Hello and Advice on Guards
 

Hi,

Just joined, and would like some advice if possible. I am an IT Project Manager who was made redundant in August. Anyway I applied for a job as a commercial guard with a train company in the South. I passed the selection etc and have been offered a position to start training.

Can any guards tell me what the job is actually like, its a bit dauting doing something different to IT. I do have a couple of offers on the table to go back to IT, but am trying to decide whether a second career on the railways is for me - Thanks.

Hi Casbar,
Welcome to the forum.
I have a friend who drives for East Midland Trains. His wife is a train manager,(I think thats a posh name for a guard) and she loves it. Ok the day to day bone heads need dealing with, but what job is free from those now. Well mine is actually because I am retired, but that is another story.
Good luck to you. Keep the forum posted.
Paul.

Thanks Paul.

Thats half the problem, I've just turned 50, so I'm worried if I go back to IT I could just end up being made redundant again in a year, especially if a recession appears.

I don't particularly need the big money from IT anymore, but its always easier to go back to what you know, rather than take a risk with something new:)

Hi Casbar, welcome to the forum. I expect you may not want to name the company you're considering, but you should understand that different companies offer very different experiences. East Midlands Trains is an Intercity Operator and (by railway standards) has pretty contented and well behaved customers.

I used to drive London suburban trains for Connex South Eastern and quite frankly I'm glad to have got away from there without having received a good kicking ! I wouldn't put my worst enemy down the Medway Towns as a guard.

Incidentally the railway is full of ex-IT people, so you'd certainly not be alone. One ex-IT member of platform staff on my line is currently going through driver training, so there certainly is a career path if you're after it. Also it's still posssible to be taken on as a Driver at 50, it varies from TOC to TOC but 58 is the maximum age to be starting as a Trainee Driver (maturity and life-skills are a valuable commodity ;))

Hope this helps
Cheers,
Foggy (First Class Honours degree in Salad Cream, University of McDonalds)

Thanks for the insight, needless to say its not Connex:) Althoug they do run trains to London;)

Hi Casbar,
I think what Foghut has told you is well worth bearing in mind.
It must be a bit of an eyeopener to come from, I assume in your case an office environment, to a world full of all sorts of nutters.
The fact that a lot of IT people are going into the railways, is either a fact that a lot of IT people like trains, or it is a great job.
A friend of mine has gone to work as a signal man at the age of 58. He is now nearly 61 and says it is the best thing he has ever done.
I would go for it mate.
Paul.

Hello Casbar and welcome to the forum. I can't help you with your career choice but if you do decide to join the railways I hope you will let us know how you get on. You don't say if you are actually a rail enthusiast at the moment but if not, you could well be bitten by the railbug in the not too distant future:)

Casbar - I've just noticed where you're located, so I think I can guess which TOC we're talking about.

I gave up a very stressful career in the media which was killing me to become a train driver, and found that the railway offered several excellent conditions of service;

* Maximum number of days you can work continuously - limited by law
* Fixed start and finish times, which are only exceeded occasionally
* 12 hours off between shifts - guaranteed by law.
* Sound sleep at night because I'm not worrying about tomorrow's impossible targets
* If my train breaks today, I don't have to drive that one first tomorrow before starting a full day's work.
* I don't have some idiot regularly ringing me up and adding to my work

thanks for all the advice so far.

As to being a train enthusiast, well put it this way, I spent most of my holidays on Plymouth station with my uncle, who was a shunter in the late 60's.

I used to love the steam trains and have some great Cuneo prints. I used to drag my son when he was younger to the steam museums and train companies.

So not a nut, but very interested and always have had an interest.:)

Hi and welcome to the forum, casbar.

I would go for it.

Welcome to the forum Casbar. I'm afraid I can't offer you any advice, but wish you the best of look in what ever you do choose to do.

Welcome to the forum Casbar.

If I were you I would go for it. You've got an ideal opportunity to try something completely different. And nothing to lose really. If you don't like it, go back to IT. But I bet you'll love it! Let us know how you get on. :)