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Greater Anglia - Trainee Depot Driver - Ilford (14/02/23)

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NSEWonderer

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I’m not sure why people still believe depot driver automatically grants you a progression to mainline driver. It doesn’t. It’s a completely separate role.
Considering it was the norm barely 9 years ago most people wouldn't be too far off the mark with that. Ofc things have changed since 2015 but doubt there isn't internals shifting between depot to mainline. GTR I believe progresses between its depot drivers and mainline, GA although they stopped the auto of about 1 year since 2015 some still progress between a varied amount of time ofc now so it wouldn't be far off. Those who have since progressed from DD however small since 2015 would be just in saying it was compared to other cases a slightly better way to progress.
 
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MattyL

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Does anyone know what the qualified Salary is and more importantly (since I've researched the fourm and gotten conflicting info) do we get a European train driver license from it or a GA specific driver license. I ask this as some TOCs like swr only give driver ids where as gwr give the full EU train license I believe.
Did you manage to find out any info on the qualified salary or possible increases once in the job a while? As with any change of career, having to take a drop (if get offered), so be good to know how long have to take a hit for!
 

golfsareus

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Did you manage to find out any info on the qualified salary or possible increases once in the job a while? As with any change of career, having to take a drop (if get offered), so be good to know how long have to take a hit for!
£31,000 is fully qualified plus any overtime and Sunday working which is not is the normal working week and no you do not get a EU train driving lisence with the job. You work 8 weeks with 1 rest day and then get 2 weeks off which includes annual leave and then you get 5 floating days, if you need anything else let me know mate.
 

NSEWonderer

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Did you manage to find out any info on the qualified salary or possible increases once in the job a while? As with any change of career, having to take a drop (if get offered), so be good to know how long have to take a hit for!
what mr golf said
£31,000 is fully qualified plus any overtime and Sunday working which is not is the normal working week and no you do not get a EU train driving lisence with the job. You work 8 weeks with 1 rest day and then get 2 weeks off which includes annual leave and then you get 5 floating days, if you need anything else let me know mate.
 

dan5324

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Pretty poor wage that for the railway. That would be a near 7k drop for me! And for Al role with no guranteed progression to mainline.
 

golfsareus

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Pretty poor wage that for the railway. That would be a near 7k drop for me! And for Al role with no guranteed progression to mainline.
What do you currently do? They said you can apply to internal mainline roles after you been a depot driver for a year but as you say no guarantee
 

utternoob

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Theres a mainline vacancy as well

I got no email confirmation of completion??
 
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NSEWonderer

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Yeh makes more sense waiting for a mainline opportunity than depot driver if you can wait. Even a talent pool. Its a 1 year probation in lots of depot driver offered roles before applying to any internal vacancies for a mainline progression which since 2015 GA doesn't automatically provide. And as someone said its not a guarantee that you get past those coming off the street or in other roles like customer service(when applying internally).

Added risk is also as I believe one doesn't get a full driver license then you will lose essentially a year on valid psychometrics for some TOCs
 

dan5324

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No full licence? That’s crazy. I don’t know many companies that won’t put you through the full training, even just for depot driver. It begs the question whether this is even worth going for? You’re getting all the negatives of railway work and few benefits? Have they explained what the role will entail? Hopefully it isn’t a glorified cleaner/light maintenance man.
 

NSEWonderer

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No full licence? That’s crazy. I don’t know many companies that won’t put you through the full training, even just for depot driver. It begs the question whether this is even worth going for? You’re getting all the negatives of railway work and few benefits? Have they explained what the role will entail? Hopefully it isn’t a glorified cleaner/light maintenance man.
SWR as far as I know do Driver Ids rather than Licenses for their depot drivers. Full training just for depot driver wouldn't be necessary. They'd learn traction I believe to some degree and rules to a certain level. Most of trainings for depot driver I believe is under 2 months where as mainline is 12 to 18 average. I may be off with depot driver training length but don't quote me. Last I heard GA was like a 3/4 Driver License aka it doesn't qualify you as a qualified driver if you say wanted to apply else where as mainline qualified driver.
 

utternoob

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Got an email to do the assessments

Anyone know when we are likely to get a reply about the SJT results ?
 
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SammyMo

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This morning I received confirmation of passing the pre employment medical. I now have a start date of 19th June (going to miss the April training course due to having to work 1 months notice). Has anyone else progressed any further or will I be in the classroom on my own....?
Hello, I have the 19th June as a provisional start date too.
Had my medical this week, waiting on my drug test results. Hopefully get them back Mon/Tues..
 

NSEWonderer

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Good to see this is moving. I although due for a interview have decided to stay with my current job till my mainline applications either go thru
 

BigPondFish

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Hello, I have the 19th June as a provisional start date too.
Had my medical this week, waiting on my drug test results. Hopefully get them back Mon/Tues..
Cool. You should definitely have everything in place in time. I'll see you at the academy on the 19th.
 

Amal

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I was supposed to have MMI a month ago, but got cancelled the day before. Not heard back anything else since.
 

BigPondFish

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Hey guys.
I’ve got my interview next week. Any tips??
They're quite laid back but do some research on the company and have some good examples of team working, working under pressure, customer service and problem solving. Good luck and maybe I'll see you at the depot sometime soon.
 

COYI1971

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£31,000 is fully qualified plus any overtime and Sunday working which is not is the normal working week and no you do not get a EU train driving lisence with the job. You work 8 weeks with 1 rest day and then get 2 weeks off which includes annual leave and then you get 5 floating days, if you need anything else let me know mate.
Hi,it is roughly £31000 per year but with Sunday working,any bank holiday working and Rest day working you can earn over £40000. Every 8 weeks you get 2 weeks off (can probably pick up some overtime as there's always vacant lines) . Obviously you do get days off during the 8 week period so not to break hidden. As the job goes, it's not a vigorous job and usually there's quite a bit of down time once the moves have been completed.
Now that most of the other class of trains have gone we mainly drive 720's (which we don't prep,clean or fix,that's all down to Alstom),however there's a possibility that we'll be driving 710's (ARL) soon.We also drive an 08 diesel for shunting purposes, if you are on the shunt shift that week.
Once you get over the size of the depot and what the job entails,it's a great place to work with colleagues always willing to help or answer any questions or concerns you may have.
With regarding progression,(which is not official)depot drivers are still progressing into mainline roles frequently . There was an arrangement that it was 50/50 ie when mainline positions became available that half are filled by street to seats and half by depot drivers ( but that can depend on how many positions are available as they don't want to leave the depot too short of drivers). I hope that this answers some of your questions but feel free to ask if you need anymore info.
Best of luck to all that have applied and hopefully I'll see some of you soon
 

BigPondFish

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Hi,it is roughly £31000 per year but with Sunday working,any bank holiday working and Rest day working you can earn over £40000. Every 8 weeks you get 2 weeks off (can probably pick up some overtime as there's always vacant lines) . Obviously you do get days off during the 8 week period so not to break hidden. As the job goes, it's not a vigorous job and usually there's quite a bit of down time once the moves have been completed.
Now that most of the other class of trains have gone we mainly drive 720's (which we don't prep,clean or fix,that's all down to Alstom),however there's a possibility that we'll be driving 710's (ARL) soon.We also drive an 08 diesel for shunting purposes, if you are on the shunt shift that week.
Once you get over the size of the depot and what the job entails,it's a great place to work with colleagues always willing to help or answer any questions or concerns you may have.
With regarding progression,(which is not official)depot drivers are still progressing into mainline roles frequently . There was an arrangement that it was 50/50 ie when mainline positions became available that half are filled by street to seats and half by depot drivers ( but that can depend on how many positions are available as they don't want to leave the depot too short of drivers). I hope that this answers some of your questions but feel free to ask if you need anymore info.
Best of luck to all that have applied and hopefully I'll see some of you soon
Thanks for this. I start my training on 19th June and its great to hear from someone who actually does the role. Hopefully I'll get to meet you when I have finished my training.
 

NSEWonderer

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Hi,it is roughly £31000 per year but with Sunday working,any bank holiday working and Rest day working you can earn over £40000. Every 8 weeks you get 2 weeks off (can probably pick up some overtime as there's always vacant lines) . Obviously you do get days off during the 8 week period so not to break hidden. As the job goes, it's not a vigorous job and usually there's quite a bit of down time once the moves have been completed.
Now that most of the other class of trains have gone we mainly drive 720's (which we don't prep,clean or fix,that's all down to Alstom),however there's a possibility that we'll be driving 710's (ARL) soon.We also drive an 08 diesel for shunting purposes, if you are on the shunt shift that week.
Once you get over the size of the depot and what the job entails,it's a great place to work with colleagues always willing to help or answer any questions or concerns you may have.
With regarding progression,(which is not official)depot drivers are still progressing into mainline roles frequently . There was an arrangement that it was 50/50 ie when mainline positions became available that half are filled by street to seats and half by depot drivers ( but that can depend on how many positions are available as they don't want to leave the depot too short of drivers). I hope that this answers some of your questions but feel free to ask if you need anymore info.
Best of luck to all that have applied and hopefully I'll see some of you soon
This is actually really interesting info many thanks. Depending on which one of my apps goes thru first to dmi at least nice to know there's progression options of sorts if it's the depot one first
 
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