http://www.aslef.org.uk/files/134490/FileName/ASLEFRosteringLflt.pdf
Better pay than driving trucks too. If you can deal with being responsible for hundreds of lives and occasionally ending one, then it’s probably a better job. 
It’s a very competitive application process, do LOTS of research and garnish all the psychometic test tools you can.
You only get two shots at the process before you can’t apply again, so again, RESEARCH!
My experience is I made it to the final interview and failed. I plan to go through the process again when my circumstances are right again 
There are rules everywhere and health and safety everywhere as well. People moan about tracking in trucks, and tacho rules, and vosa etc. The amount of rules surrounding working on the railway, especially driving is almost regimental.
Javiatrix:
You only get two shots at the process before you can’t apply again
That rule has changed… 
DAF95XF:
That rule has changed…
Really…?
DAF95XF:
Javiatrix:
You only get two shots at the process before you can’t apply againThat rule has changed…
No it hasn’t. I’m a train driver and they changed that tge people who had failed twice could retake it twice again when the process itself was changed but it’s still 2 attempts.
I nearly killed someone last week doing 90mph. It was very close an enough for me to have a couple of days off.
It’s not the job it once was and I’m looking at doing something else.
Yes the money is good but it really does take its toll on you. Earlies one week lates the next and that rotates for 8 weeks then a week of nights, 2 days off then back on earlies.
They’ve just changed our pension aswell so have to work until 62 now. Also been changed from a final salary pension.
It’s also boring as hell. We can do 5 hours without a break and then we only have to have 30 minutes and we are off again.
The bonus is the money. It can also be a bad thing as if you do want to leave or have to (medical. Sacking etc) then it’s hard to adjust as you tend to live what you can afford.
Once our mortgage goes down I’m looking at going back road driving.
May have a 25k pay cut but I know il be doing something I enjoy. Yes truck driving can be crap but if you think sitting in a truck is boring all day try sitting in a tin can where your legs are squashed for 5 hours with only alarms and wind noises coming in. The public look at you like dog ■■■ and report anything you do on twitter etc yet they expect you to save them when the train is on fire lol.
It’s certainly not a decent career anymore.
Not the worst but certainly one people need to go in with their eyes open
Class2ldn:
DAF95XF:
Javiatrix:
You only get two shots at the process before you can’t apply againThat rule has changed…
No it hasn’t. I’m a train driver and they changed that tge people who had failed twice could retake it twice again when the process itself was changed but it’s still 2 attempts.
I nearly killed someone last week doing 90mph. It was very close an enough for me to have a couple of days off.
It’s not the job it once was and I’m looking at doing something else.
Yes the money is good but it really does take its toll on you. Earlies one week lates the next and that rotates for 8 weeks then a week of nights, 2 days off then back on earlies.
They’ve just changed our pension aswell so have to work until 62 now. Also been changed from a final salary pension.
It’s also boring as hell. We can do 5 hours without a break and then we only have to have 30 minutes and we are off again.
The bonus is the money. It can also be a bad thing as if you do want to leave or have to (medical. Sacking etc) then it’s hard to adjust as you tend to live what you can afford.
Once our mortgage goes down I’m looking at going back road driving.
May have a 25k pay cut but I know il be doing something I enjoy. Yes truck driving can be crap but if you think sitting in a truck is boring all day try sitting in a tin can where your legs are squashed for 5 hours with only alarms and wind noises coming in. The public look at you like dog ■■■ and report anything you do on twitter etc yet they expect you to save them when the train is on fire lol.
It’s certainly not a decent career anymore.
Not the worst but certainly one people need to go in with their eyes open
That’s a fairly sweeping generalisation there!
You sound like you work for a TOC who diagrams you on the same old 50 stops per turn out and back suburban grind and monotonous boredom!
I know a few freight drivers who absolutely love the job.
Varied routes, varied loads, varied turns every week. One particular guy says that everyday is different.
It is a company where we do the crap work so to speak.
I’ve always seen myself as a road driver and I’m good at it.
When I was driving coaches I used to think it’s not a career so tried being a paramedic bit the grass wasn’t greener that’s for sure.
At the moment I’ve got no cpc and it’s a pain because I wouldn’t mind just doing some agency work or something to break up the monotony of train driving.
May be the answer to my problem. Thing is i do overtime aswell so I spend a lot of time at work.
If I can get some part time work on my days off instead of train driving it might help.
It’s certainly a job you should try.
The responsibility is a big thing which people don’t realise.
Had a few trainees who’ve chucked it in when they realise that actually you are on your own out there and it’s you has upto 1200 people banging on the door when it goes Pete tong.
It is hard to get into no doubt but things are changing for the worst.
On the freight side for me is even worse. Mostly night work and sitting around all day. They also do longer days and mostly weekends.
Just to add my roster at my toc is one of the better ones 4 day week no sundays atall. The likes of virgin may have the best work but their rosters are shocking. 3 weekends sometime on the trot.
The jib itself may be ok but it’s everything else that goes with it.
Takes a year to qualify and it’s rules rules rules.
Don’t get me wrong I’d never be in the position I am now if it wasn’t for this job but it’s not all about the money. It does take a big toll on family life.
Suppose you have to weigh up what’s more important and for me it isn’t money.
Class2ldn:
It is a company where we do the crap work so to speak.
I’ve always seen myself as a road driver and I’m good at it.
When I was driving coaches I used to think it’s not a career so tried being a paramedic bit the grass wasn’t greener that’s for sure.
At the moment I’ve got no cpc and it’s a pain because I wouldn’t mind just doing some agency work or something to break up the monotony of train driving.
May be the answer to my problem. Thing is i do overtime aswell so I spend a lot of time at work.
If I can get some part time work on my days off instead of train driving it might help.
It’s certainly a job you should try.
The responsibility is a big thing which people don’t realise.
Had a few trainees who’ve chucked it in when they realise that actually you are on your own out there and it’s you has upto 1200 people banging on the door when it goes Pete tong.
It is hard to get into no doubt but things are changing for the worst.
On the freight side for me is even worse. Mostly night work and sitting around all day. They also do longer days and mostly weekends.
its certainly a job you should try you state,dead mans shoes ,got no chance unless you know someone in the job
Where abouts do you run? (rough ball park, don’t expect you to pin point it like )
I know one bloke who does Waterloo and out to all the suburban lines, says he can do 90 stops in a shift and it does his head in big time!!
Class2ldn:
It is a company where we do the crap work so to speak.
I’ve always seen myself as a road driver and I’m good at it.
When I was driving coaches I used to think it’s not a career so tried being a paramedic bit the grass wasn’t greener that’s for sure.
At the moment I’ve got no cpc and it’s a pain because I wouldn’t mind just doing some agency work or something to break up the monotony of train driving.
May be the answer to my problem. Thing is i do overtime aswell so I spend a lot of time at work.
If I can get some part time work on my days off instead of train driving it might help.
On the freight side for me is even worse. Mostly night work and sitting around all day. They also do longer days and mostly weekends.
You might be well-advised to get a hobby, and do less overtime, as it sounds from what you’ve written your life-work balance is out of kilter. Get out there, spend some of the money you’ve earned and enjoy it.
Direct trainee 
vacancies are like rocking horse ■■■.
Pimpdaddy:
DAF95XF:
That rule has changed…Really…?
According to the handful of drivers at two different TOCs and a Drivers Standards Manager I know…
truckman020:
its certainly a job you should try you state,dead mans shoes ,got no chance unless you know someone in the job
Or just look on the TOCs websites 
Certainly rare but not unheard of…
DAF95XF:
According to the handful of drivers at two different TOCs and a Drivers Standards Manager I know…
Good to know, cheers for that.
Pimpdaddy:
DAF95XF:
According to the handful of drivers at two different TOCs and a Drivers Standards Manager I know…Good to know, cheers for that.
Class 2ldn is right. It is still only two attempts at passing the tests and then that’s your lot.
When the tests changed in 2013, those people who had already had two attempts and failed, could now have another two goes, but that’s the only change to the recruitment process that has taken place. It’s just two attempts at the test.
citycat:
It’s just two attempts at the test.
If you can get to take it…[emoji15]
By the way, an ex colleague of mine who’s a train driver hit something just as he was approaching Darlington, just before midnight a few months ago. He stopped the train and got out to have a look. He wished he hadn’t. Impaled on the front of the locomotive like some mascot was the body of a bloke, minus his legs.
It’s something to consider, how you’d react to seeing something like that if you were a train driver.