Trainee Driver- the first 6 months

[theageofthetra]

Got the great news today that I passed the medical and will start with Southeastern in July at Grove Park. Really excited and cannot wait.

I was hoping to get some feel for how the next 6 months or so is like when training. The impression I get is that you are in a classroom from 8.30-4ish ? How much revision do you normally need to put in each night?

How long into the training is it before you are allowed anywhere near a cab?

I appreciate each TOC is different so if anyone is part way through training with Southeastern I would really appreciate some thoughts or advice on what I am under no illusion is going to be a very tough year or so.

Is there are any tips or hints on how to approach the learning or anything you wished you had known on day 1 then I would appreciate it

Thanks for any help or advice you can give

 

[TheVicLine]

First up congrats on passing the interview process and getting this far. Started my training end of 2012 with First Group so should still be relevant although the training will vary slightly from TOC to TOC...

At the start of the course the instructor said 2 things that looking back were spot on, 'you get out what you put in' and 'I wish I was sitting where you are'.

You do get back what you put in, you can get by with minimal revision but in reality it's hard to do. So an hour or so a night I would say is about right, possibly a bit more in the lead up to exams and a lot more before your final rules exam. I didn't bother the first couple of weeks and the first exam was hard work for me so after that it was revise, revise, revise, especially at weekends, so you don't have much of a life other than driver training while in the classroom. Oh and make as many notes as you can while sitting through presentations or ask for copies of the slides, that helped me.

When training you go over your rules again and again so as long as you keep on top of it you will be ok and if you don't understand something don't be afraid to put your hand up and ask cos you will need to understand and use pretty much all you are taught. Traction training and SIM time are limited compared to rules but these are important parts of the course as when thing go wrong when you are driving these are the parts of the course that give you the knowledge to deal with them, do not under estimate their importance despite the focus being mainly on rules learning.

With us they tried to break up the monotony of constant rules learning and we did a week of 'front end turns' in a cab with an instructor, not driving, quite early on about 3 or 4 weeks in I think, which was good as it gives an insight in to the life of a driver especially to those on the course who came from outside the industry.

Classroom training was about 5 months then after that it's out driving for real, I remember my first drive 100mph on the down Leeds and my instructor saying 'you missed an NRN change there' and me thinking 'Arghhhh this is mental I didn't even see the sign'... day 2 was a lot easier (that part might make a bit more sense to you in a couple of months lol).

Keep focused but most of all try and enjoy it, the training can be stressful and the training pay is crap but you will be taught all you need. It took my group about a year in total to complete on average I would say. Going back to my instructor saying 'I wish I was sitting where you are' I can understand now what he meant, the next year is going to be the time of your life, and after that you get to do it for real and be paid a hell of a lot of money to do it, win win.


Good luck and PM me if you want any info on stuff I haven't mentioned (there is plenty).

 

[theageofthetra]

Thats really helpful, thanks. After roughly how long after day 1 is the rules exam?

 

[Vicpaul]

Congratulations first of all.

Southerns approach is different, your Monday - Thursday in the class room for the first five months with the Fridays spent at a depot (normally your own) where you will go out with a driver or instructor if available. This is to allow you to in essence see what you have learnt in the classroom in real life and If with a DI you will most likely given the chance to drive quite early on. It's basically rules and traction but there will be other things built into the schedule. In that five months you will be allotted some annual leave and from memory there are two driving weeks where you will follow a DI and there hours. There are three exams in the five months your at the school but your really told everything you need know so given that you apply yourself and do the revision you need to everything will be fine.

All the best for the coming months

 

[beavercreek]

I'm currently in training and enjoying it.We had a company induction followed by a introduction into how the railways operate.We then moved onto the rules which was mixed in with control room and signal box visits and a couple of weeks of front end turns.It was then onto depot and traction learning and we are due to go with our instructors in a few weeks.From the starting date to going with our instructors is about Four months and during this time we have had to do some revision.

 

[TheVicLine]

Thats really helpful, thanks. After roughly how long after day 1 is the rules exam?

With my lot it is at the end of classroom training after about 6 months, then again before passing out (about 1 year), again after you have ben driving for a further year at the end of your PQA period and then once every 2 years.

 

[SEDriver]

I believe it has changed a lot since I started. I think you'll get your PTS (personal track safety) done first. This was only 2 days when I did it. This allows you to walk near the track, into the sidings etc. I think you go out with a driver instructor for 1 week quite early into the training, so you get an idea of the can environment and what the job entails.

I think they teach the rules & regs in stages now. You learn a bit, then take an exam. Learn a bit more then another exam. This carries on until the final exam, where you will get tested on everything you've learnt.

If you've got any questions, pm me and I'll try and answer. Congrats btw! ??????

 

[theageofthetra]

Thanks for all the advice. One aspect that does surprise me is how different each TOC is in its training routine. I would have thought that it would be a standardised process across the industry.

 

[haikarate]

When I started at Connex SE it was 9 weeks on rules, 4 or 5 on traction and then straight onto your driver training. Before I knew it I was on my own leaving Charing Cross en-route to Sevenoaks on a Sun afternoon. Good luck, you'll enjoy every minute of it.

 

[Bizy111]

Hi - my first post!
I've been offered a trainee driver post - starting shortly. Beginning to panic now.
Does anyone know what percentage of people fail the training course?
(I'm in a completely different industry at the mo...)

 

[455driver]

Hi - my first post!
I've been offered a trainee driver post - starting shortly. Beginning to panic now.
Does anyone know what percentage of people fail the training course?
(I'm in a completely different industry at the mo...)

A few but not a huge amount, its normally the ones that had to practice the tests for weeks to pass them because they then cant keep up with the required pace.
If you passed all the tests using the company supplied practice material then you should be fine.

If there is anything you are unsure of ask the trainers, they have heard all the questions before and it is much better to ask a question (no matter how silly* it might seem) because a lot of the course builds on what you have already learned, miss a bit (or not understand it properly) and you will struggle later on.

Good luck with it all.


* there is no such thing as a silly question, if you are unsure then it is a valid question.

 

[leaffall]

Congratulations to ageofthetra and Bizzy111 :

I'm in the middle of a training program and I'm loving it. The chaps who've answered already have got it about right, although training styles vary from place to place, but in essence it's: induction, PTS, rules, traction and practical handling. Interspersed with front-end cab rides, route learning and any conversions you may need for other traction.

In answer to your question Bizy111, people do on rare occasions fail to reach the standard during training. That said, think about what you've had to go through to get this far, all those online tests, assessments, interviews etc. those tests have been honed over the years by the OPC et al in order to wheedle out those unlikely to to be able to take all the training on board. You've made it this far, and with hard work and dedication, and has already been said a reasonable amount of homework. There is no reason you should feel you might not do it.

And to reiterate what others have already offered, feel free to fire me a PM if you need any advice.

Good luck and enjoy every minute of it
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
455Driver beat me to it, and very true! No such a thing as a silly question!

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I completed my training last year and can echo what others have said beforehand.

On the subject of failing, it does happen. However, you wouldn't be on the training course if you couldn't meet the standards and no TOC wants you to fail - they've already invested in you. On the other hand, if they don't think you're quite up to speed, they're not going to let you onto the mainline on your own!

As mentioned above, ask plenty of questions, make plenty of notes and revise, revise, revise!

 

[dapc]

I have a week to go till i start my training and cant wait!

As the above, my training programe is the same but its a monday to friday but with the 3rd week being at home depot. The work load i am a little anxious about, but i have had rules training and testing in my previous job as a dispatcher although its prob about 5% of the rules will be learning for driver.

Congrats and Good Luck!

 

[Bizy111]

Good luck DAPC! Let me know how it goes.

Thanks for the reassurance. Now all I've got to contend with is the 2 hour commute each way to the training facility.. Mind you, I guess that'll give me lots of time to revise.

Thanks again..

 

[Casey Jones125]

Good luck DAPC! Let me know how it goes.

Thanks for the reassurance. Now all I've got to contend with is the 2 hour commute each way to the training facility.. Mind you, I guess that'll give me lots of time to revise.

Thanks again..

You have to commute 2 hours to the training facility! Are they not going to put you up in a hotel or B and B?

 

[dapc]

Yes I will! Though I'm going to be with a FOC so I'm not sure if there is more/less to cover? We shall see!