Top Railway Jobs

[theironroad]

Another thread got me thinking what people consider to be the 'best' railway jobs.

Taking into account multiple factors, such as job satisfaction, terms and conditions, benefits, pay, people, work life balance,stress, effect on health etc etc. Whatever factors you think might make up the best jobs on the railway.

So what would be the 'best' railway jobs for you?
Feel free to add a wee bit of explanation.

Probably best to limit it to top 3/5 rather than top twenty

I need to think bit about mine.........

 

[Gooner18]

Depot / Mainline driver

 

[Stigy]

The Driver grade is obviously the most sought after railway job, it always has been. The terms are generally good, as are the hours and benefits. However, there are other railway jobs which can offer similar (below) in terms of satisfaction and a decent salary.

• Signaller (NWR)
• Mobile Operations Manager (NWR)
• Shunter (TOC/FOC)
• Guard
• Control staff (TOC/FOC/NWR)

Most railway jobs offer great salaries and benefits, but any of the above in addition to driving, are decent roles and highly sought after.

 

[Trainguy90]

It’s hard to say as I haven’t done that many, but as a driver I’d defo say driving, However I actually got a lot of enjoyment working as station staff, I didn’t find barriers that great when it was my turn, but train dispatch and platform duties were great, and where I worked had a great team of people.

 

[Minilad]

The best railway job is the one you have

 

[DarloRich]

The Driver grade is obviously the most sought after railway job, it always has been. The terms are generally good, as are the hours and benefits. However, there are other railway jobs which can offer similar (below) in terms of satisfaction and a decent salary.

• Signaller (NWR)
• Mobile Operations Manager (NWR)
• Shunter (TOC/FOC)
• Guard
• Control staff (TOC/FOC/NWR)

Most railway jobs offer great salaries and benefits, but any of the above in addition to driving, are decent roles and highly sought after.

the railway is much wider than drivers or guards or signalmen.

The best railway job is the one you have

I was just about to type the same!

 

[Stigy]

the railway is much wider than drivers or guards or signalmen.

Indeed it is (hence why I haven’t just listed those jobs ), I’ve worked for a TOC for 12-years in a role not many would know of. The hours are great, salary is good and I basically get to do what I want all shift (within reason and obviously work related haha). It doesn’t mean that I want to do it forever, hence why I’m trying to get out of it.

I was just listing some of the most popular jobs which are that way for a reason.

 

[The Planner]

And most of the high paid jobs that people strive for on here are all shift related too, if you want to move away from that at some point to office hours chances are you will be taking a big pay cut.

 

[DarloRich]

And most of the high paid jobs that people strive for on here are all shift related too, if you want to move away from that at some point to office hours chances are you will be taking a big pay cut.

depends on your grade I am fairly certain there are decent office jobs that pay almost as well as driving.

 

[The Planner]

Not until you hit Band 3 or 2 within NR.

 

[Cavan]

What sort of jobs are in NR band 3/2?

 

[Stigy]

What sort of jobs are in NR band 3/2?

Lower grade signallers? If the banding is generic across the organisation and is the same for signallers? Grade 3 Sugnaller is about £30k a year (still a decent wage to be fair, take in to account rest day working etc.). Band 1 as a sugnaller would be like a crossing keeper and around £25k salary.

 

[Cavan]

Lower grade signallers? If the banding is generic across the organisation and is the same for signallers? Grade 3 Sugnaller is about £30k a year (still a decent wage to be fair, take in to account rest day working etc.). Band 1 as a sugnaller would be like a crossing keeper and around £25k salary.

I was referring to the role clarity grades which I believe run the opposite direction to signalling grades - 8 being the lowest and 1 the highest.

 

[AndrewE]

''Top'' jobs are about organising and management, and the railways biggest problem has always been when bean-counters (sorry, ''Management Consultants'') pretend to apply their analytical skills to improve the railways' profitability. They don't know how or why it works, but they just ''analyse'' and pronounce, regardless of the realities on the ground.
Hang on to the job you enjoy, or move on and up so that you can use your knowledge to do the next job better than someone who hasn't got your experience. In my time the ''best'' job (on the railway) was one that you enjoyed doing enough to put up with the pay being offered!

 

[Ianno87]

Lower grade signallers? If the banding is generic across the organisation and is the same for signallers? Grade 3 Sugnaller is about £30k a year (still a decent wage to be fair, take in to account rest day working etc.). Band 1 as a sugnaller would be like a crossing keeper and around £25k salary.

Band 3 (office based) and Grade 3 (signaller) are different pay scales.

Band 3 is essentially "Project Manager" and equivalent level (e.g. technical specialist), so c. £41k for office based role.

Band 2 is "Senior Project Manager", "Programme Manager" etc.

''Top'' jobs are about organising and management, and the railways biggest problem has always been when bean-counters (sorry, ''Management Consultants'') pretend to apply their analytical skills to improve the railways' profitability. They don't know how or why it works, but they just ''analyse'' and pronounce, regardless of the realities on the ground.
Hang on to the job you enjoy, or move on and up so that you can use your knowledge to do the next job better than someone who hasn't got your experience. In my time the ''best'' job (on the railway) was one that you enjoyed doing enough to put up with the pay being offered!

Plenty of decent paid interesting office-based jobs around that don't involve bean-counting (though it is usually at least a small part of it), nor simply preaching at others how to do their jobs better (if you're good at it). Project sponsorship, for example.

 

[Lendog2012]

I enjoyed one of my roles as a Train Dispatcher on a mainline station. Great laugh with the team and even when the **** hit the fan, the challenge of keeping a cool head while trains perform "different from the norm" moves kept it really interesting for me.

It was always fun (and slightly shocking) when one of the lads says "Didn't know that line is Bi-Directional" Back to the Peer Trainer for you my son!!

 

[Stigy]

I enjoyed one of my roles as a Train Dispatcher on a mainline station. Great laugh with the team and even when the **** hit the fan, the challenge of keeping a cool head while trains perform "different from the norm" moves kept it really interesting for me.

It was always fun (and slightly shocking) when one of the lads says "Didn't know that line is Bi-Directional" Back to the Peer Trainer for you my son!!

It’s actually quite frightening just how little some staff we work with know. Not necessarily safety things, but just what trains go where and at what time. I started my career working at Clapham Junction, and my tutor/mentor at the time told me I’d know all the platforms and trains etc in no time. I didn’t believe him. In reality it only took a few months. I still know what train goes where, at what time and at least the first two digits of all our sercices’ Running numbers. It’s ubfortunately not like that with other staff. I strongly believe if you’re doing a job, you should do it to the best of your abilities, and if you don’t want to be there, find something different.

 

[Lendog2012]

It’s actually quite frightening just how little some staff we work with know. Not necessarily safety things, but just what trains go where and at what time. I started my career working at Clapham Junction, and my tutor/mentor at the time told me I’d know all the platforms and trains etc in no time. I didn’t believe him. In reality it only took a few months. I still know what train goes where, at what time and at least the first two digits of all our sercices’ Running numbers. It’s ubfortunately not like that with other staff. I strongly believe if you’re doing a job, you should do it to the best of your abilities, and if you don’t want to be there, find something different.

I agree, some of the guys I work with just know what they need to know. I suppose that is fair enough for them and the company as long as they can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding to the employers requirements. Personally, I used my time to go and see our Control Room, Spoke with signallers, visited 2 depots during the night to see what went on, etc. Its helps me to have a more rounded understanding of the railway. I still have LOTS to learn and everyday is a learning day but I try my best. As you know I will be moving on from this TOC but I still have Rugby ROC to go and visit, I know people who can help with it but its just trying to get some free time at the moment.