London bus driver to train driver

[notadriver]

Has anyone in these forums made the switch ? How did you find the application process ?

 

[455driver]

Bus driver to train driver is such a well worn path I am surprised to it doesn't show up on satellite pictures.

 

[tim.tin]

LOL!

It's all about aptitude & competency!

I've seen a few bus drivers during my interview who didn't do soo well....

Bus driving only covers a few of the skills required so you really have to demonstrate how you fit the role.

 

[Class2ldn]

I used to drive buses and coaches before. All down to the individual.

 

[notadriver]

Yes I know you mr thameslink driver

 

[Johncleesefan]

I made the switch. Found the application process tough as old boots ?????? but I believe had I not taken the bus job I wouldn't have passed the interviews as all my experience and examples were from that particular job or outside work activities

 

[KT530]

Add attitude to the aptitude and competency mentioned above

Several transferable skill sets, including advanced defensive driving, professional driving, conveying passengers in safety and comfort. Depends how well you were trained in the first place on the bus side

I must say I find train driving much more relaxing; on the roads you are constantly mitigating against the actions of other road users whereas on the rails 99.9% of people are fully competent.

 

[EvoGSR]

Not London buses but I got a bus driving job specifically to make me more attractive to the rail industry and I've had much better fortune with rail applications since I did.

I do enjoy it on the whole, especially when I'm driving one of my regular, more out of the way routes. You get to recognise the regular passengers, and they you, and you can build a rapport with them. Sometimes your the only person they'll chat to all day and it makes you feel pretty good when they say you've made their day by remembering them. Other days you'll forget all that when someone hurls abuse at you for something random and not to do with you, such as some other company's bus breaking down. Other road users... Mostly just ignorant. Some go out of their way to make our life difficult, which is odd. Some very angry people behind the wheel for some reason!

 

[NI 271]

I must say I find train driving much more relaxing; on the roads you are constantly mitigating against the actions of other road users whereas on the rails 99.9% of people are fully competent.

Yes, this. I often have passengers in my car who seem surprised that I can tell when another motorist is going to cock-up well before it happens, but that comes of spending your working life second guessing incompetent people and spotting patterns. Took me ages to get my head around not needing to constantly be scanning ahead/around for such people once out on the rails, but it's all the better for that.

As far as my application for train driver positions, I drew far more heavily from my years of supervisory/managerial experience than those as a driver.

 

[notadriver]

Despite other motorists etc I still feel I have to concentrate more when driving a train due to the higher speeds and complexity of some shunt moves. By contrast the coach I took to the airport was a doddle but knowing the run helped.

 

[wannabe driver]

I can see this is an old thread, but I'm in this process at the moment.

Are any of you who did it still on this forum?