Why did i build this site?
I set up this site to help other people get a foot in the door of the rail industry.
Most people you ask will say that they want to be a train driver, but the reality is that very few people come 'off the street' and land a trainee driver job, the best way to get a driving job if that is what you want is to join the railways in another grade whether it be in the booking office or a conductor.
For example recently Freightliner Intermodal placed advertisements in the local press and on their website for trainee train driver at a number of locations throughout the
Being a Conductor gives you invaluable experience in on train operation, you can get to know drivers and other conductors who will be able to give advice. It is a big shock to most people who come from other industries and then walk into driving jobs, the culture and the steep learning curve prove too much for some people to deal with.
I hope to provide advice and guidance for anyone who wants a job in the rail industry in the traincrew grade. I'm a conductor with four years experience so i have seen most things and can give you the wannabe a true view into what the job is about and how to say out of trouble and avoid the P45!. This will be a warts and all insight into the job and what avenues are available to you once you are in the grade.
My Experience
I like a lot of people want to become a train driver, but i wanted a few years on the railway learning the ropes before applying to become a driver.
I applied for a trainee conductor position in April 2003 with Silverlink Trains, i was asked to come to an interview in the May, after a short interview with one of the conductor managers i was invited to attend an assessment day in
The June came and went then July, August, September my hopes dropped but i kept phoning the Human Resources Department to enquire if i'd been successful at the assessment in June!, each time they either didn’t return my calls or the person was on lunch etc.
Then in January 2004 a large A4 envelop lands on the doormat, inside was a letter from Silverlink asking me to attend an assessment day again in
This time i was determined to succeed, i practiced the material they sent me over and over again, gave my ore on the day and gave a good performance at the interview, i did find out on the day that id passed the day the lady who interviewed me asked me how i thought id done during the day, i said that i thought I’d done ok, and asked if i had been successful.
Then 3 weeks later the letter came that i was to attend a medical in
After the interview and medical pass i was praying that the offer of employment was coming, and then it did during May 2004.
That was the start of my railway career and i haven’t looked back. If i can do it you can too!