[News] Avanti West Coast pay bonus.

[jackalbion]

We have a situation where none of the train companies want to train new drivers, as it is too expensive and they are all worried their qualified drivers can be poached.

Why not take this out of the hands of the train companies? Make this a university degree course like everything else backed by the student loan scheme? If driver training can also include elements of railway management, who knows we may even end up with managers of the railways who have a clue how things actually work, based on experience.

Most of the training is route specific, while I like the idea, it probably wouldn't be workable. In terms of railways management, well I have a lot of of opinions why there is a brain drain there, and lack of experience, but I'd have to write a few paragraphs on that.

 

[CheeseRolls]

The 18 months driver training is mostly supervised driving from what a pal (who is a driver instructor) told me

There was a figure of about £70K to train a driver bandied about a couple of years ago, so likely more now. The train operators wouldn't be able to off load all of this, as at some point trainees need to drive trains.

 

[Milano]

I don't think they have a plan to do train more drivers personally.

In which case they should have their toys taken away immediately and bring some grown ups in....

 

[dazzer6666]

There was a figure of about £70K to train a driver bandied about a couple of years ago, so likely more now. The train operators wouldn't be able to off load all of this, as at some point trainees need to drive trains.

Has to be all of that and more - my pal does it full time. Essentially assigned to a single new driver for over a year, simply his and the trainee’s salary will be more than that.

 

[jackalbion]

In which case they should have their toys taken away immediately and bring some grown ups in....

Allegedly that is happening very soon.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

it's going to be interesting to see what happens with these strikes when Labour come in, they have said they are not going to meet the nurses/doctors pay rise requests, assuming they won't be signing off/helping the drivers and staff with train strikes either.

 

[jackalbion]

There was a figure of about £70K to train a driver bandied about a couple of years ago, so likely more now. The train operators wouldn't be able to off load all of this, as at some point trainees need to drive trains.

£70k I wouldn't say is accurate for some companies, some long distance, long term drivers, yes, but the majority is less than that.

 

[Molango's visa]

Interesting times lie ahead comrade, when Mick Lynch and Mick Whelan run the country. I suppose someone's got to, but these two odious, selfish, greedy bastards? I can't say that I find the prospect exciting. The next photo I see of these power crazy champagne socialists, I'd like it to be of them underneath one of their trains. Meanwhile, if you need to use their service to get to a hospital chemotherapy appointment, a flight at an airport, an entertainment venue, or just to visit relatives, you're ****ed.
I wish I'd asked Leach's consent when I spent £300 on tickets to see Loreena McKennitt at The Palladium, and a hotel locally. It's all non refundable. Unfortunately, my girlfriend and I can't taxi it , and charge the bill to ASLEF, like these two pieces of *** do.

It is refundable. I have been defended recently.

 

[dazzer6666]

£70k I wouldn't say is accurate for some companies, some long distance, long term drivers, yes, but the majority is less than that.

Including the salaries of the trainee and the supervising instructor??

 

[jackalbion]

Including the salaries of the trainee and the supervising instructor??

Well combining those salaries would be much higher yes.

 

[dazzer6666]

Well combining those salaries would be much higher yes.

Surely that’s part of the ‘cost of training’

 

[jackalbion]

Surely that’s part of the ‘cost of training’

Yes, I think I've misread the original post as I'm not quite following, all I was stating was that I don't believe for most companies drivers are getting paid £70k.

 

[Milano]

Has to be all of that and more - my pal does it full time. Essentially assigned to a single new driver for over a year, simply his and the trainee’s salary will be more than that.

I assume they are actually driving passenger trains though? In which case the uplift is the trainee's salary.

 

[dazzer6666]

I assume they are actually driving passenger trains though? In which case the uplift is the trainee's salary.

…or the supervisors…..

 

[Bry Nylon]

Do you complain when trains don’t run ? Can’t have it both ways………..

Well, not unless you buy a return.

 

[POSKETT AT THE VALLEY]

Maybe get Mick Lynch to represent you?

Or perhaps Casey Jones

 

[drew]

Interesting times lie ahead comrade, when Mick Lynch and Mick Whelan run the country. I suppose someone's got to, but these two odious, selfish, greedy bastards? I can't say that I find the prospect exciting. The next photo I see of these power crazy champagne socialists, I'd like it to be of them underneath one of their trains. Meanwhile, if you need to use their service to get to a hospital chemotherapy appointment, a flight at an airport, an entertainment venue, or just to visit relatives, you're ****ed.
I wish I'd asked Leach's consent when I spent £300 on tickets to see Loreena McKennitt at The Palladium, and a hotel locally. It's all non refundable. Unfortunately, my girlfriend and I can't taxi it , and charge the bill to ASLEF, like these two pieces of *** do.

So sayeth the champagne Tory!!!

 

[Bodian]

We have a situation where none of the train companies want to train new drivers, as it is too expensive and they are all worried their qualified drivers can be poached.

Why not take this out of the hands of the train companies? Make this a university degree course like everything else backed by the student loan scheme? If driver training can also include elements of railway management, who knows we may even end up with managers of the railways who have a clue how things actually work, based on experience.

The answer is one company running it all (ie: nationalisation) - no poaching then.

 

[Binney on acid]

So sayeth the champagne Tory!!!

You don't know me do you ? You're not acquainted with my political beliefs, or voting history. Just because I despise the strong arm couldn't give a s**t about anyone else tactics employed by the unions, doesn't mean to say that I'm eulogising about the bunch of self serving wa**ers that are currently masquerading as leaders. They couldn't even run a bath, let alone a country. I will never forgive them for Brexit, and the way that they stitched us all up, along with our children and our children's children. I just happen to have equal loathing for Union leaders, some of whom don't even give their members the change to vote on a pay offer put forward by management.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I just happen to have equal loathing for Union leaders, some of whom don't even give their members the change to vote on a pay offer put forward by management.

Who hasn't? They have to by law don't they?

Unions are very democratic organisations. If the union leaders don't speak for the workers, the workers will replace them with someone who does