Train Operator - London Underground

[jaapstam]

Mainline TOCs do advertise for drivers directly. But competition for these positions is fierce and you'll need to be an exceptional candidate to be one of the chosen few.

Entry to LUL is usually via the customer service assistant grade. Many of them are on the waiting list to become tube operators.

I don't work for London Underground but I have friends who do and I've had a cab ride in a northern line train

Thank you for the interesting information. I fear as long as I live in the wrong country, my London Underground career needs to wait...

But I did have the Northern Line cab ride as well

 

[notadriver]

Cool how did you get that ? I only managed because I knew someone on there.

 

[jaapstam]

Cool how did you get that ? I only managed because I knew someone on there.

I was surprised myself. I travelled around the network as I usually do when I am in London.

I arrived at one of the northern terminus' of the Northern Line and wanted to return with the same train. The driver came along the platform and I simply asked.

He replied that it is strictly forbidden. After closing the doors for departure, the door of the cab flung open and he invited me to come in.

That was funny, very friendly and absolutey interesting.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

One thing I have noticed is the fact that there is no requirement to drive a car - as I have seen on mainline companys

 

[notadriver]

I was surprised myself. I travelled around the network as I usually do when I am in London.



I arrived at one of the northern terminus' of the Northern Line and wanted to return with the same train. The driver came along the platform and I simply asked.



He replied that it is strictly forbidden. After closing the doors for departure, the door of the cab flung open and he invited me to come in.



That was funny, very friendly and absolutey interesting.

It must have been a long time ago. In these days of high security a driver would be insane to let a complete stranger into the cab.

 

[jaapstam]

It must have been a long time ago. In these days of high security a driver would be insane to let a complete stranger into the cab.

Yes, it was about two or three years ago. But: it was already forbidden then and he did let me in anyway. I asked politely and he was friendly, too - that's it, no big thing.

Maybe it helped that he -correctly- judged me as a non-terrorist

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I did it this year from Olympia to HSK...

Are you expected to pay for your transport to and from the training or would some sort of pass be given to you?

 

[bb21]

London Underground pay is very good when compared to equivalent roles on the National Rail network, even in London areas, almost double in many cases, but more commonly about 50% - 70% more.

 

[A-driver]

One thing I have noticed is the fact that there is no requirement to drive a car - as I have seen on mainline companys

That's not a requirement for mainline drivers and is only applied by 1or2 TOCs purely to reduce the number of applications they need to sift through.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I did it this year from Olympia to HSK...

Are you expected to pay for your transport to and from the training or would some sort of pass be given to you?

You would get free TfL travel as an employee of TfL.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

That's not a requirement for mainline drivers and is only applied by 1or2 TOCs purely to reduce the number of applications they need to sift through.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---



You would get free TfL travel as an employee of TfL.

1) Thats odd - I have seen the requirement to drive a car on both Northern and Transpennine

2) I did wonder... I might go for this job myself

 

[A-driver]

1) Thats odd - I have seen the requirement to drive a car on both Northern and Transpennine



2) I did wonder... I might go for this job myself

Then read my post properly. I said it's not a requirement but some TOCs to state you need a driving licence. That's purely them adding it and not a group standard. Plenty of train drivers don't drive a car. It is in no way required to drive a train. As I say, where its applied by TOCs it's simply to reduce the volume of applications.

Even suggesting it's to do with ensuring applicants can get to work dosnt hold water as a full UK driving licence dosnt prove you own a car or would use one to get to work!

I'd also not get too excited by this job as I can't see it getting through the unions somehow.

 

[Tubeboy]

Less of a need to have your own transport in London compared to mainline TOCs elsewhere, what with the night bus network and staff taxis.

I'm on the stations side on LU. Trains has never appealed. A-Driver is bang on, I can't picture the company getting away with it, there'll be too much union opposition. Personally I'm not bothered.

 

[drazky]

deleted

 

[Met Driver]

Guys do you have any idea can you apply at the same time to TOC an LU.
AS I know you can apply for two TOC but when you get to assessment you have to decide which TOC to follow/ information from LOROL recruitment/ ORfor example if you fail two times with TOC can you apply for LU?

Yes, you can apply for a job with LUL at the same time as a TOC/FOC.

LUL has its own train driver selection process which does not use the same assessments as the TOC/FOC process. If you've sat the latter LUL will not know nor be interested in your results.

 

[drazky]

deleted

 

[bb21]

They won't know or care.

 

[FordFocus]

People who have applied or are proposing to apply, don't get too excited ASLEF are against this at the minute.

It's just a ploy by TfL to drag Night Tube in despite the unions having workable rosters created by themselves. I'd hate to see a thousand applicants apply, getting their hopes up and not have any chance of getting a job because the job won't exist.

 

[phil1960]

And just thought "From which money should you afford to pay a flat?"

As mentioned before, unfortunately I do not live in the UK. I am absolutely not used to wages, taxes, rents, living costs etc.

This might give you an idea of how expensive it can be to live in London - average rent prices for a one bedroom flat in relation to the Underground network:

http://www.timeout.com/london/blog/...t-costs-near-every-underground-station-092915

Phil

 

[jaapstam]

This might give you an idea of how expensive it can be to live in London - average rent prices for a one bedroom flat in relation to the Underground network:

http://www.timeout.com/london/blog/...t-costs-near-every-underground-station-092915

Phil

I am speechless Phil! How better fitting could an advisable map be relating to my original question.

Thank you very, very much!

 

[Tubeboy]

I live in Barnet, and those figures must be old! I'm paying a lot more than that!

 

[A-driver]

People who have applied or are proposing to apply, don't get too excited ASLEF are against this at the minute.



It's just a ploy by TfL to drag Night Tube in despite the unions having workable rosters created by themselves. I'd hate to see a thousand applicants apply, getting their hopes up and not have any chance of getting a job because the job won't exist.

Absolutely. This is lul trying to re spark the media debate and once again TT to go against the unions.

 

[phil1960]

I live in Barnet, and those figures must be old! I'm paying a lot more than that!

I think there are some errors there - Redbridge only £488 & South Kenton £720 both suspiciously cheap compared to stations either side.

Phil

 

[Phil.]

Correct me if I'm wrong.
LUL want to run a night service on selected lines on the tube system - which may or may not be extended to cover some or all of other lines.
The unions want none of this as it will affect the working days/off days ratio. LUL have offered more money but the unions want even more to be paid to already very generously paid staff (oh yes they are).LUL have said no-one will be forced to work nights.
The unions have still said no with the above caveat.
Now LUL want to employ staff particularly to work the night shifts - as lots of companies do. This will créate Jobs.
What's the problem, what have I missed?

 

[notadriver]

Part time drivers are dangerous. TOCs that have part time drivers are ones that are already experienced full timers not employed as part timers from the outset. There have been recent incidents involving part timers playing trains .

 

[jaapstam]

Part time drivers are dangerous. TOCs that have part time drivers are ones that are already experienced full timers not employed as part timers from the outset. There have been recent incidents involving part timers playing trains .

I totally disagree with your statement. If somebody works for any TOC and just wants "to play trains", he/she is not suitable for the job - it is the TOCs duty to recognize this and take measures.

I do not believe this has something to do with whether the employee is full or part time. What is the argumentation behind this?

There might be incidents involving part-timers. But do ALL incidents involve a part-timer??

 

[A-driver]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

LUL want to run a night service on selected lines on the tube system - which may or may not be extended to cover some or all of other lines.

The unions want none of this as it will affect the working days/off days ratio. LUL have offered more money but the unions want even more to be paid to already very generously paid staff (oh yes they are).LUL have said no-one will be forced to work nights.

The unions have still said no with the above caveat.

Now LUL want to employ staff particularly to work the night shifts - as lots of companies do. This will créate Jobs.

What's the problem, what have I missed?

Your post is wrong so not easy to answer. It's not a case of the unions not supporting 24hour running. The unions just want assurances from TfL about how the night shifts will be shared out to ensure minimal impact to staff. At present TfL are retaining full control over roster flexibility meaning they could, in theory, convert an entire depot to night shifts and the other depots stay unaffected. This wouldn't be at all fair on those staff at that depot and is a major, major change to their employment contracts.

Part time drivers are a cheap way of trying to swerve the real issue and no Union will ever agree to part time staff coming in to weasel out of real negotiations. It's basically cheating.

 

[Met Driver]

Part time drivers are dangerous. TOCs that have part time drivers are ones that are already experienced full timers not employed as part timers from the outset. There have been recent incidents involving part timers playing trains .

So you're proposing that the number of hours on offer in a job advert determines the intent of the applicant? Full time = serious about the role, safety conscious, right attitude, but part time?! They must just want to play trains. :roll:

With regards incidents, are you talking about WCRC? My understanding of that outfit was that they're only interested in drivers with several decades of experience. Clearly there are/were major issues with their culture at all levels, but I'm not sure these examples support the idea that part timers are dangerous unless they're ex-full time, experienced staff - because that's exactly what their drivers are (correct me if I'm wrong in that description).

It'll be interesting to see if this campaign bears any fruit, obviously if it does then the recruits will get the same training as anyone going forward to full time driving and so will be at the same standard of competence on their initial day.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Correct me if I'm wrong.
LUL want to run a night service on selected lines on the tube system - which may or may not be extended to cover some or all of other lines.

Correct

The unions want none of this as it will affect the working days/off days ratio.

The trades unions are in favour of night tube, but want it delivered in a way that guarantees the work/life balance of their members will not be negatively impacted as a result, now and in the long term.

LUL have offered more money but the unions want even more to be paid to already very generously paid staff (oh yes they are).

More money being offered will not resolve the dispute - see above. The only reason money even comes into it is because LUL are not willing to negotiate separately on the issues of pay (previous deal ended last April) and night tube. That is, there will be no further annual pay rises until night tube is implemented.

LUL have said no-one will be forced to work nights.

Only "over the next year". After that, who knows?

The unions have still said no with the above caveat.

As above - no long term guarantees have been made.

Now LUL want to employ staff particularly to work the night shifts - as lots of companies do. This will créate Jobs.
What's the problem, what have I missed?

Not sure what ASLEF's response will be to this but they have always had a willingness to negotiate a fair implementation of night tube using the existing workforce. So make of this recruitment drive what you will!

 

[chris11256]

Just found an article which confirms tfl are looking for hire 180 part time night tube drivers and at the time have had 4300 applications.

Link

 

[Peps123]

Just got this update email from tfl

Thank you for your application for the Train Operator (Part Time – Night Tube) - 018717 role.

You have taken your first step on a journey to join Transport for London as it prepares to deliver a historic change to its service.

The Night Tube will open up night-time London to a plethora of new and exciting opportunities. Passengers will no longer be constrained by first and last Tubes at the weekend but free to take advantage of all the possibilities our great city offers throughout the night.

Our Night Tube Operational Staff are key to enabling this exciting and valuable initiative.

As you may have expected, there has been a lot of interest in these vacancies, and we have a large number of candidates to assess.* We are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process you experience is professional and appropriate, and that this is fair and consistent for all.* Therefore, it may take us some time to take everyone through the necessary stages.

The first thing you will receive from us is notification that you should undertake a Situational Judgement Test. It has been specifically designed as a bespoke tool which suits the role requirements of the London Underground Train Operator.* The test assesses how a candidate would handle situations that they may encounter specifically in the role they are applying for.* In addition they allow us to consider a candidate’s responses in line with our organisational behaviours.* You will receive information regarding how to take this test during the second week of February.

In the meantime we will provide you with regular updates, and messages from our Night Tube team, so look out for our emails.

 

[EssexGonzo]

Maybe I'm not taking this topic seriously enough, but this is the line that jumped out of the job description for me......:razz::grin:

Safely disposes of the train at the end of service

That could get expensive.