A career as a signaller

[nors]

Hiya, I'm applying for the Network Rail Operations Generalist graduate scheme and it says that the role involves attending signaller training. Does anyone know what this involves?

 

[chrislfc]

Onboarding & all pre-employment checks done, employee number received, now I can relax until the hard work begins in January!

 

[Jordan4321]

Onboarding & all pre-employment checks done, employee number received, now I can relax until the hard work begins in January!

Congratulations mate

 

[leomartin125]

Same! In Crewe...

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with working part-time as a signaller or general advice/experience re reasonable adjustments from Network Rail? In particular with neurodivergency, ie ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia etc. Thanks!

I am currently on IST myself with Reasonable Adjustments in place due to my ASD. I have found NR to be superb in both the organisation and management of said reasonable adjustments - offering me extra time in exams and giving me handouts to follow whilst working my way through. There are things available too like a scribe and other such help but I haven't required this as of yet. A lot of this will heavily depend on your WDS (Work Development Specialist) when you reach IST, although I made my LOM and OM aware as a courtesy.

Do you know where you are going to be based and where your IST is yet? I may have an idea who your WDS might be, depending on where this is.

Hiya, I'm applying for the Network Rail Operations Generalist graduate scheme and it says that the role involves attending signaller training. Does anyone know what this involves?

I am not on that scheme, however did go on some Inclusion & Diversity training prior to IST which was taken by a Graduate who I presume is going through the very same scheme as you have applied for. This person did become a signaller and went to IST as part of the scheme, which seems like a huge commitment as the training is the same as any signaller would do (plus you have your Graduate stuff to do alongside) so I can imagine it must be extremely difficult. You will spend the full three months at IST alongside fellow trainee signallers and achieve the same that any signaller would at the end of the training course. After which you will presumably spend time, pass out in a box in your designated area in order to build experience of real life signalling. Hope this helps.

 

[Kraken]

Lunch also provided.

I avoided breakfast most days in an effort to keep the kilos off. I think it’s quite common to gain a bit of weight at IST.

Mate, I was a big lad before I went to IST, then 10 weeks of a fat cooked breakfast, a lunch of baguette, crisps and chocolate, and then a 3 course dinner in the evening was absolutely brutal on the waistline.

Still, it’s proven to be good training for sitting in a signal box cramming food into my mouth for 12 hours at a stretch so maybe that was the intention.

 

[lambo79]

Mate, I was a big lad before I went to IST, then 10 weeks of a fat cooked breakfast, a lunch of baguette, crisps and chocolate, and then a 3 course dinner in the evening was absolutely brutal on the waistline.

Still, it’s proven to be good training for sitting in a signal box cramming food into my mouth for 12 hours at a stretch so maybe that was the intention.

Noooo! Don't tell me this! I've been running and doing parkruns all summer to lose a bit of weight. I start IST in two weeks, don't tell it's been a complete waste of time and effort?!! Haha!

 

[Kraken]

Noooo! Don't tell me this! I've been running and doing parkruns all summer to lose a bit of weight. I start IST in two weeks, don't tell it's been a complete waste of time and effort?!! Haha!

It sounds like you must have some sort of willpower if you are able to make yourself go for a run so I reckon you’ll be OK - I’ve got the breaking strain of soggy shortbread so I never had a chance.

 

[Iddy015]

Received a reply back today that the current round of interview spaces has been taken, but they would like to keep my application for the next round of interviews?

But gutted, but still holding out hope for an interview. I'd applied for trainee Grade 3 at Oakham/Melton.

Got my interview on the 1st for oakham/melton area aswell.

 

[C13]

Hi, maybe someone who had many knock backs before getting the job can help. I’m waiting for a signaller position to come up in or around Manchester as I didn’t pass my last interview in October.

Does anyone know how often on average jobs come up?
Or can anyone share the time scale for themselves on having an interview, being unsuccessful & reapplying just to give me an idea on how long I could potentially be waiting.

Thankyou in advance

 

[Ronnie215]

Evening all,

Apologies for a new thread! Appreciate any advice from anyone.

Currently in IST as we speak & have been told currently there is only 2 resident spots Available at this current time (maybe more by the time the course has run it’s self & signed off on all panels)

Salary wise I know there’s no difference (grade 7) but I’m confused as to what this means with Sundays & OT. Can anyone shed some light Please?

Reason is to be able to try & plan my next steps House wise etc, so was semi banking on having nights & Sundays booked.

Thank you in advance

Note; have been told all will be relief signallers*

Hi Mate. Basically means if your resident you will be rostered sundays (as overtime). If not resident, you will be relief, which is a slightly different shift pattern and you do not work sundays (unless overtime). Each one has its pros and cons.

Do you know which panel your being put on. Cardiff or Newport?

 

[Goggins]

I'm about to start Week 4.. It is hard not to eat all the food, but if you've got a gym at your hotel, use it.. I go straight to the gym after training, you will finish at 1530-1600 most days, and if its not your sim time then its great to de stress! Haha

 

[nors]

I am not on that scheme, however did go on some Inclusion & Diversity training prior to IST which was taken by a Graduate who I presume is going through the very same scheme as you have applied for. This person did become a signaller and went to IST as part of the scheme, which seems like a huge commitment as the training is the same as any signaller would do (plus you have your Graduate stuff to do alongside) so I can imagine it must be extremely difficult. You will spend the full three months at IST alongside fellow trainee signallers and achieve the same that any signaller would at the end of the training course. After which you will presumably spend time, pass out in a box in your designated area in order to build experience of real life signalling. Hope this helps.

Thanks. That every operations graduate is put on the course (which is fairly competitive to get onto?) is rather interesting. The graduate scheme is fixed-term 18-month contract so they won't get much signalling out of us...

And I thought I was done with exams!

 

[The Puddock]

Thanks. That every operations graduate is put on the course (which is fairly competitive to get onto?) is rather interesting. The graduate scheme is fixed-term 18-month contract so they won't get much signalling out of us...

And I thought I was done with exams!

The idea is not that you'll become a productive signaller for the whole of your tenure (although some areas may like their graduates spend a few weeks working in a signalbox after passing the course) but that you should develop a decent understanding of how the network is actually run. After all, it is a railway operations graduate scheme.

If you're going to end up in the management structure of the operations function it's better that you have a well-rounded education in all aspects first, even if you end up in one of the areas more removed from the front line, such as Train Planning. Learning the basic principles that underpin how we safely and efficiently operate trains will stand you in very good stead for almost any role in Network Rail.

 

[LaureB]

I am currently on IST myself with Reasonable Adjustments in place due to my ASD. I have found NR to be superb in both the organisation and management of said reasonable adjustments - offering me extra time in exams and giving me handouts to follow whilst working my way through. There are things available too like a scribe and other such help but I haven't required this as of yet. A lot of this will heavily depend on your WDS (Work Development Specialist) when you reach IST, although I made my LOM and OM aware as a courtesy.

Do you know where you are going to be based and where your IST is yet? I may have an idea who your WDS might be, depending on where this is.

Oh that's really helpful and reassuring, thanks! I’ll be based in the Guide Bridge area, and will be attending IST in Preston from 29 Jan - I believe this may be a relatively new location however?

 

[nors]

The idea is not that you'll become a productive signaller for the whole of your tenure (although some areas may like their graduates spend a few weeks working in a signalbox after passing the course) but that you should develop a decent understanding of how the network is actually run. After all, it is a railway operations graduate scheme.

If you're going to end up in the management structure of the operations function it's better that you have a well-rounded education in all aspects first, even if you end up in one of the areas more removed from the front line, such as Train Planning. Learning the basic principles that underpin how we safely and efficiently operate trains will stand you in very good stead for almost any role in Network Rail.

Oh, I completely agree that it is extremely worthwhile. Met many managers at NR who could really do with that level of operational understanding! Just surprised that they're willing to put that much resource into it.

 

[MylesHSG]

Hi Mate. Basically means if your resident you will be rostered sundays (as overtime). If not resident, you will be relief, which is a slightly different shift pattern and you do not work sundays (unless overtime). Each one has its pros and cons.

Do you know which panel your being put on. Cardiff or Newport?

Residents:

Fixed pattern of days/nights (you can work out exactly what shift you are doing months or even years in advance). Rostered Sundays (that you can ask to be booked off from without using annual leave allowance). Work 1 location. You may have general purpose relief shifts in your regular pattern but expect to work these as in the rostering principles a resident on a spare is first on the list to cover a shift.

Relief:

Fixed pattern of shifts, but can be days or nights, you won't know your shifts for the following week until the Thursday before when the roster is punlished. Opportunity of being an unused "spare" if no shifts need covering. Can work multiple locations depending on area. Get a relief premium which can vary from 4%-32% depending on distance between locations worked. No rostered Sundays but can work them is residents are on leave or book them off.

The amount a relief works is really dependant on staffing levels of

Evening all,

Apologies for a new thread! Appreciate any advice from anyone.

Currently in IST as we speak & have been told currently there is only 2 resident spots Available at this current time (maybe more by the time the course has run it’s self & signed off on all panels)

Salary wise I know there’s no difference (grade 7) but I’m confused as to what this means with Sundays & OT. Can anyone shed some light Please?

Reason is to be able to try & plan my next steps House wise etc, so was semi banking on having nights & Sundays booked.

Thank you in advance

Note; have been told all will be relief signallers*

Resident:

Fully rostered Day/Nights, you can figure out what shift you are working months or years in advance if you wanted to. Rostered Sundays, but you can request them booked off without using annual leave allowance. You may get 2/4 or 2/5 Sundays depending on the roster. Most rosters have spare shifts built in since the 35hr week change, but don't expect these to be sat at home, you are first on the list to cover shifts and you will be put on ODD's and ACC's if not.

Relief:

You know what days you are working, but won't know the shifts for the next week until the Thursday before. No rostered Sundays but first on list to get any going before other residents. Relief premium between 4-32% depending on distance between locations worked. Depending on the staffing levels you might have spare shifts where you are sat at home. Expect to work more nights than days as residents book leave on nights more than days (in my experience).


There are pros and cons to each position. As a relief you can probably earn as much working your 35hr base shifts as a resident will do working 35hr base + Sundays but it all depends on grade and relief premium.

Edit
(Not sure why my disappeared answer has now appeared on top!)

 

[ajs101]

I have today been offered Grade 2 in Ashford, I'm very pleased and looking forward to it. Is there anyone with experience of working out of Ashford?

 

[Jet]

I have today been offered Grade 2 in Ashford, I'm very pleased and looking forward to it. Is there anyone with experience of working out of Ashford?

Hello, Iv had a missed call today and a message asking to call back. Did they say when you would start?

 

[ajs101]

Hello, Iv had a missed call today and a message asking to call back. Did they say when you would start?

Yeah they're looking at 15th January.

 

[Jet]

Yeah they're looking at 15th January.

Ah ok thank you!

 

[Signal_Box]

Sounds lovely tbf, I’m going to a south wales box so I’m not sure what it will be like after the 60 hour weeks in place ,just have to see after IST

Our choice was the best of a pretty poor bunch of options unfortunately.

We’re looking at 5 day turns rostered in a row now one week, there was a two days then two nights option but that didn’t make the final option for voting.

Normally you start as a resident signaller and relief is a position lots of people want.

Our lot can’t fill the relief for love nor money!

 

[Jordan4321]

Our choice was the best of a pretty poor bunch of options unfortunately.

We’re looking at 5 day turns rostered in a row now one week, there was a two days then two nights option but that didn’t make the final option for voting.



Our lot can’t fill the relief for love nor money!

Hi what does this 5 day turn look like?

 

[MylesHSG]

Hi what does this 5 day turn look like?

We do 5 12hr nights in a row. I'd hate it if it was days, but nights is ok.

 

[NXFlyer]

Something that's been on my mind, my initial email stated that I'm being recruited into a "pool of signallers...meaning you will be hired into a geographical area rather than a specific location". Does this mean that I'll be given opportunities to be a resident as they arise, or will I be expected to apply to box vacancies? Probably something I could ask my LOM when I get onboarded fully too...

 

[Signal_Box]

Hi what does this 5 day turn look like?

0700-1900
0700-1900
0700-1900
0700-1900
0700-1900

I think there is also a night week of the same.

 

[Jordan4321]

0700-1900
0700-1900
0700-1900
0700-1900
0700-1900

I think there is also a night week of the same.

A long old set then, does this allow you to have a week off in a row under the new 60hr limit?

We do 5 12hr nights in a row. I'd hate it if it was days, but nights is ok.

Are 12 hours shift patterns all quite similar then or is it random depending on box and region, or does NR have a general guideline for the shift?

 

[The Puddock]

Are 12 hours shift patterns all quite similar then or is it random depending on box and region, or does NR have a general guideline for the shift?

Rosters are negotiated between the union and management at local level so in practice every area is different - sometimes slightly, sometimes wildly. Until I read the posts above yours, for example, I’d never heard of a 12 hour roster where more than four shifts are worked in a row and I’m amazed that anyone would agree to work that.

The document setting out the conditions which all rosters should comply with is called the National Rostering Principles (NRP) and is agreed nationally between the company and the union. Until recently there were many regional and local ‘opt out’ agreements to the NRP but as part of the pay deal a few months ago a new version of the NRP was issued and all local agreements were supposed to be withdrawn (though that hasn’t quite happened yet).

 

[Jordan4321]

Rosters are negotiated between the union and management at local level so in practice every area is different - sometimes slightly, sometimes wildly. Until I read the posts above yours, for example, I’d never heard of a 12 hour roster where more than four shifts are worked in a row and I’m amazed that anyone would agree to work that.

The document setting out the conditions which all rosters should comply with is called the National Rostering Principles (NRP) and is agreed nationally between the company and the union. Until recently there were many regional and local ‘opt out’ agreements to the NRP but as part of the pay deal a few months ago a new version of the NRP was issued and all local agreements were supposed to be withdrawn (though that hasn’t quite happened yet).

Oh that is really interesting, thank you for the info, off topic but how quickly can I join the union after joining NR and is RMT the one to go for?

 

[The Puddock]

Oh that is really interesting, thank you for the info, off topic but how quickly can I join the union after joining NR and is RMT the one to go for?

The RMT is the union that represents the signalling grade in Network Rail so yes, I’d strongly recommend joining them. The quality of local reps can vary but at the higher levels they’re generally very good and it’s really a very important insurance policy for you if something goes wrong. Some staff who have fallen out with the RMT for whatever reason may be in TSSA or Unison but these don’t have collective bargaining rights and it is the RMT which deals with pay, rosters, local agreements, workplace health and safety etc... Some brave souls have no trade union affiliation whatsoever but, given it’s a safety critical role and NR isn’t always the friendliest employer, personally I wouldn’t like to chance it.

You can join straight away - they used to try and get a rep into speak with each signalling school class and sign people up but I don’t know if that’s still the case. If that doesn’t happen at signalling school then you’ll be able to find out the details for your local branch rep when you start signalbox training or you can join online.

 

[Jordan4321]

The RMT is the union that represents the signalling grade in Network Rail so yes, I’d strongly recommend joining them. The quality of local reps can vary but at the higher levels they’re generally very good and it’s really a very important insurance policy for you if something goes wrong. Some staff who have fallen out with the RMT for whatever reason may be in TSSA or Unison but these don’t have collective bargaining rights and it is the RMT which deals with pay, rosters, local agreements, workplace health and safety etc... Some brave souls have no trade union affiliation whatsoever but, given it’s a safety critical role and NR isn’t always the friendliest employer, personally I wouldn’t like to chance it.

You can join straight away - they used to try and get a rep into speak with each signalling school class and sign people up but I don’t know if that’s still the case. If that doesn’t happen at signalling school then you’ll be able to find out the details for your local branch rep when you start signalbox training or you can join online.

Cheers for the info I will definitely be joining the RMT as soon as I finish signalling school