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Eurotunnel recruiting Drivers/Train Captains for Folkestone
- Thread starter MrPIC
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Did anyone on here go for this? Just wondering how people are getting on?
I had a pal apply for this and get to the assessment part. However they were told that you don't actually get a UK TDL as its mostly driving through a tunnel and thus doesn't allow you through to Qualified driver campaigns.
Unless anyone knows any better. I believe their GB version is slightly different too so one will be asked to sit that again irrespective of a GB pass.
Unless anyone knows any better. I believe their GB version is slightly different too so one will be asked to sit that again irrespective of a GB pass.
driver9000
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That's correct. Eurotunnel Drivers don't count as a Qualified Driver on the UK national network.
Will at least give you some very good answers to the questions during the interview portion of going for a trainee role though
paul1609
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A couple of ex Eurotunnel Drivers I know through heirtage activities have however gone on to work for railfreight and Infrastructure companies so it probably isnt a dead end career move though.
driver9000
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No one said it's a dead end career move and it will certainly give you good experience of long, heavy trains but you aren't trained in NR rules as it's a closed system.
paul1609
Established Member
As I mentioned above I know a couple of ex Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Drivers who have gone on to work for a UK operator through my heritage railway activities.
I met one of them today and posed your question. He said the Eurotunnel Drivers get a European TDL which allows you to operate in the UK. When your European License is due for renewal if youre at that time then employed by a UK operator it gets changed to to a UK TDL.
Whilst I don't don't doubt that they've gone onto a UK TOC. I was led to believe that because they're not operating on NR infrastructure that they'd not have been trained on mainline rules as part of their competency.
In other words is equivalent to a depot driver that doesn't leave the companies own infrastructure.
Meaning you could apply to be a train driver elsewhere but you'd have to do it as a Trainee abiet with very good background information for the mmi etc.
paul1609
Established Member
As I understand it under European Legislation Infrastructure has to be split from Operations. So the safety case for operations requires that Le shuttle drivers require a European Drivers License in that Eurostar and Europorte are using the same infrastructure so it isnt considered a big depot. Eurotunnel have the contract for the rescue of trains from the Channel Tunnel and HS1 to St Pancras, Ashford International and Calais so some drivers must have NR rules at least for HS1. Europorte (another Eurotunnel subsidiary) run the Calais Freight Yard, Channel Tunnel and Ripple Lane Freight trains. They are going to take over Dolland Moor. Europorte own GBRF. I think at least in the SE its going to be a lot more integrated than you think.
I see. Interesting
Train_manager
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European TDL isn't valid in another EU country.
I can't go to Spain and drive on there network and they can't do the same.
driver9000
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That's not how the licence works and it's not really a licence, it just shows you meet the medical and psychometric standard. It is accompanied by a certificate of competence which details the work and infrastructure you're qualified to work on. I know someone who works cross border trains on the continent and has to be trained and passed competent for each country. My EU licence automatically became a UK licence despite the card still having the EU flag on it and never being competent to work anywhere on the continent.
A Eurotunnel Driver will have a certificate that states they are competent on their infrastructure and traction but it won't include competency on Network Rail infrastructure. To move to a domestic operator in the UK would mean they need full training and therefore aren't classed as qualified drivers. Interestingly LUL Drivers don't have the licence despite some running on Network Rail.
I seem to remember HS1 isn't owned by Network Rail and has its own rule book with special competence applying. If that's the case then it might be possible for Eurotunnel Drivers to work over HS1 without going onto the national network.
Train_manager
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Driver_Shez
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It’s interesting reading these comments as I was a train driver for a TOC in London, but unfortunate circumstances led me to leave back in Feb 2022. Since then I found it difficult to get a job again as a train driver. I had to take a year to recover and now I have been offered the role of works train driver for Eurotunnel and was contemplating whether this would be a positive or negative move, as my competence for NR ran out back in 2020. Any opinions would be appreciated.
driver9000
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Was your licence withdrawn and surrendered to the ORR or do you still have the plastic card? Personally I would take the job but once you've been away from the national network for (I think) 5 years you are treated as a trainee again if you were to apply to one again.
Driver_Shez
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I still have my license. I will take the job and still apply for qualified train driver roles. As part of the job I need to do HS1 for rescue of Eurostar, SE and freight. So I guess it won’t hurt to have this traction and route knowledge.
I had an idea it was as little as two years - I don’t have chapter and verse for that, however!
Just be aware that this isn’t a qualified driver role, and the pay is commensurately less, based on what’s been posted on here before.
Driver_Shez
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Yes I am aware of that. This is what puts me in two minds. But I’d rather be working rather than sitting at home. Hopefully I can get back to a TOC in the near future. The pay is low but the extras on top make somewhat of a difference and it goes above 60k. Which is a lot lower to what I was earning. Beggars can’t be choosers I’m afraid. They seem like a lovely bunch of people also.
Makes sense - salary is better than I remembered - and potentially a good stepping stone back to the mainline. Best of luck with it!
Driver_Shez
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Thank you mate!
If it goes above 60 , although that's less than many TOCs it's also better than a fair few.