Southeastern Depots

[Nkay11]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge regarding Southeastern depots and which routes their drivers sign at each depot. In particular Dartford. I know it's all metro but does anyone know specifics?

Thanks in advance.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also Gillingham. Any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[Mintona]

Dartford:

Dartford - Charing X via Bexleyheath, Sidcup and Woolwich Arsenal
London Bridge - Cannon Street
Lewisham - London Victoria
Dartford - Gillingham
New Cross - Hayes
Charlton - Blackheath
New Cross - Sevenoaks via Orpington

I might have missed a few bits. Can't remember if they sign Orpington - Victoria but my hunch is no.

Gillingham:
As above, plus:

Gillingham - Victoria via Catford and Beckenham Junction
Gillingham - Ramsgate
Faversham - Dover Priory
Strood - Tonbridge
Sittingbourne - Sheerness

Gillingham is probably the best Southeastern depot for variety, but as a result is harder to get into.

 

[theageofthetra]

Grove Park has a good variety in link 3 (although you will wear out your shoes with all the walking time!)

 

[Nkay11]

Thanks for the reply mate!

I've recently passed the drivers assessment and was moved from the dartford pool to the gillingham pool. Absolutely thrilled as i would love to get into Gillingham. Just wondering how long i'll be waiting for an interview for them. Any ideas?

Thanks again!

 

[Mintona]

I've got no idea, it varies, my waiting time was about 6 weeks but I was internal.

 

[Nkay11]

Was that for Gillingham? 6 weeks is nothing! Hope i'm that lucky haha.

Thanks again for your replies. Much appreciated.

 

[ComUtoR]

Dartford don't sign Sevenoaks <> Orpington

The reasons for Gilly being harder to get into are pretty much nothing to do with "variety"

 

[Nkay11]

So when you say Gillinghams harder to get into... What do you mean by that? As in the interview is tougher or just the wait?

Cheers.

 

[ComUtoR]

Because there are other factors at play.

The routes the depot signs doesn't affect the availability of a vacancy. It wasn't me who said Gilly is harder to get into. You may need Mintona to clarify.

The routes are changeable and often depots will lose work. They also gain work so may be asked to sign a new route. Tonbridge depot has just gained a new route. Since I started Gillingham has lost a fair amount of work. Dartford, when I started, wasn't even a depot.

Vacancies are determined by many factors.

 

[Mintona]

So when you say Gillinghams harder to get into... What do you mean by that? As in the interview is tougher or just the wait?

Cheers.

When I started I wanted to get into Faversham or Gillingham depots but was told there was a long waiting list for both, and as a trainee I wouldn't be able to go there above people who'd been waiting for years already. So I went to a London depot instead (my interview was for that depot), and actually really enjoyed it. But as I lived 2 minutes walk from Gillingham station that would've been better for me at that time. It was a few years ago now and I don't work for Southeastern anymore, so things may have changed in the intervening time period.

I know the routes and variety isn't the only reason Gillingham is sought after, but I suspect it has quite a lot to do with it. Driving the rounders from Slade Green can get pretty boring pretty quickly I imagine, and a lot of drivers from there move to Gillingham for better quality of work.

Out of interest, what is the new route at Tonbridge?

 

[ComUtoR]

Out of interest, what is the new route at Tonbridge?

"Via east croydon." They are also signing via Loughborough Junction now. I believe its going to be because they will be picking up some GTR work and will be going through the core. Potentially in the 700's

I know Drivers who have transferred to Tonbridge because they didn't want to do GTR work. Now they are getting some of it. Work content is very changeable.

 

[Mintona]

"Via east croydon." They are also signing via Loughborough Junction now. I believe its going to be because they will be picking up some GTR work and will be going through the core. Potentially in the 700's

I know Drivers who have transferred to Tonbridge because they didn't want to do GTR work. Now they are getting some of it. Work content is very changeable.

Oh yes I know, when I was at my depot we picked up a short extension of work, and I know that since I've left they've picked up a new metro route too.

 

[telstarbox]

So is the recently introduced Tonbridge-London Victoria service (replacing the Tonbridge-Redhill-London Bridge service) going to be Southern trains but with Southeastern crews? If so it makes sense for crew flexibility as both ends are major Southeastern stations.

 

[notadriver]

Oh yes I know, when I was at my depot we picked up a short extension of work, and I know that since I've left they've picked up a new metro route too.

What routes / traction do you sign at Bristol mate ?

 

[Controller1701]

"Via east croydon."

Tonbridge and Hastings men already sign via East Croydon, the new bit is actually signing via Selhurst and Balham into London Victoria Central side.

Paul

 

[Jimbo12345]

Has the London depots trainee drivers recent advert been pulled..was there yesterday

 

[tsr]

Tonbridge and Hastings men already sign via East Croydon, the new bit is actually signing via Selhurst and Balham into London Victoria Central side.

Paul

Indeed; there've been loads of SE route learners on the VIC route recently! This means that, for example, some Southeastern drivers now sign the whole of Victoria's platforms (but not the carriage sheds...). As I understand it, they'll retain East Croydon - London Bridge via Forest Hill for the time being.

I also hear, additionally to this, that although cross-TOC cover can be arranged, all but a couple of the daytime Tonbridge-Redhill-Victoria services are now crewed by Southeastern. Of course, with the current Southern crew issues, this does still mean that Southern are not best pleased if they have to try to cover it should there be insufficient route knowledge or rostered crew at SE!