Virgin Trains or Southern Railway?

[WarJan]

Hi, so my situation is as follows,
I am really unsure on what to do.
I have a full job offer from Virgin Trains with an induction to soon start.
However I have a missed call from Southern rail to arrange an interview, as I passed assessment and this is what the call will be.
So a job offer from Virgin or a interview to southern, with no guarantee of the job.
I'd like some info/advice on what to do and if anyone knows any advantages of Working for southern over Virgin.
I had my induction for Virgin soon starting so it would be tricky to arrange an interview for southern. Is it worth it, in the current situation id say Virgin have the better reputation as southern are having some problems at the moment, however southern is a station role whereas virgin is an on board role but is appealing.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Am a bit stuck,
Thanks.

 

[N228PF]

Disclaimer: I'm only explaining my vote, I don't have much in the way of advice from an experienced source, just another forum poster behind a keyboard:

A job offer seems to be much better than the possibility of a job. Yes, Southern's climate seems to be something to stay away from.

If working in a station is significantly more preferable to you, so much that you'd be bored on board, then maybe the OBS job isn't your cup of tea. If you don't mind being on a train for a few hours and traveling back and forth, try out the on board role. If you really can't see yourself there, and have the room to spare if Southern doesn't work out, thats also fine. Don't forget that once you're in a company, you could apply for a station role in a few years if you don't end up liking it. Southern staff right now have to deal with a lot of irate customers. I personally wouldn't like to start a job were I'd immediately be dealing with such a large volume of unhappy customers with no way of actually alleviating the problem. For me, that would wear on me very easily.

If there is a difference in pay and hours worked, I can't help you there since I'm not privy to that information.

I'd say if you're holding out for Southern, you might want it a bit more.

 

[KiloMike]

Personally I would go with Virgin because you have a definite job. From word of mouth from current drivers it's relatively easy to move TOCs if you want to but it's hard to get offered a Trainee driver position.

I recently discovered that the ASLEF website have the pay and conditions for drivers for all TOCs on their website. Here are the links:

Virgin Trains East Coast: http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/102222/102225/102380/virgin_trains_east_coast/

Virgin(West Coast): http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/102222/102225/102398/virginwestcoast/

GTR Southern and Gatwick Express: http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/102222/102225/102391/gtr_southern_and_gatwick_express/

Other things to consider are travel distance, which depot do you live closer too or were they both London based? If so which is easier for you to get to by driving and public transport?

 

[sciisfun]

once your in you can always move around within the company, and I'm sure if your a reliable worker they would be happy to shuffle around a bit after a year or two to keep you happy. What happens if you say no to virgin, then don't get southern? do you have a backup plan? (I ask because I've done this before, and you feel like a fool afterwards!)

 

[Andy-mc]

- some would say (with recent events) Virgin is defo a better company than southern and with the current situation other than a driver you'll never get the chance of an on board role with southern lol

- you have a guaranteed job with virgin which will always be better than just an interview with southern

However it all depends
- where you live
- if there is much of a pay difference between the two jobs
- if you'd prefer platform to on board

id take the one with virgin but again if I lived fairly far from the virgin depot and wasn't really looking at relocating then I would give southern a go

 

[IKB]

Hi, so my situation is as follows,
I am really unsure on what to do.
I have a full job offer from Virgin Trains with an induction to soon start.
However I have a missed call from Southern rail to arrange an interview, as I passed assessment and this is what the call will be.
So a job offer from Virgin or a interview to southern, with no guarantee of the job.
I'd like some info/advice on what to do and if anyone knows any advantages of Working for southern over Virgin.
I had my induction for Virgin soon starting so it would be tricky to arrange an interview for southern. Is it worth it, in the current situation id say Virgin have the better reputation as southern are having some problems at the moment, however southern is a station role whereas virgin is an on board role but is appealing.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Am a bit stuck,
Thanks.

As mentioned above, where you live would play a major part in my rationale.

Your original post is a little vague, but if by station role with Southern you mean dispatcher or gateline assistant, then the Virgin job sounds more appealing.

Personally I'd rather be onboard in the dry and warm serving customers than stuck on a cold platform getting pulled in ten directions and (often) having to deal with angry commuters who want to know where their train is.

Pay and benefits are another consideration. You get PRIV rate at all franchised TOCs, but not sure if you would also get other benefits if part of the Virgin group...?

 

[Lrd]

with the current situation other than a driver you'll never get the chance of an on board role with southern lol

Southern (GTR) are currently hiring for on board supervisor roles.

 

[Andy-mc]

Southern (GTR) are currently hiring for on board supervisor roles.

my mistake, I guess southern have been getting a lot of stick lately and I couldn't personally say they are a bad company and GTR's other franchises are doing as best they can with current engineering going on on their patch.

As said id just make a decision based on location and how confident you'd feel getting through the interview with Southern. I did platform work for a few years and enjoyed it a lot despite the odd angry customer or shower

 

[TheBerry]

Is this with Virgin East or West Coast?

East Coast is about to go through a re-structure and I would be asking where you stand with that as currently onboard numbers are being reduced.

 

[DasLunatic]

Is this with Virgin East or West Coast?

East Coast is about to go through a re-structure and I would be asking where you stand with that as currently onboard numbers are being reduced.

WC. The east coast operates as Virgin Trains East Coast, where as the west coast operation is run as Virgin Trains.

 

[WarJan]

Hello all, thank you so much for the replies, and the poll result is incredible. I think that alone makes my mind up.
Personally I also look at it as how the role would look on a CV. I think Virgin undoubtedly stands out over southern.
Not just that, as someone mentioned, standing answering customers, southern customers in particular who may be angry about the recent events is one factor i carefully thought about and then the Virgin role is a nicer role in terms of travelling up and down the country instead.

In terms of pay, they are equal from what I remember, there is no difference at all, if I remember even a bit,I think virgin paid more a year so that's a plus in itself.
In terms of locations, I'm based in London and both roles are based in London, so no problem with that.
Yes a little vague from me, southern is based on a station, I've been told it's a CSA so presume that's gate line, and the benefits, well virgin offer some great benefits, ironically heavily discounted travel on the govia networks, as well as hex, but no word of GWR, LU however I doubt southern offer that either.

In regards to my circumstances with these roles. Southern is a job interview which if offered an interview it would overlap with my virgin induction which is due to last for a couple of weeks, then the full time work will I believe commence meaning I doubt I'll even be able to fit the interview in.
Would this mean I'll have to ring the number from southern and explain that I want to withdraw, or withdraw online, but then this would probably be damaging future chances of joining the company anyway?
But I wouldn't be saying no to virgin at all, as I'm all set to take on my first role in this industry guaranteed so wouldn't jeopardise that.

With moving around, a trainee driver with virgin is a bit far forward, but having any possibility to move on to the gates, platforms As its a choice is good but in terms of being on board, I wouldn't be bored as I think it would be a nice role and would think it's enjoyable, and with southern, i am yet to do the interview, and don't know how or when it would be Scheduled and may overlap with the virgin induction.

Great replies from all.

 

[AlterEgo]

In case you want to be a driver:

Virgin don't take trainee drivers.

Generally, intercity TOCs will only recruit qualified drivers. Trainee positions tend to be with regional and commuter TOCs.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
PS: best of luck with your new job!

 

[TheBerry]

WC. The east coast operates as Virgin Trains East Coast, where as the west coast operation is run as Virgin Trains.

Thanks for that ridiculously pedantic post, I must check who pays me. :roll:

In case you want to be a driver:

Virgin don't take trainee drivers.

Generally, intercity TOCs will only recruit qualified drivers. Trainee positions tend to be with regional and commuter TOCs.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
PS: best of luck with your new job!

Virgin are hiring 50 trainee's over the course of the next year or so. I'm sorry I can't possibly clarify if this is Atlantic. Australia. America. West Coast or East Coast.

 

[DasLunatic]

Thanks for that ridiculously pedantic post, I must check who pays me. :roll:

Any time

 

[AlterEgo]

Virgin are hiring 50 trainee's over the course of the next year or so. I'm sorry I can't possibly clarify if this is Atlantic. Australia. America. West Coast or East Coast.

Can't tell if that's sarcastic or not.

I'd be really surprised if they were, I'm not sure WC have ever done so?

 

[Shrimper]

Incidentally I've heard the same rumour of them taking on trainees. I know VWC have hired internal trainees previously so don't see why they wouldn't go external aside from the fact the sifting will be a lot harder as the volume of applications will be high!

 

[E&W Lucas]

In case you want to be a driver:

Virgin don't take trainee drivers.

Generally, intercity TOCs will only recruit qualified drivers. Trainee positions tend to be with regional and commuter TOCs.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
PS: best of luck with your new job!

I'd have agree with that for the last decade, but shall we say it might be worth signing up for vac alerts
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

With moving around, a trainee driver with virgin is a bit far forward, but having any possibility to move on to the gates, platforms As its a choice is good but in terms of being on board, I wouldn't be bored as I think it would be a nice role and would think it's enjoyable, and with southern, i am yet to do the interview, and don't know how or when it would be Scheduled and may overlap with the virgin induction.

Great replies from all.

It's a no brainer. A job wins over the prospect of a job each and every time. Don't wish to sound too harsh, but if you need help taking that decision, keep away from driving.
Only consideration - any London depot, make sure you can get to/ from work easily and safely. Check earliest start/ latest finish, including weekends.