Train driver working hours/shifts

[jasonhart1986@]

Hi all

First time posting, looking for information on life as a train driver re working hours/shift patterns.

Im applying to become a train driver through lner, i know its tough and will be one of many applying.

Currently i work as a teacher, looking to change careers.

Im interested to hear what the working week in terms of shifts are like? Ive looked at previous posts (although a few years old) and understand each company is different.
A few questions:From what i can see on old posts, sundays are optional, is this correct for all companies? Are Saturdays common in rotas? What days on/off do you do each week? How far ahead are rotas planned out? How do drivers with children find it?

Apologies for being a newbee but wanna get as much info so can see if this would be better than teaching. Only positive from teaching in schools are the holidays!

Thanks
Jason

 

[LCC106]

If you go to the Careers sub forum there may be a sticky thread that could really help with details for different companies. Welcome to the forum and here’s hoping you secure your dream job!

 

[swt_passenger]

Welcome. There’s a dedicated forum for job info, and it includes a current discussion about Sundays. I’m no expert, but I don’t think Sundays are usually optional for new starters. But in any case, the thread suggests LNER Sunday is inside the normal roster.

I hope this helps:

TOCs with Sundays in Working Week (Drivers / Guards)

Hi all, We get this question quite a lot and there is often confusion about it. Therefore I thought it would be best to make a thread on it to which can be referred to in future. A very brief discussion as provided by @whoosh is below Outside, Voluntary (NO): Sundays are overtime outside the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[ComUtoR]

Hi all

First time posting, looking for information on life as a train driver re working hours/shift patterns.

Welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place.

Im interested to hear what the working week in terms of shifts are like?

In a nutshell; be prepared to work every single hour of the clock. Typically 1 week early, next week lates.

Ive looked at previous posts (although a few years old) and understand each company is different.

Very much so. In general there will be a main roster with your entire work. This may be fixed or flexible. (depending on TOC). You then get a weekly roster with each weeks amendments, and then you get a daily sheet with each days amendments.

A few questions:From what i can see on old posts, sundays are optional, is this correct for all companies?

There is a thread with all the TOCS listed with Sunday arrangements.

Are Saturdays common in rotas?

Generally yes. Saturday is pretty standard across all TOCS.

What days on/off do you do each week? How far ahead are rotas planned out?

As above.

How do drivers with children find it?

Double edged sword tbh. Mine have always known me as a Train Driver so its part of their every day life. It can be a struggle but it does have other benefits. I always remember being one of the only Dads on the school run. The benefit of shift work means I can be available for various parenting duties. The flip side is that I missed many, many events. Some very important ones too.

 

[wobman]

Like with every career it has its positives and negatives, the one great point is once you finish work you leave it behind. There's no work to take home with you once your a qualified driver.
You get to work a 4 day week and have long weekends off, then you get days off in the week.

Then theres the negatives such as the crazy shifts patterns and how it effects your family life and how it effects your social life.
Be prepared for very early starts and working lates plus night shifts.

 

[class 9]

Like with every career it has its positives and negatives, the one great point is once you finish work you leave it behind. There's no work to take home with you once your a qualified driver.
You get to work a 4 day week and have long weekends off, then you get days off in the week.

Then theres the negatives such as the crazy shifts patterns and how it effects your family life and how it effects your social life.
Be prepared for very early starts and working lates plus night shifts.

In most respects you do leave work behind, but things like nights out and having a drink, have a bearing on the next days workings.

 

[wobman]

In most respects you do leave work behind, but things like nights out and having a drink, have a bearing on the next days workings.

I know the job has a huge effect on your social life but that comes with the territory, I only drink on my long weekends as then you can relax more.

It's something that causes you to lose friends, especially when your younger but good friends understand I've found.