International Train Driver

[es373]

Eurostar are looking for International Train Drivers. You must have 5 years mainline experience.
You are also put on a French speaking course.

Goto the careers section on the Eurostar.com website for more informational.

 

[raildude]

Working for E* is a big con if you ask me.

They are paid £50k a year and have to work up to 2 hours unpaid overtime per shift.
If something goes wrong, you are going to have to lodge in France.
You need to learn French enough to communicate properly in an emergency
You never touch NR metals (except for a very small stretch at Ashford)
The RGS Rulebook is not used
No easy progression elsewhere in THIS country as not technically a "qualified train driver"

East Coast are on about £45k without the messing about

 

[es373]

You clearly are mislead however you are entitled to your own opinion.

May I ask that you consider getting your facts right before you slate my company?

 

[raildude]

You clearly are mislead however you are entitled to your own opinion.

May I ask that you consider getting your facts right before you slate my company?

What's incorrect?

This is from a Eurostar driver on another forum:

The depot is at the Mills, Drivers sign on at St. Pancras. The renumeration is ""all in one". There is no extra for Sundays, Saturdays, high days and holidays. The only extras are lodging allowances if you're lodging in furrin parts. Driving days vary from being a proud captain at the helm of H.M.S. High Speed to being a shunt jockey to, from and around the Mills. If it all goes wrong (winter is on the way) and you're on the wrong side of La Manche you're a long way from home!

 

[es373]

lol winter is coming. People clearly are not educated well enough to see the changes on stock which has been advertised.
The role is for International train driver, correct? So its a given that you may well have to lodge over night but what about freight drivers? They lodge away....
Maybe you should make enquiries about the benefits of the job which are NOT posted on the vacancy.

 

[E&W Lucas]

Working for E* is a big con if you ask me.

They are paid £50k a year and have to work up to 2 hours unpaid overtime per shift.
If something goes wrong, you are going to have to lodge in France.
You need to learn French enough to communicate properly in an emergency
You never touch NR metals (except for a very small stretch at Ashford)
The RGS Rulebook is not used
No easy progression elsewhere in THIS country as not technically a "qualified train driver"

East Coast are on about £45k without the messing about

I think you'll find that they're on a bit more than that.

Virtually everything you've written is incorrect. I know of a number of drivers who have left Eurostar, so there is no issue with their competence as UK qualified train drivers.

You also have a strange expectation of the driver's role. Eurostar drivers do ECS and shunt moves. So do their colleagues at East Coast and Virgin. Who did you think performed that work? The Shunt Fairy?

 

[es373]

LOL Shuntfairy!!! That's a new one!

 

[raildude]

I think you'll find that they're on a bit more than that.

Virtually everything you've written is incorrect. I know of a number of drivers who have left Eurostar, so there is no issue with their competence as UK qualified train drivers.

You also have a strange expectation of the driver's role. Eurostar drivers do ECS and shunt moves. So do their colleagues at East Coast and Virgin. Who did you think performed that work? The Shunt Fairy?

At my TOC we have dedicated shunters and shed men. You would only have to do a shunt if you were starting/ending for the day (or restricted duties). ECS moves obviously are done as per diagram/instructed.

My point is that Eurostar drivers are NOT Qualified Train Drivers by UK standards by way that they do not learn the Railway Group Standards rule book or sign any traction that is use on domestic lines. By that virtue, how are they qualified in the UK? They would need retraining for conventional running, which means they would have to apply for Trainee Train Drivers. Do Eurostar even do the same psycho tests as UK TOC/FOCs?

A very slimmed down version of the Rulebook is given for the Ashford Intl section.

 

[es373]

RGS..... are you sure? Why is it I've seen loads of RGS rulebooks in the depot then? Why is it I've been told that it IS something you have to learn.

I'm getting a hint of serious jealousy here.

 

[raildude]

RGS..... are you sure? Why is it I've seen loads of RGS rulebooks in the depot then? Why is it I've been told that it IS something you have to learn.

I'm getting a hint of serious jealousy here.

I'm a TPE Trainee driver myself. Personally, I would hate to work for Eurostar.

I can assure you that Eurostar drivers are not tested in RGS Rulebook modules, as they do not operate over any NR infrastructure (bar a very small bit at Ashford). There is a substantially slimmed down version that Eurostar issue, for the Ashford section. I'm not even 100% sure drivers have PTS!

There is a rail staff specific forum that is well known and if you join you will be able to chat to a few ES drivers who will confirm the above.

 

[hello]

east coast the sundays are included as part of working week, they dont get paid extra for them

 

[es373]

I don't need to go on a forum to chat to my colleagues! Drivers do have PTS, Nothing wrong with it being partially NR because you seem to be forgetting that its an INTERNATIONAL JOB.

Duuuuh!

 

[raildude]

I don't need to go on a forum to chat to my colleagues! Drivers do have PTS, Nothing wrong with it being partially NR because you seem to be forgetting that its an INTERNATIONAL JOB.

Duuuuh!

You seem to be the one that is rude!

My issue is that "international" driver or not does not automatically qualify a Eurostar driver to be able to drive on domestic UK roads. They are obviously trained to whatever European standard allowing them to qualify for HS1.

Drivers need to be fully trained in RGS before being "qualified" to drive in Blighty though. A Eurostar driver is not "domestic line qualified" if you like, from the training given.

 

[es373]

So why are you bringing that in to it when this was clearly a thread to inform drivers on this forum of the above vacancy.
Why bother putting your opinion on here, just because you dont like it doesnt mean to say other people wont.
Your'e a trainee... remember that, you dont know everything.....yet.

 

[GB]

You seem to be the one that is rude!

My issue is that "international" driver or not does not automatically qualify a Eurostar driver to be able to drive on domestic UK roads. They are obviously trained to whatever European standard allowing them to qualify for HS1.

Drivers need to be fully trained in RGS before being "qualified" to drive in Blighty though. A Eurostar driver is not "domestic line qualified" if you like, from the training given.

Im not sure why your trying to make a point about E* not being "domestic line qualified", thats not what this thread is about.

And technically they are qualified train drivers, they drive trains and are qualified to do so. The fact that its not on NR metals is irrelevant.

 

[E&W Lucas]

I'm a TPE Trainee driver myself. Personally, I would hate to work for Eurostar.

Here's a bit of advice, if you want to have a long and successful railway career.

LISTEN TO PEOPLE who have more knowledge than you do!!

Two of us have already told you that what you have posted about Eurostar drivers competence is wrong, but still you are sounding off. These aren't trainee positions; they only want experienced drivers. Unless it's changed, five years mainline means 5 years on domestic high speed work, and a clean safety record.

Of course these people are qualified to move back into the domestic rail job market, should they wish to. Unlike you, I would be eligible to apply for these jobs. I'm not going to, because I don't fancy it. However, I have taken the trouble to talk to people at Eurostar, to find out what is actually involved. It would be interesting, but there is not enough of a financial incentive to leave a secure job.

Going back to trainee drivers, I've seen a couple that didn't listen get taken off their course.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

LOL Shuntfairy!!! That's a new one!

I think he's based in Brighton

 

[TDK]

I'm a TPE Trainee driver myself. Personally, I would hate to work for Eurostar.

I can assure you that Eurostar drivers are not tested in RGS Rulebook modules, as they do not operate over any NR infrastructure (bar a very small bit at Ashford). There is a substantially slimmed down version that Eurostar issue, for the Ashford section. I'm not even 100% sure drivers have PTS!

There is a rail staff specific forum that is well known and if you join you will be able to chat to a few ES drivers who will confirm the above.

Trainee driver! keep to your training sir and learn a lot more about the railway as an employee before arguing with experienced railway persons!

 

[talltim]

Surely as a driver if you moved to a different TOC the chances are you would have to learn new traction and route knowledge anyway. Surely not that different from moving from E* to a UK domestic TOC?

 

[es373]

Based at Brighton! LOL!!!!!!

You wont believe it but there is a fair bit of difference from switching to domestic stock to 373's.
Easily put, much harder to drive. More signalling systems, more safety systems, more rulebooks and procedures and such the like.
It may not be everyones cuppa tea but working for Eurostar is the best career move I ever made, absolutely fantastic company to work for.

 

[southerner2174]

Unbelievable, a trainee driver based in the north, trying to compare job roles when he hasn't even qualified to do his own company specifications, come back in 5 years when you have some kind of knowledge and experience to back your opinions up.

 

[notadriver]

If I could just venture an opinion , Eurostar is quoted as being the pinnacle of (British) train driving. To my mind it is the equivalent of being the pilot of Concorde!

 

[whhistle]

I'm a TPE Trainee driver myself. Personally, I would hate to work for Eurostar.

Oh, that's nice. Why? I would hate to work for TPE because First are a shocking company when it comes to basic values. See, I give a reason to help people understand rather than a statement.

I can assure you that Eurostar drivers are not tested in RGS Rulebook modules, as they do not operate over any NR infrastructure (bar a very small bit at Ashford).

Ohh, so you have this from personal experience? Unless you are speaking with someone you trust entirely, then I wouldn't believe anything someone just says over the internet. Remember, there's a lot of people who like to pretend they are a somebody when in fact, they are a nobody.

There is a rail staff specific forum that is well known and if you join you will be able to chat to a few ES drivers who will confirm the above.

It's not... railforums.co.uk is it? :P

Drivers need to be fully trained in RGS before being "qualified" to drive in Blighty though. A Eurostar driver is not "domestic line qualified" if you like, from the training given.

Perhaps not, but it's certainly not a bad job. If I was interviewing for a train driver and I had one person who had not driven any trains before and a Eurostar driver, I know who would get an extra gold star on their application!

Eurostar is quoted as being the pinnacle of (British) train driving. To my mind it is the equivalent of being the pilot of Concorde!

And I will agree. I often feel sorry for London Midland drivers who see Virgin trains passing them at much higher speeds. In fact, one driver was talking to me about a time he went express from New St to Coventry. He said it was great travelling at high speed when he was used to travelling at fairly low speeds.

I guess to put it in plain (pun intended) sense:
Cessna > Boeing 777 > Boeing 474 / Concorde / Airbus A380
LM 350 > VT 390 > Eurostar

 

[notadriver]

O/T but is there an equivalent ranking for bus drivers etc?

 

[es373]

Some brilliant posts there guys.
Just wait till the new stock comes in, they look fantastic. Cabs are pretty posh looking too!

I wonder where "raildude" has gone anyway? Would be nice to see what comment he comes out with, probably something to do with TPE are the best company in the world......Pfffft lol

 

[gordonthemoron]

if the cabs are like those on an ICE3, won't the trains largely drive themselves?

 

[es373]

Nope. They don't "drive" themselves as you put it. Not unless they plan on upgrading the TVM430 signalling which I seriously doubt.

I think you're referring to VI. Vitesse Impose. Cruise Control basically!

 

[notadriver]

I think the LZB signalling in Germany has an ATO function.

 

[Schnellzug]

I guess to put it in plain (pun intended) sense:
Cessna > Boeing 777 > Boeing 474 / Concorde / Airbus A380
LM 350 > VT 390 > Eurostar

I'd hope there were a few intermediate stages between the first two there, since even with simulators I'd hope that there was an expectation of some experience in, say, Bombardier RJs etc, before sitting in the left-hand seat of a 777.

 

[Firestarter]

I'm a TPE Trainee driver myself. Personally, I would hate to work for Eurostar.

I can assure you that Eurostar drivers are not tested in RGS Rulebook modules, as they do not operate over any NR infrastructure (bar a very small bit at Ashford). There is a substantially slimmed down version that Eurostar issue, for the Ashford section. I'm not even 100% sure drivers have PTS!

There is a rail staff specific forum that is well known and if you join you will be able to chat to a few ES drivers who will confirm the above.

Whats it called??

 

[es373]

He is probably waffling on about railchat..... Not very staff specific at all that place. Worse than WNXX in my opinion!
It may have an ATO function but still means massive investment would have to be made to upgrade trackside and signalling control centre equipment.

I can't really see E* jumping on the ATO/TBTC bandwagon for a LONG time. Considering how fast they are currently (and will get faster) and the already strict requirements which have to be met in order for a set to pass through the Euro Tunnel.