Allready Been A Trainee Driver Before

[nomi]

Hi can some drivers from experience help me plzzz

I passes my drivers assessments the first time around having joined the railway off the street.
During my training i struggled, i failed my PTS on the friday assuming you would get another chance, but luckily i did get another chance the following monday and I PASSED.
i have never had any railways experience before, for weeks we were getting to know the railways industry, visiting depots, AC/DC etc etc
We had traction exam which we had to pass to go through to next round, everyone was struggling (all you drivers would agree with me from your experience), i was perhaps the 2nd slowest learner from my group, i studied very hard to pass the exam (written and practical), I PASSED, next step was to drive in the simulator before we go out mainline driving with passengers completing our hours, my driving had been good all week but on the day of the test i was told i wasnt good enough (passed red signal by a meter after signal irregularity) soon after that we were supposed to have a weeks break, the management decided against me and took me off the drivers course saying that i have struggled, no-one would help me, not even the union because i was still under probation, i deifinetely believed in myslef to becoming a driver. anyways i left the company last year (september 2008)
i have learnt soo much about the railways i cannot sleep at night, all these signals always going in my head, i get think of all that i have experienced and believe i can become a successful driver.

i would like to join another company, can someone please advice me on how to approach them, what are my chances? will having been taken off the drivers program before, effect my application? will i get interviewed and what kind of questions or experiences would i be asked?

all help will be really appreciated, Thank you all

[LesG]

Its never easy for anyone off the street with no railway background.

But my advice to you would be to approach your local TOC and apply for a position perhaps on the station or a conductor, get some time in learn how the railway operates and then after a couple of years or so when they advertise internally for drivers apply again.

This way you've got your foot in the door,you've got a bit of railway knowledge and your not going in blind.

Probably not what you want to hear but the best of luck in your quest.

Les, Driver DB Schenker.