How to become a train driver ?

Mishomeister

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SurreyBear

There appears to be no shortage of information on the web:
http://www.traindrivertrainee.com/

cr1mson

My friend's son trained a few years back. He just applied to local train company. One thing to be aware of is that during training you don't get proper holidays. Obviously you get what you are legally entitled to but unlikely to get chance to go away for a 2 week holiday in the sun during training. Not sure if this is true of all companies but he was told due to requirement of doing so many hours in certain period so guessing be same for all.

C

Jarndyce

SurreyBear wrote: »

There appears to be no shortage of information on the web:
http://www.traindrivertrainee.com/

he might be a good train driver but he needs to learn some web design skills!

Horseunderwater

Usually, the local companies offer in house training schemes and there is normally a time that if you pass and make it through, that you have to stay employed by that company for anything up to 2 years or more. It is called Lien and leaving before that time frame is up, could mean a hefty repayment of associated fees. It's true of bus companies and my brother said it happened in train driver training coy's as well. You also need to be able to physically lift the heavy linking mechanisms that couple an engine etc to the coaches and be able to clamber up and down places easily, so being fit and strong and full of common sense is a good starting point. There is also a lot of regulations that you have to commit to memory, my brother is a signalman and has been doing this for 15 years, but it took him 6 months training to learn the reg's and ways and even then on a few occasions he has gotten into trouble, but on seeing why he'd done what he had done at the time and had saved lives, because he used sensible common sense, has got him out of the holes. Do you have any medical conditions? There are many that would stop you at the starting plate.
Whatever happens, I hope you can go for it. Sounds like just the break away you need.
Frances

glasgowdan

All I can say is good on you for being willing to make such a change in your life. I'm sure you'll give it 100%.

System

They get amazing money, like £40k for a 4 day week.

Horseunderwater

Usually, the local companies offer in house training schemes and there is normally a time that if you pass and make it through, that you have to stay employed by that company for anything up to 2 years or more. It is called Lien and leaving before that time frame is up, could mean a hefty repayment of associated fees. It's true of bus companies and my brother said it happened in train driver training coy's as well. You also need to be able to physically lift the heavy linking mechanisms that couple an engine etc to the coaches and be able to clamber up and down places easily, so being fit and strong and full of common sense is a good starting point. There is also a lot of regulations that you have to commit to memory, my brother is a signalman and has been doing this for 15 years, but it took him 6 months training to learn the reg's and ways and even then on a few occasions he has gotten into trouble, but on seeing why he'd done what he had done at the time and had saved lives, because he used sensible common sense, has got him out of the holes. Do you have any medical conditions? There are many that would stop you at the starting plate.
Whatever happens, I hope you can go for it. Sounds like just the break away you need.
Frances

wellused

Before you apply make sure that you aren't colour blind, also I believe that they won't accept people who have had laser eye surgery to rectify defects. Good luck with learning the road, 4 foot, 6foot, 10foot, up main, whistle stops, facing points, limited clearance boards and all that, there's lots to learn.

princeofpounds

I'd suggest you go for train rather than tube. There is work ongoing to automate the tube lines post-Olympics after the tube drivers staged one too many strikes. Several of the lines are already automated with the drivers doing little more than operating the doors unless something goes wrong. Plus if you believe the rumours it's quite a closed shop with many jobs going to mates and family of existing tube workers.