Working for Arriva Trains Wales

[Mark_1987]

Hello everyone ,

Two weeks today I will be starting my new career path with Arriva Trains Wales. After a few times of trying I actually got offered the Job in Chester as station assistant, showing that persistance really pays.

Im just wondering what they are like as a company to work for ? Whats the scope for over time etc etc .

Im really looking forward to it, and if there are bad stories out there then people should know that im coming from a job working for Northern Rock for 3 years ! So nothing can be worse !

Mark

 

[TDK]

Hello everyone ,

Two weeks today I will be starting my new career path with Arriva Trains Wales. After a few times of trying I actually got offered the Job in Chester as station assistant, showing that persistance really pays.

Im just wondering what they are like as a company to work for ? Whats the scope for over time etc etc .

Im really looking forward to it, and if there are bad stories out there then people should know that im coming from a job working for Northern Rock for 3 years ! So nothing can be worse !

Mark

Call back here in 6 months and let us all know you personal opinion of ATW

 

[Mark_1987]

Call back here in 6 months and let us all know you personal opinion of ATW

Not really the reply i was after. Maybe I shouldnt have asked on here.

 

[Greenback]

Not really the reply i was after. Maybe I shouldnt have asked on here.

It's all very subjective, and I wouldn't want to label a past or current employer as good or bad. In my experience whether you judge an employer as good depends on what you value. For instance, in one job I had some people loved a lot of voertime, and would have considered this great, others didn't want it or need it, and would have thought it was a pain being pressured to work it.

Just out of interest, if four of five people had immediately popped up to say that ATW were terrible employers, would you have then told them you didn't want the job?

 

[Mark_1987]

Wouldn't have made much impact in honesty, its what ive wanted for a while. Im only after honest opinions so I know what I might be facing as every job has negatives!
Im a hard worker spose thats all that matters.

 

[trainophile]

Will you have a name badge on? I pass through Chester a few times a month and will look out for you!

 

[Mark_1987]

Yep, I should have anyway! Mark if you hadn't guessed!

 

[Greenback]

Wouldn't have made much impact in honesty, its what ive wanted for a while. Im only after honest opinions so I know what I might be facing as every job has negatives!
Im a hard worker spose thats all that matters.

Yes, that's the main thing! I've had quite a few jobs, still haven't found the perfect one, as you say, they all have their down sides!

I have to say, though, that if I had heard some of the moaning that I heard when I was on the railway before I started, then I might never have taken the job. Yet it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable in many ways!

 

[Mark_1987]

This is true. Like i mentioned, i work for Northern Rock. If you want to hear moaning then that is the place! I dont think any job is without them, just its all new to me. Bit of insight would be nice hence me signing up here.

 

[trainophile]

Sorry another not very helpful post, but I forgot to say congratulations on your new job, and all the best. Chester is a very busy station so you will have your work cut out! I love it there (when I'm early for a connection so have time to wander around) - there's always so much going on.

 

[185]

The job is what you make of it. The role you apply for may be brilliant, and you will probably enjoy it a lot - but quite often the franchise operator may be err ...less than perfect. Things may change for the better soon though.

 

[TDK]

This is true. Like i mentioned, i work for Northern Rock. If you want to hear moaning then that is the place! I dont think any job is without them, just its all new to me. Bit of insight would be nice hence me signing up here.

I doubt if anyone who works for ATW will run the company down, managers are frequent on this forum, I sippose it is like a reference, no reference isn't good but a good reference is. If no one here pipes up the company is good to work for either there are not any ATW employess on this forum or they haven't got anything good to say about the company!

You have got the job so see for your self what they are like, this is all I was saying! I am not being a bint with you, it is just that you have got the job and then ask about how the company are, maybe you should have done some research before you got the job?

 

[trainophile]

Just curious to know what is the role of a station assistant? Is it based in an office or do you get out and about?

You could start with sorting out the ladies loos on platform 4! Those huge cylindrical things that hold enormous loo rolls are always hanging open, leaving very little space to access the lavatory. If you are of larger proportions it must be nigh on impossible. I heard someone yesterday trying her best to slam the thing shut, but it kept falling open again. There are two cubicles but they both have the same problem.

Anyway I digress, sorry... .

 

[Mark_1987]

I doubt if anyone who works for ATW will run the company down, managers are frequent on this forum, I sippose it is like a reference, no reference isn't good but a good reference is. If no one here pipes up the company is good to work for either there are not any ATW employess on this forum or they haven't got anything good to say about the company!

You have got the job so see for your self what they are like, this is all I was saying! I am not being a bint with you, it is just that you have got the job and then ask about how the company are, maybe you should have done some research before you got the job?

As mentioned above, it doesnt bother me how the company are and it would not have affected my choice in accepting the job. Im after opinions on how people rate them.

Anyway, thanks for your input, and im sure ill update this thread six months down the line.


Also, thanks for the other replies. Most important of all I am looking forward to it, and do know quite a bit about the company and the rail industry as a whole, its in the family as it happens with my grandad being a driver.


With regards to the toilets, im sure I can mention it anything to help the customers

 

[TDK]

As mentioned above, it doesnt bother me how the company are and it would not have affected my choice in accepting the job. Im after opinions on how people rate them.

Anyway, thanks for your input, and im sure ill update this thread six months down the line.


Also, thanks for the other replies. Most important of all I am looking forward to it, and do know quite a bit about the company and the rail industry as a whole, its in the family as it happens with my grandad being a driver.


With regards to the toilets, im sure I can mention it anything to help the customers

Yes Mark, the staff at Chester are a nice bunch of people and i am sure you will get on okay, when you have settled in ask the resident staff at Chester what they think of the company, first hand info is always the most accurate. I pass through Chester quite a bit and will say Hi to you when I see you.

 

[Mark_1987]

Will do

Many thanks for the replies, Cant wait to start

 

[First class]

I personally know one of the supervisors (lives in Liverpool) and used to know the Station Manager, (Karen).

I think you may find Merseyrail becomes quite involved with the barriers at Chester soon, (ITSO and Penalty Fares), so you will probably become familar with Penalty Fares and smartcards, the latter probably being a big plus to put down on application forms as the railway moves towards smart cards.

 

[trainophile]

How did it go Mark? I was at Chester today but only for six minutes (got off the 12.?? Holyhead which came in a bit late) so didn't have time to look out for you. Station seemed to be running smoothly though. Hope it wasn't a baptism of fire!

Oh btw they have fixed the ladies loo problem by removing the toilet roll dispensers completely! :?