n.ireland train drivers

oldhand

Been reading in the local news about the train drivers with translink getting a 24% increase in their wages bringing them to about £39,000 a year.Good luck to them if they are able to get that but my question to anyone on here from n.ireland is have any of you at any time ever actually seen an advert for train drivers?
I ask as it seems to be one of those jobs where the people doing it have been doing so for years but not knowing any myself I often wonder how they were recruited.

Ex-Spendaholic

Cant say I have and I read the jobs in the Tele every Tuesday and Friday night and have done for at least 25 years.

At £39K, I'd be tempted to apply.

toofy

Perhaps when you take into consideration the safety critical aspect of the job, unsociable hrs and being in charge of tonnes of metal carrying hundreds of peoples lives in their hands, it sort of puts the wage into perspective?- not only punters in the train, but also having people choose to commit suicide in front of them when the drivers are powerless to prevent it happening...I'm sure there are a fair few drivers who have had trauma through no fault of their own.

...& then again when the wee toe-rags try to de-rail the trains, or there is a crash for whatever reason, how many train drivers tend to survive crashes? I would rather have a well paid experienced driver, than anyone walking in off the street to perform the task.

System

As I understand it they don't tend to advertise anywhere except their own website or internally amongst other staff.

As the wage to be a train driver is so high and there actual job reasonably simple then their is a great demand for the positions.

I met a Virgin train driver once and she told me that all Virgin network trains were automated. They have a driver on incase something goes wrong but the majority of the time they are just sat there doing nothing. She also said that every 90 seconds there is a beep in the train driver cab and she had to press the button when that happened. This was to ensure that she didn't fall asleep. If she didn't press the button then the train would come to a stop.

This is a good website to find a job

http://www.traindrivertrainee.com/Train-Driver-Jobs-and-Vacancies.html

D.A.

I would normally be the first person to moan about Translink, but on this occasion, I really don't begrudge the drivers their salary or increase. Really, is there that much difference between a train driver and an airline pilot? (ok, an airline pilot is more skilled, but both of them have the lives of hundreds of people in their hands).

toofy

oldhand wrote: »

Been reading in the local news about the train drivers with translink getting a 24% increase in their wages bringing them to about £39,000 a year.Good luck to them if they are able to get that but my question to anyone on here from n.ireland is have any of you at any time ever actually seen an advert for train drivers?
I ask as it seems to be one of those jobs where the people doing it have been doing so for years but not knowing any myself I often wonder how they were recruited.

Right, first things first; rather than believe what (turns out to be) lazy journalism, I went looking for the truth.

I am closely acquainted with someone who is very close to the deal from the 'staff-side.

What he told me contains no spin, no B.S., just (easily verifiable) facts. Here are some of the 'headline' parts to the deal which put a new perspective on the 'news' article:

* The final part of settlement (which kicks in April 2013) will see a total rise of 17.75% not 24%.

* That total pay-rise covers the period April 2010 to April 2014 with only 1.75% and then 1.5% back-dated.

* The final figure will be £36,050 not £37k and certainly not £39k.

* Prior to the restructuring (wage deal), Northern Ireland's train drivers, were (and still are) the lowest paid of all U.K. and Irish train operating companies... £9k per annum (average) less than their counterparts on the mainland - £11.7k less than Irish rail drivers.

* Prior to the restructuring (wage deal), Northern Ireland's train drivers, worked (and still do) more hours than of all U.K. and Irish train operating companies... an average 6.9 hours, per week.

* The deal includes a change to working practices and productivity which safeguards tens of dozens of Northern Irish jobs and livelihoods.

* The Drivers worked with N.I.R. to identify savings and reduced overtime payments.

* The restructuring actually saves the taxpayer over £100k per annum.

* The increased productivity means an increase in services to the public.

* As part of the deal train drivers will be giving up two of the only four public holidays per year.

I can't remember a lot of what I was told (and shown) but I can assure everyone this is not as 'bad' as the news papers would have us believe.

As for recruitment.

I'll quote my friend: "It's taken from within Translink. After extensive testing process, (including reaction and concentration testing), the successful applicant will receive 8 months initial training (including classroom based courses). Thereafter the driver will attend up to 6 briefing/training days per year and will assessed or 'tested' another three times every two years"

So I'm going to say: fair play to the lads and ladies from Northern Ireland Railways for working with their management to save the Northern Irish taxpayer money and increase productivity. I think it's only right and proper that they share in those savings. And...

...shame on the local press for not investigating and reporting this properly or accurately. Shame on them playing the ConDem game which would have local folk paid an awful lot less than their mainland counterparts.

Rant ends... :A

NAR

toofy wrote: »

* Prior to the restructuring (wage deal), Northern Ireland's train drivers, worked (and still do) more hours than of all U.K. and Irish train operating companies... an average 6.9 hours, per week.

Hopefully this is a typo, or "I can do that gissus a job!" :rotfl:

Livingthedream

oldhand wrote: »

I ask as it seems to be one of those jobs where the people doing it have been doing so for years but not knowing any myself I often wonder how they were recruited.

Good place to ask maybe here, sure there might be some NI drivers to help answer your questions.
http://www.railforums.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=122

goater78 wrote: »

I met a Virgin train driver once and she told me that all Virgin network trains were automated. They have a driver on incase something goes wrong but the majority of the time they are just sat there doing nothing. She also said that every 90 seconds there is a beep in the train driver cab and she had to press the button when that happened. This was to ensure that she didn't fall asleep. If she didn't press the button then the train would come to a stop.

Damn I'm working for the wrong company, I've got to move the levers back and forth and only get 60 sec before the vigilance kicks in and stops my train.:(

peacock1974

NAR wrote: »

Hopefully this is a typo, or "I can do that gissus a job!" :rotfl:

I believe he is saying that these are the hours over and above those with other companies!

richardvc

"Damn I'm working for the wrong company, I've got to move the levers back and forth and only get 60 sec before the vigilance kicks in and stops my train.:("

Me too !

silverstone

The train driver's job for N.I.R. is advertised internally.