Are there any Eurotunnel trainee train drivers out there?

[Nattibongo]

Hi,
has anyone just fully passed out and what was it like....was the tests like the other toc's or is eurotunnel any different? Also what are they like to work for and do u need to speak french or not?

Thank

Nat

 

[TDK]

Hi,
has anyone just fully passed out and what was it like....was the tests like the other toc's or is eurotunnel any different? Also what are they like to work for and do u need to speak french or not?

Thank

Nat

A friend of mine managed to get a job at eurotunnel - different rules, totally different training than mainline, you will be taught French if you pass the assessments. You can actually with Eurotunnel pass all the tests and then fail the driver's assessments at the end of your training, this is not good!

 

[GB]

Is it true that to learn french they put you with a french family for a couple of weeks/months?

 

[notadriver]

Here is the advert :

http://www.kentjobs.co.uk/SearchRes...jobId=LJA-6224491&agentId=504056&viewedfrom=2

I don't believe there is any requirement to learn or speak French and you are required to do other non driving tasks. 33k for a 37 hour week does seen a bit low compared to other main line driver jobs though.

 

[notadriver]

Hi,
has anyone just fully passed out and what was it like....was the tests like the other toc's or is eurotunnel any different? Also what are they like to work for and do u need to speak french or not?

Thank

Nat

Fully passed out in 4 months ? That's fast !

 

[saracen]

Pay is lower because they are 'shuttle' operators and not qualified train drivers. They learn Tunnel rules and are not eligible to operate on the High Speed line or Mainline in France or the UK. Eurotunnel drivers will essentially just go drive in a figure of 8 all day/night.

 

[A-driver]

Fully passed out in 4 months ? That's fast !

As far s I know they don't have much rules knowledge-most decisions are made by control and the drivers job is to phone problems through to someone with a manual in front of them who tells them what to do so they have less need to know the full rules a mainline driver needs to know.

That may have changes since the channel tunnel fire though as I believe the lack of training was seen as a factor in how this was dealt with.

 

[Simon11]

It sounds like a rather boring driver job compared to working for other TOC's with most of your driving in tunnels.

 

[Beveridges]

Same route every day as well?

Can't believe the pay is only £33k for driving tunnel freight and high speed passenger trains through the tunnel.

 

[bystander]

Who mentioned driving high speed passenger trains?

No one. Because it's nothing to do with this role.

 

[CC 72100]

Fully passed out in 4 months ? That's fast !

Well they don't have to get much route knowledge do they?

(No offence intended any actual shuttle drivers!)

 

[Beveridges]

Well they don't have to get much route knowledge do they?

Neither do some drivers in higher paid roles. Theres a lot in my TOC who have got very small route cards.

 

[saracen]

Because they're NOT Train drivers Beveridges. As I mentioned previously they travel in a pre-planned figure of 8 and have no transferrable skills onto UK/European mainline (apart from perhaps responding to TVM signalling)

As mentioned, no disrespect to any Eurotunnel drivers.

 

[GB]

Why do you not consider them train drivers? They drive trains don't they?

 

[daddy_badger]

I thought the clue was in the title of the advertisement. It does say Trainee Train Driver or have I missed something?

 

[saracen]

According to DBSchenker, Europorte (Same company as Eurotunnel) and Eurostar Drivers...apparently not.

Something to do with being more of an Operator and not having transferrable skills onto Mainline so Eurotunnel drivers could not demand the salaries of a normal Train Driver.

This could be complete bias from a group of Tunnel Drivers who perhaps see EuroTunnel as lesser qualified individuals but that's the impression I was given when speaking to them.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Forgive me for being ignorant, I've just read the Job Title and you're right, it does clearly see Trainee Train Driver.

So yes, they are apparently Drivers...my bad.

 

[reapz]

they have 3 jobs a loader a guard and a driver , in a weeks work u will do all 3 jobs

 

[carriageline]

Any one putting in for it?

 

[daddy_badger]

too far for me

 

[charlie873]

I don't think they'll have too many applicants as it states you must be 20 years of age to apply.

 

[carriageline]

I don't think they'll have too many applicants as it states you must be 20 years of age to apply.

Surely that means minimum?

 

[daddy_badger]

Its a minimum age of 20 not maximum

 

[carriageline]

I thought so, they made it sound like you have to be 20 only to apply, but just presumed it was worded wrongly.

Requested a application pack anyway!

 

[mac]

Will they still have to do all the assessments?

 

[TMLB UK]

I don't think they'll have too many applicants as it states you must be 20 years of age to apply.

Hahaha that wouldnt be age'ist at all now would it.

 

[Sammy h]

E-mailed them and asked them to send me an application pack and answer a couple of questions.

 

[carriageline]

Me too, what they replied with states no holidays between July and December though, which may be a problem. Will see how I get on

 

[Beveridges]

I don't think they'll have too many applicants as it states you must be 20 years of age to apply.

Very poor use of words by the person who wrote it

 

[carriageline]

Currently found my self working in the Folkestone site of Eurotunnel through my current job, so I will see if I can find a driver manager and have a chat!

 

[Sammy h]

No reply as of yet, hope they have sent a pack out to me.