The Driver role - your thoughts and feelings..

[JRE]

Morning everyone.

I'll try to keep this as concise as possible.

I currently work for the Police, as an officer. I've been offered a job as a Driver.

I wanted to get an understanding of the Driver role; the bits nobody talks about (or seemingly don't - I did search!)

In the Police, I see people everyday. My colleagues, members of the public, external and internal departments. I work in a busy station. There are numerous social events, not least there's always one or two colleagues willing to grab a pint after work. We look after one-another.

Why am I telling you this? Because I want to know how it compares to being a Driver, for a TOC.

Is it a lonely role?
Does it feel isolating, being in the Cab all day?
How social is it?
Is there a good team comradery?
Is the work itself 'boring', for want of a better word?

I'd appreciate any and all thoughts and feelings, including your take on questions I've maybe not asked.

As always, thanks.

J

 

[martin2345uk]

I went into the role knowing full well it would be lonely and isolating, but to be honest I don't think I was quite prepared for just how lonely it is! To the point where I am considering whether it's something I actually want to do for the rest of my career...

BUT it obviously depends on the TOC - where I am, I don't even really see other drivers, whereas at most TOCs I think you will find yourslef in busy messrooms that feel a bit more lively.

The work itself is kinda boring after the novelty wears off, but you need to maintain your focus and different things happening on different shifts can help to reduce the sameyness to an extent.

 

[theking]

If you are social at work, if you need constant human contact or if you get bored easily then being a train driver isn't for you.

You see people at the depot and at pnb time but basically the job is to be alone in the cab on your own.

 

[scotraildriver]

It depends how much social contact you "need" as a person. Having previously worked in retail management, dealing with the public and managing people and all their dramas, the train driver job is heaven to me. No phones, Emails, office politics or any other hassles. It's my job and I'm happy in my own company. I wouldn't change it for the world but it's down to the individual. Also we have LOTS of ex police here and they are all much happier in the driver role than they were in the police .

 

[Papa]

It's lonely, isolating and monotomous on the surface but it's a fantastic job with amazing benefits and time off. Work your diagram then take your key out to go home and you don't have to think about work until your next turn. Loads of police drive trains and are guards and all think the move was the best decision of thier lives.

 

[vikingdriver]

It's not the most mentally stimulating job that's for sure, though saying that I quite enjoy the peace and quiet of being on my own whilst driving. I've also just had 7 consecutive rostered days off (not holiday) which really does make a huge difference to your quality of life! Used it to catch up with friends and family etc

 

[iphone76]

I really enjoy it and have made great friends with other drivers. I organise driver drinks for the depot, regularly meet up with other drivers outside of work and have been to Vegas, Spain and various other places around the UK for trips with a group of travel buddies from the depot.

I work a DOO route, but am always talking to station staff, cleaners, passengers and other drivers when changing ends and there are typically always people floating around at PNB.

I think you can be as social or not social as you want to be. Coming from an office background, I had no issues adapting to my new career and wouldn't go back. The only thing I'd say is grabbing a pint after work is pretty non existent, or you have to check when others finish work around the same time as you.

In summary. Go for it!!

 

[Tube driver]

If you‘re the type of person that needs other people to ’bounce off’ of and to be surrounded by others constantly then, sorry, the job‘s not for you. You have to be comfortable to be alone with only your brain for company (the horror!) for extended periods of time and stay alert for that period. There are some days (some Sundays for example) that apart from the booking on manager, that’s the last person I’ll have a conversation with until I get home as my meal break doesn‘t coincide with any one else and all the spares are out.

There‘s plenty of social stuff as people are always leaving or there‘s a union meeting or whatever but most don’t go for a few pints after work as they‘re driving home or have an early shift next day and a lot of drivers take the notion of if I’m working tomorrow then I’m not drinking today - it’s safer than trying to figure out if you’re safe or not and my career is far more valuable than a few pints.

There is a pretty good camaraderie as we look after our own, take the piss out of other depot drivers when they turn up and are always there to help drivers, especially newbies, who need a little advice on something they’re not clear on.

Is It boring? Depends. I’m a tube driver so I sign one line and it can be very tedious but that’s the job but its always busy and it’s always kicking off somewhere with something but the mainline has a lot more variety of routes.

 

[Bridger]

I think you can be as social or not social as you want to be.

100% agree with this. The actual driving element itself some may find lonely, but outside the cab there's almost always an opportunity to have a chat, whether that be other drivers, guards, station staff etc.

Some days I'll chat to loads of people, other days when I'm feeling antisocial I have the ability to keep myself to myself. It's nice to have that option. At my depot we generally get together every month or two for a beer where shifts allow (generally after a union meeting), but some depots may be different.

I've only been on the railway for 5 years, but I really can't see myself working anywhere else now. I've previously been in retail/ retail management, and being a train driver is no comparison in terms of work/ life balance. And assuming you're already doing shift work in the police, you should have no issues adapting.

 

[Atishyou]

Is it a lonely role?
Does it feel isolating, being in the Cab all day?
How social is it?
Is there a good team comradery?
Is the work itself 'boring', for want of a better word?

I'd appreciate any and all thoughts and feelings, including your take on questions I've maybe not asked.

As always, thanks.

J

Personally, I find I get on better with some people than others. Would I want to go out for a drink with all of them? No. Some of them? Yeah. I do get on well with a select few, but generally most people are sound. There's the odd Muppet, but you get them anywhere.

It can be a lonely role, particularly freight work when you're out driving.

I don't think it's isolating per se, but I'd say it depends how far and how long you drive for. I do enjoy having route learners etc in the cab though to get to know new people. I'd say it's similar to Police, especially if you're single crewed, then you go back to the messroom/station and there's people there.

It's quite an antisocial job, just like the Police, but you can make it as social or antisocial as you want to be honest.

I think the atmosphere depends on you and others at your depot. If you've got some decent people who you can get on with, I find it excellent. Other times, it'll be when you want to put your headphones in.

Personally I don't find it boring. I love my job, each day I find interesting and learn something new, whether it's a new route, meet new colleagues, chat with others I've not seen very often, or just go somewhere that's lovely.

Is it for you? I can't really say, as I don't know what you're like as a person or where you've been offered a job. I do know there are plenty of coppers who have gone driving, and not that it probably hasn't happened, but I've not heard of any going back to the Police.

 

[dctraindriver]

Morning everyone.

I'll try to keep this as concise as possible.

I currently work for the Police, as an officer. I've been offered a job as a Driver.

I wanted to get an understanding of the Driver role; the bits nobody talks about (or seemingly don't - I did search!)

In the Police, I see people everyday. My colleagues, members of the public, external and internal departments. I work in a busy station. There are numerous social events, not least there's always one or two colleagues willing to grab a pint after work. We look after one-another.

Why am I telling you this? Because I want to know how it compares to being a Driver, for a TOC.

Is it a lonely role?
Does it feel isolating, being in the Cab all day?
How social is it?
Is there a good team comradery?
Is the work itself 'boring', for want of a better word?

I'd appreciate any and all thoughts and feelings, including your take on questions I've maybe not asked.

As always, thanks.

J

Yes it’s a lonely role. You may work with a guard if your TOC has guards but they might be from a different depot and you may speak to hardly anyone during the shift, maybe at break time you will.

I love to socialise but I really like my own company. I never feel isolated. I like the peace and quiet.

I socialise with my colleagues if there is a meet up, shifts obviously get in the way. But there’s good camaraderie and a laugh when people are out and about.

The work can be boring. So can being on the phone to CPS direct for hours on end or waiting to give evidence at court, or sitting on a cordon or hospital visit all day….. Personally some days are and some days aren’t. Driving to London when the suns coming up is magical some days, as are some of the moon rises you see.

You can opt for a career break and if you don’t like it go back. Besides they’re that desperate to get people into the police you can get back in years after.

You’ll still catch up on the gossip and the old colleagues that matter will keep in touch.

Depending on where you work if pay is a factor for the jump (and it shouldn’t be in my opinion) you’ll be on Chief Inspector or Superintendent salary.

Seriously it’s a cracking job. If you don’t like it you can go back. I don’t know any coppers who’ve gone back…….

 

[KT530]

As others have said above, it depends on how you are as an individual, everyone’s different.

I certainly don’t find the role lonely or isolating - unless you’re doing long distance InterCity work, you’re actually in more or less constant contact with folk - passengers, staff, randoms, especially when you drive with the cab window open.

The work will depend on your depot. Mine has a large variety which keeps the role interesting.

Being an Instructor when you gain experience would also help to keep your mind active.

PNB and messrooms have a variety - some folk like their downtime, whereas some need to perform to an audience.

Go for it!

 

[Jon1930]

I love the job mainly because I enjoy having absolutely nothing to do with passengers, I was a guard first and did not enjoy dealing with the general public. There is always time for banter with drivers/guards when on pnb or the rare time you are spare and not given any work.

 

[JRE]

Thanks for all of the replies so far guys and girls.
Did anyone, at any point in time, think they'd done the wrong thing, joining the Rail as a Driver?
The overwhelming majority of people who do the job, say that they love it.

 

[JohntyRogers]

Thanks for all of the replies so far guys and girls.
Did anyone, at any point in time, think they'd done the wrong thing, joining the Rail as a Driver?
The overwhelming majority of people who do the job, say that they love it.

I have had a few different careers and experiences, some of them in some 'dream roles' however the railway and driving trains is by far the best job I could ever have imagined. I genuinely cannot think of any other jobs I would rather do.