Career decision – Freight or Passenger

mason · Beginner Joined: Sep 04, 2008 Last Visited: Sep 8, 2008

I’m currently in Year 12 (in Sydney) and I intend to pursue a career as a Train Driver at the end of the HSC.

I don’t really care if I drive Freight or Passenger but ideally I would hopefully like to experience both at some stage in my career.

Just seeking opinion(s) whether it best to pursue one field over the other first? For example does Passenger Train Driver experience hold in stead when applying for an experienced Locomotive position and vice versa?

Any advice or related advice would be appreciated.

witsend · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:34 pm

Honestly, I'd just apply for both and see where you end up. There is a lot competition for both jobs. If you isolate just one, you will miss the opportunities in the other. Everyone wants experience, but very few will spend the money/time needed to train.

Regards,

Samuel Wittwer
Member - LC of Yorke Peninusula Rail

BFCYU · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:00 pm

Hi Mason;

Even though driving a freight train
or driving a suburban passenger train,
are just driving trains, the similarity ends there.

As a young person
possibly pursue your goals first on the Suburban Trains
in a Capital City: Rail network first, possibly as a trainee driver,
guard or even rail station staff.

It is a lot of intensive training first to become a suburban passenger
train driver but the shorter rewards for a young person will be achieved.

To become a Freight Train driver-it also has a lot of training
but in a lot of cases you have to start as a trainee or drivers assistant;
which includes how to shunt a freight train in both yards & sidings; how to prepare a diesel locomotive before it goes out into service onto the train (with various makes & models) & with a diesel mechanical aptitude.
You also learn a lot about air brakes and also about the various freight wagons that the company hauls.
As an assistant or trainee, you may also have to do a lot of walking around your train before departure for safety checks and writing the wagons ID number down on a train list. (a lot of freight trains these days are over 1 km in length)

In summary: passenger train driving or crew is less physical exertion and in most cases, a cleaner work environment--but also be very stressful;
with both passengers & strict timetables to adhere with.

Locomotive trainee drivers on the other hand; after the initial class room
training are put in freight train yard environment--which are usually
are not a "bed of sweet smelling roses" to work in--if you get my drift.
Mostly just grime & dust with heavy point levers to switch over & coupling up other locomotives together. (with gloves on etc)--But at least not as bad as the steam engine days.

If you don't mind getting your "hands dirty" freight train driving
can be a long term rewarding career and a variety of work but also can be away from home intervals and longer shifts. (with possible more days OFF!! Very Happy

in lieu.)

The suburban passenger train driver normally only work 7-9 hour days
but in most cases go home after every shift. It can become a bit repetitive
"stop-start" and same network of tracks & stations after a while.

Every one has a different satisfaction criteria & expectations.
Again though: freight trains are much different to suburban passenger work.

I hope this may answer some of your questions.

NB: it could be a bit harder to get into a freight train company without any previous railway experience. (BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN BE LUCKY!)
A lot of young persons end up doing all the minimum training & certificate qualifications themselves.$$$$ (then apply with resumes with their qual's)

Joining a suburban passenger train employer is normally not needed.
They normally train you "either off the street" or from a different role;
eg rail station staff.

Kent_B · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:53 am

I did year 12 last year and joined the railways first thing in the new year, I'm doing freight at the moment.

The way I look at it, frieght offers more money but less lifestyle. Whilst it's hard working weekends when your mates get trashed, it's only short term and you don't work every weekend. Plus you get some wicked stories and weekdays off when every one else is at uni.
Cityrail has shorter shifts so it's better when you have a young family and have to/ want to be around them more. Also as stated earlier, with Cityrail jobs you are in your own bed at the end of the night.

I guess it depends what you want, and ofcourse ultimately what you can get into. For me, freight first whilst you haven't got a family or a house that needs you around and you can be away over night, then after a few years experience get into Cityrail where you can start a family and be there for them.

And my advice, do your safeworking ASAP (for me it was between exams and schoolies), and then get out there. Best choice you'll ever make.

Who is Kent B?

KRviator · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:15 am

For what its' worth, I'd start off on the freighters, as the money's a lot better, and you can transfer back across to PAssenger working. If you start off driving the sparks you don't get the diesel and airbrake experience you need to apply for a "Qualified Driver's" role driving the freighets at a later date, whereas a qualified loco driver can transfer across to the sparks no worries at all.

Also a lot more opportunites across the country driving freighters with a lot of variety in the working, from Grain in a coutnry depot, to containers, coal & other bulk products. Driving suburbans will limit you to Melbourne, Sydney or perhaps Brisbane, if and when QR readvertise...

Get your safeworking at SCRT or ART or wherever and you'll get a job in the right seat of a freight train no worries at all.

Though be warned, the hours are shyte, 8 hours bottle to throttle means no beers before work, you don't know your roster apart from RDO's, generally and you'll be sure to get dirty sometimes.

Apart from that, its' a good lifestyle, and if you want to have a family later in life, you can transfer across to the sparks and you'll know your roster a year in advance.

Trainee Driver, Pacific National

Comments made are strictly the opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the ADF, Pacific National, Freight Australia or the Boy Scouts of Antartica.

My fotopic gallery: http://KRviator.fotopic.net

mason · Beginner Joined: Sep 04, 2008 Last Visited: Sep 8, 2008

Wow, thanks all for your really insightful comments. Either way it's gunna be great. Very Happy

Thanks again.

hurstville1 · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:37 pm

So, lets say I want to drive for Pacnat and I have been for 5 years and have gone through the training and am a loco driver.

Would that mean I'd have the qualifications to go to passenger since i've done all the training etc?

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craigd · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:13 am