Trainee Infrastructure Monitoring Train Driver - Colas Rail

Mabs said:

Colas are a joke. Even though I passed the Assessments. They made me sit mini Assessments (their own made up ones) same but shorter tests before the interview.

Not sure I'd apply again for them.

Click to expand...

spodface said:

I've applied as I live rather close by.

Click to expand...

tiptoptaff said:

Makes no difference as they're all mobile

Click to expand...

1Q18 said:

Worse driving jobs out there, I expect. At least with this there’s tea and coffee on demand from the test crew (unless you’re on a 153)

Click to expand...

Tyrion said:

Can I ask how much the IM drivers get paid? I fancy this role in the future to be honest.
Do they still do mostly Monday-Friday?

Click to expand...

wills said:

Most work is Monday-Friday but there is also quite a bit of weekend work about as well. For example, there's recovery shifts which run at the weekend which might get any mileage not recorded during the normal shift. Then there's booked work on a Sunday such as the NMT which heads North off of Derby.

Click to expand...

wills said:

Most work is Monday-Friday but there is also quite a bit of weekend work about as well. For example, there's recovery shifts which run at the weekend which might get any mileage not recorded during the normal shift. Then there's booked work on a Sunday such as the NMT which heads North off of Derby.

Click to expand...

fletchar2 said:

Had this role pop up on Linked In as a suggestion with it being nearby in Derby.

Forgive my ignorance as someone only recently looking into train driving as a career, but is anyone able to shed any insight on this role/company? What is an Infrastructure Monitoring Train Driver, and what are Colas like as a company?

Is it a transferable skill if for example I applied a few years down the line with EMR?

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

driver9000 said:

The Infrastructure Monitoring trains are the yellow Network Rail trains (usually a locomotive at each end sandwiching converted coaches or the HST) you set buzzing around the country. Colas are the current contract holders to provide Drivers , I don't work for them so can't comment on what they're like to work for but the job is home based with you travelling to meet the train rather than depot based. They are fully qualified Drivers just the same as every other Driver on the network and there would be nothing to stop you applying to other operators as a Qualified Driver.

Click to expand...

AverageJoe said:

How do they sign all the routes?
Do they just constantly have conductor drivers from one spot to the next?

Click to expand...

Tyrion said:

Can I ask how much the IM drivers get paid? I fancy this role in the future to be honest.
Do they still do mostly Monday-Friday?

Click to expand...

bengley said:

£64,945

Mostly Mon-Fri but we get some weekend work.

Don't listen to the naysayers, if you like variety and enjoy doing weird and wonderful routes and traction, stick in an application. It's a good job, I enjoy it.

Click to expand...

tiptoptaff said:

It sounded interesting in the interview I had in the summer. Have reapplied to it every time it's come up since.

Click to expand...

bengley said:

It is very interesting. It's more like passenger work than freight, but without passengers and rarely stopping at stations. Your route card will be massive, I already sign a fair bit more than I did before I joined. If you enjoy doing the same thing multiple days a week, this job definitely isn't for you :P

Click to expand...

tiptoptaff said:

Your manage seemed a lovely bloke, and enjoyed chatting to him. Never got much feedback though other than "we went with someone we felt was better suited" and the HR contact who was supposedly putting me forward has now left...

Oh well.

I suppose the issue I have is that I'm not a freight driver and I had a fairly limited route card

Click to expand...

bengley said:

Yeah the boss is a good bloke, very approachable and friendly. Keep trying, eventually you may be in luck! I think they do choose people based on routes already signed so you can slot into areas with shortages, so at some point your patch will probably need someone!

Click to expand...

bengley said:

£64,945

Mostly Mon-Fri but we get some weekend work.

Don't listen to the naysayers, if you like variety and enjoy doing weird and wonderful routes and traction, stick in an application. It's a good job, I enjoy it.

Click to expand...

357 said:

A bloke I know who works for them said exactly this.

Click to expand...

43066 said:

Same here, funnily enough.

This sounds like an intriguing option for enthusiasts especially, given the traction. It doesn’t get much better than 37s/DVTs* and HSTs!

*I know it’s called something different on these.

Click to expand...

PudseyBearHST said:

Is the first time they’re taking on trainees externally on their IM side? I know they’ve taken on a few internally from shunter/ground crew so this is quite an exciting opportunity for anyone interested.
HSTs, 37s/DBSO, 153 and potentially 73s depending on the region.

Click to expand...

43066 said:

Same here, funnily enough.

This sounds like an intriguing option for enthusiasts especially, given the traction. It doesn’t get much better than 37s/DVTs* and HSTs!

*I know it’s called something different on these.

Click to expand...

A2Jon said:

I couldn’t see any information in the job Description about having to live within a maximum commute of the depot. Would it still be considered that it has to be within 1 hour? A post above mentioned that it’s home based and you would travel to the location on the train?

Click to expand...