Thebullet
Member
That's great thanksNational Railway Museum. Go into the car park and there's an entrance to the DU buildings you can't miss it. (blue gates at the back)
That's great thanksNational Railway Museum. Go into the car park and there's an entrance to the DU buildings you can't miss it. (blue gates at the back)
That sounds great! So excited to get started now, finish my current job in 2 weeks so things are starting to get real. Out of curiosity what hotel have they put you in during training?Yeah very good just been in and around the panel I’ve been working and doing some e-learning. Lots of good people lots of good advice too. Panel looks interesting can’t wait too get back after IST! Yeah be here before you know it! Can’t believe how quick this has come around! X
Sounds like a great box! The PDL isn't my neck of the woods (unelectrified SWR is more my area of expertise ) but I'll definitely be applying for both roles! What are the rosters/shifts like for you guys?Relief at the mighty mere cover Farncombe and Petersfield boxes as well.
Rad boxes, rad people.
We are in the Park Inn hotel in York, have you been told you’re going to York signalling school! I bet !!That sounds great! So excited to get started now, finish my current job in 2 weeks so things are starting to get real. Out of curiosity what hotel have they put you in during training?
8 hour roster with 12 hour Sundays. Nights/long weekend every 4 weeks for static. Reliefs are GPR so anything goes shift wise (quite a few nights more often than not), but they do have set days.Sounds like a great box! The PDL isn't my neck of the woods (unelectrified SWR is more my area of expertise ) but I'll definitely be applying for both roles! What are the rosters/shifts like for you guys?
I am in dilemma hope someone can answer this for me. I am an internal candiate, already a signaller.
I have interview coming up for Grade 7 in 2 day and interview for Grade 9 in 2 weeks. Say if I pass interview for Grade 7 and accept the job offer would my application be withdrawn from Grade 9? Will I not get chance to interview for Grade 9 aswell and obviously if I pass the interview for Grade 9 I will choose the higher grade. Hope I have made myself clear.
Thanks in advance.
I was 4 months before my start date and that was before all this covid19 business. It's just how long it takes due to limited class places at signalling school etc. It's a long process.I believe the COVID situation was the main contributor as it all kicked off just after my medical. Class sizes were cut in half and the courses were to be run locally. There were a number of trainees waiting for the course in the same area so places had to be prioritised. Some trainees at my location started the course in July and I'm on the course immediately after them. It's been a long wait but I'm just grateful to be starting at all
Yes I was anticipating it being a long process when I first applied. I was told at my assessment day that if I was successful I'd be going to signalling school in May/June which would have been 3-4 months after offer, however I'm now starting school in October. It seems to be a postcode lottery in terms of how quickly you can access signalling school, particularly with the introduction of local training.I was 4 months before my start date and that was before all this covid19 business. It's just how long it takes due to limited class places at signalling school etc. It's a long process.
Thanks for the info! Yeah the WEML after Salisbury is a familiar area for me, many a trip included time sat in the Tisbury passing loop!8 hour roster with 12 hour Sundays. Nights/long weekend every 4 weeks for static. Reliefs are GPR so anything goes shift wise (quite a few nights more often than not), but they do have set days.
The Direct, it has to be said, is mercifully free of the skullduggery and intrigue many boxes on the unelectrified parts of the SWR network have to endure.
I'll definitely be applying for both roles! What are the rosters/shifts like for you guys?
Two grade 5 panels at Basingstoke ASC (at the station, no signalling in the ROC yet)Thanks for the info! Yeah the WEML after Salisbury is a familiar area for me, many a trip included time sat in the Tisbury passing loop!
Me again! Sorry to be a pain but the current opening advertised at the Basingstoke ROC, does anyone know which areas/panels that is covering? (Grade 5 if that helps!)
Due to start a 3-year apprenticeship at the end of October. Got a few questions regarding the apprenticeship.
Are you guaranteed a job within your area at the end of the 3 years?
What are the hours like on the apprenticeship? Are you doing shifts or is it Monday-Friday 9-5?
What do the shift patterns tend to be in Scotland? 8hrs or 12?
Obviously the starting salary on the apprenticeship is on the low side, what sort of salary can I expect once I’m time served?
Thanks
@cpn Thank you so much for the detailed reply! Just a few questions if you dont mind!Hi @SWTurbo! Looks like @godfreycomplex has got you covered, but just for completeness (and for future thread-searchers)...
- Haslemere = 3 platforms + a small siding, a bit of regulating, 7tph (6 through + 1 terminator), lever frame, pictures at www.railwayworld.net/2018/09/10/a-look-at-haslemeres-listed-signal-box/
- Farncombe = plain track, 3 crossings (1 MCB, 1 CCTV, 1 AHB), 8tph, individual function switches
- Petersfield = plain track + a trailing crossover (not in the current WTT), 6 crossings (1 MCB, 1 CCTV, 4 AHB), 6tph, individual function switches (+ 3 levers for the crossover); a boundary quirk means that the resident signallers come under a different LOM (Havant)
- All 3 operate MAS by TCB with train describers, plus emergency alarms to Guildford (at Farncombe) and Havant (at Petersfield) and emergency block bells between themselves
- No freight on the route, so night turns are quiet
- It's an 8hr roster (locally agreed handovers are at 0630, 1300, 2030) with 12hr Sundays (0630, 1830)
- The relief is GPR, so very little pattern to the shifts (especially with the ongoing vacancies!), but the Guildford LOM (actually based in Woking) and the roster clerk are both outstanding, so you won't feel unsupported
- The salary, as you say, is G3 +18%
- SWR kindly extend their free travel staff passes to NR staff in the Wessex region, which is a nice local perk that most signallers around the country don't formally get
- All 3 boxes are scheduled to close in December 2023 and transfer to Basingstoke ROC (but - as with all plans on the railway - both the date and the new location are very subject to change)
I'm not there yet, incidentally - I've just finished week 3 of 10 at sig school in Basingstoke (with @MostlyHarmless), so will hopefully be training in the boxes themselves from November, all being well.
Best of luck with your applications!
cpn
It is yeah.
MAS - Multi Aspect Signalling (colour lights, that is to say).@cpn Thank you so much for the detailed reply! Just a few questions if you dont mind!
Many thanks, and apologies for any thick questions!
- I understand the concept of TCB, but what is MAS?
- Having read the railway world accompanying text, I understand the emergency block bells (Apparently the electronics don't like heat!) but in what case would the alarms be used?
Best of luck at school, keep us updated!
Due to start a 3-year apprenticeship at the end of October. Got a few questions regarding the apprenticeship.
Are you guaranteed a job within your area at the end of the 3 years?
What are the hours like on the apprenticeship? Are you doing shifts or is it Monday-Friday 9-5?
What do the shift patterns tend to be in Scotland? 8hrs or 12?
Obviously the starting salary on the apprenticeship is on the low side, what sort of salary can I expect once I’m time served?
Thanks
It is yeah.
I'm fairly sure that way back in this huge thread someone said you'll be working 9-5 ish until you've been signed off.
I'm fairly sure that way back in this huge thread someone said you'll be working 9-5 ish until you've been signed off.
Usually 8hrs turns over 5 days, 0800-1600 Monday to Friday. You can ask to do a variety of 8hrs to suit your training needs.
You’ll also be booked off on Bank Holidays so will build up Comp Leave days if you go for lower rate of pay.
If you're booked off, you don't get any enhancements or comp lieu days.You’ll also be booked off on Bank Holidays so will build up Comp Leave days if you go for lower rate of pay.
If you're booked off, you don't get any enhancements or comp lieu days.
Definitely box dependant as at my place they work their shift pattern and train on them days!
which I would’ve preferred rather than training on 8 hour shifts!
Not sure 12 hrs training is so great when you are new?Do you not? Oh well there we go.
If you’ve any sense you’ll try and get a 12hr training roster, especially if you got any travelling to do to and from work.
The Direct, it has to be said, is mercifully free of the skullduggery and intrigue many boxes on the unelectrified parts of the SWR network have to endure.
It means wait and be patient, don't read anything else into it.I'd be very grateful if LOM or any others in the know can shed any light on this. My status has changed from test completed to application under review. My understanding is that means I am not one of the top 6 candidates chosen for interview. Does this mean I am unlikely to get an interview or can the hiring manager pick who they like? And how likely is this(I know, this is a how long is a piece of string question) Thanks