

 

[Azer85448]

I asked this on interview and was told roughly 98% trainee drivers pass training successfully.

 

[GN Boy]

You do a minimum of 250 hours driving so can only be put forward once you have completed that as a minimum, if you need more time then ask for it.
In terms of the roster its a rolling 3 week with long weekend every 3rd week giving you 5 days off that weekend.
The roster is set and the rest days are always the same in that 3 week rolling period so you can plan your days off years ahead.
Always finish on earlies before long weekend and go back on lates after the long weekend to get the maximum time off.
Annual leave you get 5 weeks allocated , 2 together in the summer , you can float 1 week of the other 3 and use the days as adhoc.
I think its 9 adhoc days you get aswell.
Sundays are outside.
New starters have to work 12 a year but they are paid extra so plenty of opportunity to earn some good money each month.

That’s interesting. On GN, some of our night turn weeks are just before our long weekend, making the Friday a little redundant as a day off!

 

[Class2ldn]

Yeah yours is a different roster to TL.
Probably why there's never any trains on a Saturday on your side lol

 

[choochoochoo]

Yeah yours is a different roster to TL.
Probably why there's never any trains on a Saturday on your side lol

It all ran fine until someone thought it would be a good idea to send our trains south of the river and at the same time make depot specific work and remove route and traction knowledge from us.

That’s interesting. On GN, some of our night turn weeks are just before our long weekend, making the Friday a little redundant as a day off!

And although we can go from nights to long weekends, we also do get long weekends to night shift, so kind of balances out.

 

[Class2ldn]

Depot specific routes is a joke and just doesn't work, they will never learn though and they deserve everything they get tbh.
Some of the work we have at the moment is truly awful and it won't be surprising when the incidents and sickness go through the roof

 

[ungreat]

Depot specific routes is a joke and just doesn't work, they will never learn though and they deserve everything they get tbh.
Some of the work we have at the moment is truly awful and it won't be surprising when the incidents and sickness go through the roof

They still won't learn even if it does mate

 

[Class2ldn]

Very true.

 

[ItchyRsole]

I asked this on interview and was told roughly 98% trainee drivers pass training successfully.

Wow. High pass rate. Higher than I imagined.

 

[ungreat]

Wow. High pass rate. Higher than I imagined.

It's too expensive to let you fail !!

That’s interesting. On GN, some of our night turn weeks are just before our long weekend, making the Friday a little redundant as a day off!

Ain't that the case! I try to avoid nights..fortunately many where I am want them.

 

[Dieseldriver]

Hi all.

I'm sure It's here somewhere but the search option pretty much leads me to the same threads without a definitive answer.

Sorry in advance if these have been asked 1000 times.

I wanted to ask, when training as a trainee driver how many of the group usually pass their training % wise? I know It's a case of what effort you put in you'll get back but I was more thinking of those that have the effort and determination but just maybe not getting it?

When it comes to final exam time does it happen on a set date or could someone ask for another few weeks to brush up on their knowledge kind of thing?

What is the base roster like for a TL driver?

Annual leave allocation?

Thanks a lot

To have got to the point of being on a Driver training course, a candidate will have excelled in their application, passed rigerous psychometric assessments, scored highly in two interviews, been found to have exacting medical standards and beaten potentially hundreds of other people to a Trainee Train Drivers job.
You are supported throughout your training and help is readily available to you.
I will go out on a limb here and say, anyone who fails their training has a bad attitude or lacks the drive and ambition to complete it. It’s entirely down to the individual.
It is hard work and some parts can be really difficult to get your head around (everyone is different and will find different aspects challenging or easy). But to get to that spot on a training course, every Trainee Driver has fought off competition at multiple steps of the way, I believe that anyone who is unsuitable for the role would never be sat in the classroom in the first place.
My advice, think about how much effort you’re willing to put into the training course and into your ongoing development when you’re fully qualified. Think about how you will deal with the lifestyle/social drawbacks of the role. Think about how honest you will be with yourself if you were to struggle with an aspect of the training/job role and look into how you can combat that and work at it.
If you are prepared to do those things, you will be fine. The fact that you’re asking this question on a public forum suggests to me that you have a good attitude and you want to be sure of yourself which is a really good sign.
Honestly, once you are on the course, you are more than capable of passing it and having a fulfilling career ahead of you.
Best of luck with it all and remember, there are plenty of resources and help available to get you through it

 

[ItchyRsole]

To have got to the point of being on a Driver training course, a candidate will have excelled in their application, passed rigerous psychometric assessments, scored highly in two interviews, been found to have exacting medical standards and beaten potentially hundreds of other people to a Trainee Train Drivers job.
You are supported throughout your training and help is readily available to you.
I will go out on a limb here and say, anyone who fails their training has a bad attitude or lacks the drive and ambition to complete it. It’s entirely down to the individual.
It is hard work and some parts can be really difficult to get your head around (everyone is different and will find different aspects challenging or easy). But to get to that spot on a training course, every Trainee Driver has fought off competition at multiple steps of the way, I believe that anyone who is unsuitable for the role would never be sat in the classroom in the first place.
My advice, think about how much effort you’re willing to put into the training course and into your ongoing development when you’re fully qualified. Think about how you will deal with the lifestyle/social drawbacks of the role. Think about how honest you will be with yourself if you were to struggle with an aspect of the training/job role and look into how you can combat that and work at it.
If you are prepared to do those things, you will be fine. The fact that you’re asking this question on a public forum suggests to me that you have a good attitude and you want to be sure of yourself which is a really good sign.
Honestly, once you are on the course, you are more than capable of passing it and having a fulfilling career ahead of you.
Best of luck with it all and remember, there are plenty of resources and help available to get you through it

Thanks a lot mate. Brilliant post and all makes total sense. I think it’s the fear of the unknown that is a worry.

 

[RedYellowGreen]

To have got to the point of being on a Driver training course, a candidate will have excelled in their application, passed rigerous psychometric assessments, scored highly in two interviews, been found to have exacting medical standards and beaten potentially hundreds of other people to a Trainee Train Drivers job.
You are supported throughout your training and help is readily available to you.
I will go out on a limb here and say, anyone who fails their training has a bad attitude or lacks the drive and ambition to complete it. It’s entirely down to the individual.
It is hard work and some parts can be really difficult to get your head around (everyone is different and will find different aspects challenging or easy). But to get to that spot on a training course, every Trainee Driver has fought off competition at multiple steps of the way, I believe that anyone who is unsuitable for the role would never be sat in the classroom in the first place.
My advice, think about how much effort you’re willing to put into the training course and into your ongoing development when you’re fully qualified. Think about how you will deal with the lifestyle/social drawbacks of the role. Think about how honest you will be with yourself if you were to struggle with an aspect of the training/job role and look into how you can combat that and work at it.
If you are prepared to do those things, you will be fine. The fact that you’re asking this question on a public forum suggests to me that you have a good attitude and you want to be sure of yourself which is a really good sign.
Honestly, once you are on the course, you are more than capable of passing it and having a fulfilling career ahead of you.
Best of luck with it all and remember, there are plenty of resources and help available to get you through it

Superb post with sound advice for anybody about to undertake training.