There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

On Mon, 7 Dec 2020 19:50:59 -0000 (UTC)
Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
wrote:
On Sun, 6 Dec 2020 09:32:07 +0000
Clive Page wrote:
On 04/12/2020 11:15, Recliner wrote:


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...up-to-18-month


s-before-the-line-opens-3tfqg5nhr?shareToken=4a6a1b0d9555d782c503924051dda 2d8

It's nice "work" if you can get it. But the job will be a lot less
attractive
in a few years time when services actually start running, when the generous
salary is combined with actual work, and on a shift system at that. Some of

them might decide to move elsewhere.

Where would they move to? There arn't many blue collar jobs that pay north
of 60K these days. Deep sea diver perhaps and a few other risky trades but
hardly transferable skills and given what Covid has done to the economy and
Brexit may soon do too they'll probably be thinking themselves lucky to
have any job.



To other TOCs with better work.

Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
On Mon, 7 Dec 2020 19:50:59 -0000 (UTC)
Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
wrote:
On Sun, 6 Dec 2020 09:32:07 +0000
Clive Page wrote:
On 04/12/2020 11:15, Recliner wrote:


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...drivers-up-to-
18-month


s-before-the-line-opens-3tfqg5nhr?shareToken=4a6a1b0d9555d782c503924051dda 2d8

It's nice "work" if you can get it. But the job will be a lot less
attractive
in a few years time when services actually start running, when the generous
salary is combined with actual work, and on a shift system at that.
Some of

them might decide to move elsewhere.

Where would they move to? There arn't many blue collar jobs that pay north
of 60K these days. Deep sea diver perhaps and a few other risky trades but
hardly transferable skills and given what Covid has done to the economy and
Brexit may soon do too they'll probably be thinking themselves lucky to
have any job.

To other TOCs with better work.

Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).
--
Roland Perry

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

On 08/12/2020 09:21, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
On Mon, 7 Dec 2020 19:50:59 -0000 (UTC)
Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
wrote:
On Sun, 6 Dec 2020 09:32:07 +0000
Clive Page wrote:
On 04/12/2020 11:15, Recliner wrote:


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...drivers-up-to-
18-month


s-before-the-line-opens-3tfqg5nhr?shareToken=4a6a1b0d9555d782c503924051dda 2d8


It's nice "work" if you can get it.Â* But the job will be a lot less
attractive
in a few years time when services actually start running, when the
generous
salary is combined with actual work, and on a shift system at that.
Some of

them might decide to move elsewhere.

Where would they move to? There arn't many blue collar jobs that pay
north
of 60K these days. Deep sea diver perhaps and a few other risky
trades but
hardly transferable skills and given what Covid has done to the
economy and
Brexit may soon do too they'll probably be thinking themselves lucky to
have any job.

To other TOCs with better work.

Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

The driving is not confined to the tunnel section, there's plenty of
open-air driving at each end. So would be much the same as driving the
current suburban services at each end but with a bit of tube driving in
the middle for variety.

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

On Tue, 8 Dec 2020 09:21:22 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

Thats probably a bonus - less learning.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

Most of its above ground. But I suspect any driving job gets boring after
a while regardless of the vehicle, even flying a plane.

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

In message , at 09:49:44 on Tue, 8 Dec 2020,
Graeme Wall remarked:
On 08/12/2020 09:21, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
On Mon, 7 Dec 2020 19:50:59 -0000 (UTC)
Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
wrote:
On Sun, 6 Dec 2020 09:32:07 +0000
Clive Page wrote:
On 04/12/2020 11:15, Recliner wrote:


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...drivers-up-to-
18-month



s-before-the-line-opens-3tfqg5nhr?shareToken=4a6a1b0d9555d782c5039240
51dda2d8

It's nice "work" if you can get it.* But the job will be a lot less
attractive
in a few years time when services actually start running, when
the generous
salary is combined with actual work, and on a shift system at
that. Some of

them might decide to move elsewhere.

Where would they move to? There arn't many blue collar jobs that
pay north
of 60K these days. Deep sea diver perhaps and a few other risky
trades but
hardly transferable skills and given what Covid has done to the
economy and
Brexit may soon do too they'll probably be thinking themselves lucky to
have any job.

To other TOCs with better work.

Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.
One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line)
is a relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge
required.
On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

The driving is not confined to the tunnel section, there's plenty of
open-air driving at each end. So would be much the same as driving the
current suburban services at each end but with a bit of tube driving in
the middle for variety.

Isn't the tunnelled section going to be automatic operation?

And if you worked for GA, I doubt your shifts would be constrained to
shuttling LST-Shenfield, and never have the chance to go to other exotic
destinations such as Chelmsford and Southend.
--
Roland Perry

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

In message , at 10:55:26 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
On Tue, 8 Dec 2020 09:21:22 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

Thats probably a bonus - less learning.

See harder/easier.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

Most of its above ground. But I suspect any driving job gets boring after
a while regardless of the vehicle, even flying a plane.

It's probably more boring flying a commuter plane within a hundred mile
radius of somewhere like Dallas or Atlanta, than being on long haul
transatlantic flights to numerous destinations in Europe and the Far
East.
--
Roland Perry

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

wrote:
On Mon, 7 Dec 2020 19:50:59 -0000 (UTC)
Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
wrote:
On Sun, 6 Dec 2020 09:32:07 +0000
Clive Page wrote:
On 04/12/2020 11:15, Recliner wrote:


https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...up-to-18-month


s-before-the-line-opens-3tfqg5nhr?shareToken=4a6a1b0d9555d782c503924051dda 2d8

It's nice "work" if you can get it. But the job will be a lot less
attractive
in a few years time when services actually start running, when the generous
salary is combined with actual work, and on a shift system at that. Some of

them might decide to move elsewhere.

Where would they move to? There arn't many blue collar jobs that pay north
of 60K these days. Deep sea diver perhaps and a few other risky trades but
hardly transferable skills and given what Covid has done to the economy and
Brexit may soon do too they'll probably be thinking themselves lucky to
have any job.



To other TOCs with better work.

Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.



Driving longer distances with fewer stops is always considered
better/easier than driving shorter distances with many stops.

Also the larger (geographically) TOCs will offer opportunities for
relocation to other depots (I'm guessing most Crossrail drivers won’t want
that right now, but might at some unspecified future point); eg I know many
ex-Paddington crew now based at
Worcester/Bristol/Swansea/Exeter/Plymouth/Penzance.


Anna Noyd-Dryver

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 10:55:26 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
On Tue, 8 Dec 2020 09:21:22 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

Thats probably a bonus - less learning.

See harder/easier.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

Most of its above ground. But I suspect any driving job gets boring after
a while regardless of the vehicle, even flying a plane.

It's probably more boring flying a commuter plane within a hundred mile
radius of somewhere like Dallas or Atlanta, than being on long haul
transatlantic flights to numerous destinations in Europe and the Far
East.

I think long distance flying is much more boring for the pilots. It's the
take-offs and landings that make the job interesting; cruising is very
boring. And on ultra long haul flights, the four pilots only get a single
take-off or landing in a week-long return trip. That's not even enough to
maintain their proficiency ratings.

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

wrote:
On Tue, 8 Dec 2020 09:21:22 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

Thats probably a bonus - less learning.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

Most of its above ground. But I suspect any driving job gets boring after
a while regardless of the vehicle, even flying a plane.

That's why many airline pilots fly stunt or racing planes, or gliders as a
hobby — it's the only way they can do any 'real' flying.

There's one line that won't be short of drivers...
 

In message , at 11:18:45 on Tue, 8
Dec 2020, Recliner remarked:
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 10:55:26 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
On Tue, 8 Dec 2020 09:21:22 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 08:29:39 on Tue, 8 Dec
2020, remarked:
Is being a crossrail driver harder or does it pay significantly less than
elsewhere? Thats a genuine question, I have no idea.

One obvious feature (that also applies to HEx, C2C and Island Line) is a
relatively limited amount of route and traction knowledge required.

Thats probably a bonus - less learning.

See harder/easier.

On the other hand, it's going to be pretty boring (like the Victoria
Line or Waterloo and City).

Most of its above ground. But I suspect any driving job gets boring after
a while regardless of the vehicle, even flying a plane.

It's probably more boring flying a commuter plane within a hundred mile
radius of somewhere like Dallas or Atlanta, than being on long haul
transatlantic flights to numerous destinations in Europe and the Far
East.

I think long distance flying is much more boring for the pilots. It's the
take-offs and landings that make the job interesting; cruising is very
boring. And on ultra long haul flights, the four pilots only get a single
take-off or landing in a week-long return trip. That's not even enough to
maintain their proficiency ratings.

What's this "ultra long haul" thing got to do with anything? The
majority of transatlantic flights are 10-12hrs. Have they got four
pilots, and only do one round trip a week?
--
Roland Perry