Trainee Depot Driver - Greater Anglia

[NDW]

Good afternoon all,

My first post here and I'd like to introduce myself - i'm Nathan and currently looking at pursuing a career within the Rail industry.

I currently work within Aviation, however I would like to transfer and experience a completely new sector.

The role of Trainee Depot Driver has appeared on the Greater Anglia website and I am going to apply for the role.

Just wondering whether anyone is currently in the position of Trainee Driver and could share their experiences of the application stage and what their job involves.

I do hope I don't come across as wishing to be spoonfed, just a general insight would be most helpful.

Best regards,

NDW

 

[Dave1987]

Hi I'm a fully passed out depot driver for GA. Two things I would say to you is:

1. Spend plenty of time carefully filling out the application.

2. Get as much practice in for the physcometric tests as possible as they are not easy.

Any specific questions you have?

Regards

David

 

[Nestor]

Hi I'm a fully passed out depot driver for GA. Two things I would say to you is:

1. Spend plenty of time carefully filling out the application.

2. Get as much practice in for the physcometric tests as possible as they are not easy.

Any specific questions you have?

Regards

David

Hi David

Where is the Company Induction & training academy + how long
to pass out for DD?

Thanks in advance

 

[Beveridges]

How long to pass out for DD??? It varies between the various TOCs and Maintenance Depots. Can be as short as 4 months or as long as 7+ months. Large, complex depots with radio controlled moves (instead of signal controlled) are generally the hardest to learn, and traction training can add a lot of time on. Some depot drivers at the larger depots have to have locomotives, diesel units, electric units and class 08's on their license, can you imagine how much time that adds on to the training. Then if you have to learn ground shunting, fuelling and DP it can add yet even more time on, as those are like a job in themselves.

 

[Dave1987]

Hi Nestor

Right the training academy is in Stratford, London. Your first 2 months will be spent in the classroom I'm afraid this is a break down of what you will do.

Induction 1 week
Mod 1b (introduction to the railways, signalling etc) 1 week
Front end turns (sit in the cab with a driver) 2 weeks
Rules 4 weeks
Traction 4 weeks - can vary depending on what traction you have to sign
Depot training 5 weeks - this is where you will do the job with an instructor in the cab with you
Pass out exam!

I think they have recently changed the DD course and made it easier with less rules. I had to learn temporary block working, single line working. I think they have taken these out now.

So in answer to your question, on average 6 months to pass out.

David

 

[Nestor]

How long to pass out for DD??? It varies between the various TOCs and Maintenance Depots. Can be as short as 4 months or as long as 7+ months. Large, complex depots with radio controlled moves (instead of signal controlled) are generally the hardest to learn, and traction training can add a lot of time on. Some depot drivers at the larger depots have to have locomotives, diesel units, electric units and class 08's on their license, can you imagine how much time that adds on to the training. Then if you have to learn ground shunting, fuelling and DP it can add yet even more time on, as those are like a job in themselves.

My question was GA (TOC) specific, rather than generic.
Thanks

 

[Dave1987]

Anything else you would like to know?

Regards

David

 

[NDW]

David,

Thanks for your replies.

How long did it roughly take from submitting your application to hearing back in regards to assessments/interviews.

And do you know how often their intakes are?

Kind regards,

NDW

 

[Dave1987]

Right usually takes a couple of weeks because of how many ppl apply, that's why you need to make your application stand out.

They normally have a course every 6 months but do not always advertise as they might already have enough ppl to fill the course.

I can't say it enough take time to carefully fill your application out. Do it in rough first then make it as neat as possible.

Regards

David

 

[Moby1]

Hi NDW, this is my first post here,
I have recently passed the train drivers assessment/structured interview with GA for a trainee depot drivers position, waiting for line managers interview date. I don't currently work in the rail industry, but as you'll see there is a lot of various info online which helped me a lot. From sending application to arrival of invitation for assessment day took 2 months by which time I'd given up! I realise now they get hundreds of applications to sort through. Just hoping now for success with the managers interview. I have been extremely impressed with GA so far as to how they've handled my application.

A question I have for anyone who may be able to answer is would it be worth trying to arrange a visit to the depot before attending the mangers interview to help in my preparation for that?

Thanks, Moby1.

 

[Dave1987]

Hi Moby

Don't think it will make any difference if you visit your depot beforehand. They will ask you questions about you and your experiences. A lot of depots you need a PTS to get to.

Regards

David

 

[Moby1]

Ok thanks for this.

Moby1

 

[badassunicorn]

I'm in training to be a DD with GA at the mo, and our trainer said that the courses have 8 places. The course prior to mine has only 6 people in as they couldn't find enough decent people for it, and mine only has 7 because someone didn't turn up apparently! Lunatic! I'm loving everything so far its so interesting!

 

[Nestor]

Anything else you would like to know?

Regards

David

Hi Dave
I shelved the Norwich DD position due to the initial commute to Stratford, relocating to Norwich wouldn't have been a problem!

 

[Dave1987]

Hi Nestor

That's a shame. You would have got free travel to/from Stratford and I'm fairly sure that you get paid your travel from norwich each day. Never mind I wish you the very best of luck for the future!

Regards

David

 

[Moby1]

Hi Nestor

Right the training academy is in Stratford, London. Your first 2 months will be spent in the classroom I'm afraid this is a break down of what you will do.

Induction 1 week
Mod 1b (introduction to the railways, signalling etc) 1 week
Front end turns (sit in the cab with a driver) 2 weeks
Rules 4 weeks
Traction 4 weeks - can vary depending on what traction you have to sign
Depot training 5 weeks - this is where you will do the job with an instructor in the cab with you
Pass out exam!

I think they have recently changed the DD course and made it easier with less rules. I had to learn temporary block working, single line working. I think they have taken these out now.

So in answer to your question, on average 6 months to pass out.

David

David,
At what point in the training does shift work kick in, and is it all nights from then on?
Moby1

 

[Dave1987]

Hi Moby

It is a complete myth that the only work that takes place in the depot is over night!! lol

You wont start doing night at all until you have passed out (mainly cos I cant see your instructor wanting to do nights and you cant drive withou them in the cab with you until you have passed out)

Once you have passed out it all depends what link you slot into in the roster. All depends how lucky you are. When I started in my line on the roster I went straight into my free days (i.e. 2 weeks off )

So in answer to your question no it is not all nights, you will do a variety of early mornings, afternoons, evenings and nights.

Regards

David

 

[TSJD]

In response to the above post, you will be doing nights even with an instructor as they have to see you on a night shift. obviously, depending on which instructor you get, you may only do the odd couple. I was a depot driver at Ilford, for NE, now GA for 3 years until I moved to chingford depot for a drivers role. If you can avoid the depot driver role and get to chingford and straight into a drivers role then I would advise you do as the dd role is not the greatest plus you will not be going mainline for at least a couple of years if your lucky. Which Depot are you being placed at? Who's your instructor, trainer?

 

[Dave1987]

That is not what happened with me and my colleagues. Our instructors would only want to stay until midnight at the latest.

I also disagree when you say the DD role is not the greatest role. I has given me a lot of experience of driving and understanding the traction in an evironment where your not under too much pressure. Also the former DD that are main line have said their main line course was much easier having been a depot driver!

Also I notice the vacancies are at Norwich not Chingford or anywhere on WA.

Regards

David

 

[TSJD]

Experience that can be got with 6months of doing the job. There is no need to keep you in the yard for longer than that but they do as its very cheap labour for the company. Where else would you be paid the low money that you get for the work you do, including working all the nights shifts you do without a shift allowance? GA depot drivers are the lowest paid in the country for what they do so we will have to agree to disagree on that one. As I said, it's down to the instructor you get that will decide if you do night shifts or not as it was the done thing when I was training. Which depot are you at Dave?

 

[Dave1987]

I definately agree that we are kept in the depot too long! I think after you have done your summary assessment after a year you should be mainline trained. To be honest I became a depot driver just to get on the ladder. My Dad is a Timetable planning manager for LM and told me just getting in the grade is the crucial task!

Im at Clacton.

Regards

David

 

[Beveridges]

Just of interest how much are GA Depot Drivers paid?? At least Northern pay their depot drivers £31k basic (or £50k+ possible with overtime) plus with far better T&C's than mainline drivers. Our shifts are better than mainline and our work is more varied than class 2 pass trains, so it can be said in my TOC that most depot drivers want to stay where they are. A few people who wanted to go mainline from depot driving in my company have managed to get the move in just 1 year (!) It is unbelievable to hear how different and how much worse this job is at some of the other companies.

 

[Dave1987]

Hi I get paid £24,395. With same conditions as mainline but you add Sunday's to that and you get about £27,000.

Regards

David

 

[Beveridges]

That is well underpaid for a DD role, the basic salary should be over £30k considering the responsibilities in this job, maybe much more if you have the same T&C's as mainline drivers. I assume GA Guards are on a better basic than GA DD's how can that be right?

 

[TSJD]

That is well underpaid for a DD role, the basic salary should be over £30k considering the responsibilities in this job, maybe much more if you have the same T&C's as mainline drivers. I assume GA Guards are on a better basic than GA DD's how can that be right?

Exactley! Very low wages for a job that has so much responsibility. You should not have to do overtime, Sundays/rest days to get up to £27000 as that should be a basic wage with no perks, even more in my eyes. Fair enough if its just to get a foot on the ladder, that is if you don't mind getting treated like a dogs body and have them dangle a carrot in front of you so that you may get to mainline in a few years time. The role of a depot driver should be a separate job with your money being in line with the job that you do.

 

[Dave1987]

Yes it is a bit of a kick in the teeth the fact that guards get a better basic salary than we do when we have a much more responsible job. But the way I look at it is that this is one of the few TOC's that take on trainee drivers from outside the company and Im in the driving grade now. GA are not a bad company to work for either I dont think. As long as there are no avoidable delays and things run smoothly the management leave you alone. I havent seen my DM for 3 weeks!! lol

 

[TSJD]

Make you right. It's been a lot more relaxed since NXEA left. GA do seem to treat there staff better then NX did. All ill say is, to the original postee, get in the door, pass out as a depot driver and then keep an eye on the vacancies at chingford, bishops stortford and Cambridge. That way you'll go straight into driver training within a year. Good luck. P.s, which depot are you going to and who's training you?( the postee)

 

[Moby1]

Make you right. It's been a lot more relaxed since NXEA left. GA do seem to treat there staff better then NX did. All ill say is, to the original postee, get in the door, pass out as a depot driver and then keep an eye on the vacancies at chingford, bishops stortford and Cambridge. That way you'll go straight into driver training within a year. Good luck. P.s, which depot are you going to and who's training you?( the postee)

Not through all the hurdles yet, but applying for Ilford as its my nearest depot. Will post back if/when successful! Interesting to hear all the different views on depot driving, obviously suits some more than others, but the role and the company seem right for me, so here's hoping........

Moby1

 

[GB]

Yes it is a bit of a kick in the teeth the fact that guards get a better basic salary than we do when we have a much more responsible job.

How do you quantify responsibility?

 

[Dave1987]

I quantify it by the risks associated with not doing your job properly and the safety implications of that.