Life as a trainee Cityrail Driver

Kent_B · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:02 pm

8050 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:20 pm

exVKG · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:11 pm

G'day All,

Well, did our RISI today, (Rail Industry Safety Induction for the uninitiated!) Smile

All went well, actually couldn't believe how easy it was! Tomorrow, they tell us, we should be getting into the meat of it... after we get our uniforms sorted anyways.

Really looking forward to getting into the good stuff. We keep hearing about it from other trainees who are further ahead than us and I can't wait!

Thats about it for today, sorry not too much news or interesting stuff. Will keep you all posted!

Cheers,
Al

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Unfinished busines from previous posts...

Smelly pens? Lucky enough not to have seen those yet!

Buff that calls 8050 Veg? Not that I'm aware of, but I was there when she took the photo! She doesn't like these kind of forums apparently Surprised

exVKG · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:09 am

G'day All!

Been a while since I've had time to post - we've all been pretty busy. It's amazing how time flies when you're having fun Very Happy

Lets review what we've done so far. The 4th week has just been completed.

Week 1 - Generic Induction (Core Values, Just Culture, Respect & Dignity, etc)

Week 2 - RISI, Program Overview, Uniform Allocation, Basic Electrical Safety, Handling Critical Incidents & Safeworking 1

Week 3 - Communications Procedures & Protocols, Non-Technical Skills, Flemington Maintenance Centre Visit

Week 4 - Intro to Drivers Cab, Intro to Timetables & Rosters, Driving Fundamentals 1, Visit to TCAC (Train Crewing Assignment Centre), Visit to RMC (Rail Management Centre), Visit to Eveleigh Maintenance Centre, Field trip in Guards Compartment

The uniform allocation was an experience! We all got picked up by the supplier & taken to their warehouse, where we tried on different sizes. It all turned up about a week later - well, most of it turned up for most people! I was one of the lucky ones and got everything I wanted & in the right sizes too, which was a bonus! Smile

Very impressed by the generosity of the uniform allocation - 4 trousers (or shorts), 10 shirts (mix of long & short sleeve), 2 pairs boots, 8 pairs socks, wide brim hat, cap, jumper, vest, anorak, blazer, wet weather gear, and of course reflective vests - with a handy carry pouch. Also a nice backpack. Managed to just carry it all home on the train. Most of the shirts & pants can be tumble dried, which is very important to me Very Happy

Electrical safety was fairly basic (to me anyway), I'm sure we'll go into that in more detail later on. Handling Critical Incidents was quite interesting, in terms of what is provided and how you'll be looked after in the event of a Critical Incident. It's evident that things have changed quite a bit over the years, and what they've got now is pretty good, imo.

Safeworking 1 was also interesting. I think there are 5 levels of Safeworking, and we'll do them all eventually. Level 1 covered things like organising train protection, protection of adjacent running lines, etc. We also touched on Controlled Signal Blocking (CSB), and how to arrange it. Thats basically a verbal arrangement with the signaller that he/she has set xyz signals back to Stop, in whatever direction is appropriate.

Week 3 was a short week, as we had an RDO. Communications was a doddle, especially with my background. I was very happy to see adherence to the the International Phonetic Alphabet (as opposed to the bastardised version those Yanks use!), and also sensible standard phrases that are fairly common & well understood. I was actually quite impressed with the way the radio system (Metronet) has been set up, it's quite intelligent. Closed channel, so your conversation with the other party is a 'private' conversation. One button push to start talking to the signaller for whatever area you are in (The train radio will automatically change from signal box to signal box based on transponders in the four foot.) With a few different keystrokes you can place a call to Train Control, Mechanical, Supervisors, etc. Emergency button (for emergencies. "No, really?", "yep"). That's also quite intelligent - hit the emergency button and your call will be answered by either the signaller or train control, dropping any other call they might have been on. Trains in the same area have "Emergency in progress" flash up on their screens automatically, & then they have to slow down to restricted speed. The radios also have the capability to send & receive short text messages (Driver can only send pre-set messages, ie: "Waiting at Signal", whereas signaller & train control can free-type messages). Signallers and train control can also broadcast messages to all trains in their area, either text or voice. All up, very impressive both in its simplicity, and its capabilities.

In Week 3 we also did Non-Technical Skills 1 - this is basically the stuff that turns a competant driver into a professional driver. Covers a whole range of things, stuff that basically means you're thinking about the task, not doing it in a robot-like fashion. To cap off the week we visited Flemington Maintenance Centre, got inducted into the site, had a good look around, and climbed in & out of a few different sets.

And now we come to Week 4. Intro to Drivers Cab was actually a mini field trip! We divided up into groups of three, and along with an instructor we went and rode in the cab for a few hours. Most of us had already had cab-rides, so we were fairly familiar with the experience, however having the instructor along made a difference, as he was able to point out interesting signal configurations, etc. My group went out to Richmond, back to Central, then up (down!) to Hornsby via the North Shore. I had never been to Richmond by train, so it was a good experience. Very scenic, especially over the golf courses, and technically interesting, particularly with the single line running.

Timetables & rosters - well, luckily this was just an intro! Let me just say it's fairly complex, understandably, and we'll move on from there Very Happy

TCAC & RMC - that was very very interesting. Well, to qualify that, RMC was interesting... TCAC is just where drivers & guards sign on & off, and so on. RMC... Wow. Built in 2002, the main feature is the board. I forgot to measure it, but it's huge. It displays all the railway lines and has the position of every train, updated in real time. There are 6 controllers, split up geographically, and they monitor every train in their section and plot their movements on a chart. Also in the same room is the security control, and the public information staff, who keep the websites up to date & keep the media informed. I'd spoken to the security guys heaps of times in my old job, so it was good to see how they interact with the train controllers. It makes a lot of sense having them in the same room. Despite the apparent high stress of train control (they have a high turnover) it's certainly a position that I could see myself in, in some time in the future.

The visit to Eveleigh Maintenance Centre was quite brief, it was more just to show us how to get there (we'll probably be learning air systems there), and also give us the site induction.

We finished off the week with a ridealong in the Guards Compartment. We were shown exactly what the guard does, and how he/she does it! It also gave us an insight into the Driver/Guard relationship.

So, after four weeks, am I still happy with my career change? Yes, definately so. The pace of learning seems a little slow at times, and the commuting is starting to wear a bit thin (I travel from Newcastle - 5 hours per day travelling), but overall I'm very happy. We've got a good group of people in our class, the instructors are very good, and I'm having lots of fun. Eventually, they'll even let me drive a train!

That about wraps up this post. Feel free to ask questions. I'll try and post at least once a week from here on in.

Ciao,

Al

rumbleman · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm

That sucks, 5 hours return.

My each way travel time at most is 15 minutes maximum between here and Port Waratah, usually closer to 10 or so if I'm on at Kooragang.

Enjoying the railway culture mate? Realised that a lot of blokes aren't too accepting of buffs? The more challenging one is to pick out the closet gunzels Cool

We must always remember the past, but never live in it

exVKG · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:19 pm

Yeah, enjoying the culture, what I've seen so far anyway. Been getting a few cab rides to & from work and all the drivers have been very helpful. Only come across one that was fairly disgruntled at the organisation, and even then he was quite happy to chat & tell me stuff.

I'm actually not that big a buff! Laughing

There is one in our class that is the total buff, but I'm not even close to that standard! I do like trains, always loved travelling on them, both the technical & physical aspects - and always played around with model railways & the like - but you won't find me writing down numbers or photographing every train that goes by!

Once I'm fully trained I'll be living every boys dream... driving trains & being a fireman! Very Happy

Al

rumbleman · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:36 pm

I can second that too mate, when they teach me to drive anyway that is.

We must always remember the past, but never live in it

greenkayaker · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:50 pm

madmac01 · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:05 am

BFCYU · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:40 pm

Interesting to read ex VKG. Cool

Somethings have changed over the last 30 odd years.
( can see my other stuff in other posts & threads)
Years ago, they had to be at least a fully qualified diesel or steam driver
to get a job on the sparks (driver)--but probably now for the better Rolling Eyes

One thing I would probably differ though;
is about the travelling time.

Ex VKG:
Wouldn't be better to just pull up a swag (cheap accommodation)
not far from your training college, and get there & back more refreshed.
(Training College)
And go back to Newcastle Friday nights etc.

Only a small point though.
You may differ of course
and I realise the free employee fare (Syd-Newc)
but also the cost factor in "putting up a swag".

Are you thinking of relocating to the "Big smoke @ Sydney"
when you are fully qualified and on the tracks as a Sydney driver.
(Or when you can a transfer later onto Newcastle)

Years ago on the diesels after a, "all night long sitter"
(or long hours) the last thing i wouldn't contemplate is
connecting, waiting and getting a long journey home.
All i thought about was a hot shower, feed and the pillow.

Another 2 & half to 3 hours to get home after "sign off";
would probably kill me.

Any way.
Only a thought.

Good Diary Memories!! Idea

Look forward to the next. Smile

4458; Feb 1961 (same D.O.B.'s)
and we are both still alive
(sort of !!)

Botany Freight Corp Yes Utopia.