Train Driver Jobs

wanttobedriver · Beginner Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Last Visited: Oct 15, 2008

Q4004 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:36 pm

Is there open vacancies for driving trains at Pacific National Kewdale

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Wickham · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:21 pm

wanttobedriver · Beginner Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Last Visited: Oct 15, 2008

Cheers for the reply Wickham, the P Plates will be a problem, I did get a country license when I was fifteen and half and i've just noticed my P Plates will expire after three years as opposed to the usual two. I'll get on the blower to the Licensing Department and see what's up with that.

Is there anything else you could think of that'd be a problem for me?

I know you're not an all knowing orb but any advice is greatly appreciated; cheers

phower · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:16 pm

In Todays Morning Paper "The Advertiser" here in Adelaide in the jobs section was an Advert for train drivers with Pacific National must reside in Adelaide I believe,
They require 24/7 hours of duty working for general freight..

Reference Number ADL_1008
Applications to Winni Leakphon Support officer GPO Box 1646 , Melbourne Vic 3001 or Email to abrecruitment@pacifficnational.com.au In Pdf format please

Closes COB 20 October 2008
Any information relevant to the position can be obtained from TonyHalman Operations manager Phone 0428996347

Rail Fan Extrordonaire !!! OAP, ESQ.

Certified Tram Driver
Certified Bus Driver
Licenced Car Driver
Licenced Truck Driver
In Fact I am Certified & Licenced for many things . but not all??

Wickham · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:59 pm

3981 · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:15 pm

wanttobedriver · Beginner Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Last Visited: Oct 15, 2008

I see, who are the ARG? I'm guessing though having trained you they own you for a few years. Understandable though if they're going to the expense of training you. Smile

I'm not really fussed over the train driving, railcar operator thing; I just definitely want to make a career out of it so any foot in the door would be great.

I have heard about PTA drivers taking off, apparently over half of the drivers they trained for the Mandurah line were poached in what may as well have been seconds Smile

Thanks again for the reply's Wickham, these aren't the sort of questions you can't consult your local library for.

wanttobedriver · Beginner Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Last Visited: Oct 15, 2008

Cheers for the encouragement 3981, all of the advice I've heard is either 50, 50.

I reckon I could do it, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

Wickham · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:23 pm

As 3981 said age certainly isn't the issue.

But i have spoken to ex transperth drivers and if you hold a restricted license which is your p plates you will be penalised.

We have p platers working around our yard, not bad drivers and the only difference is the BA your allowed.

I'd say there are atleast 30 railcar drivers up here, between the sites.

Also ARG, Australian Railroad Group (owned by QR) they run most of the freight trains

Wickham · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:39 pm

http://www.arg.net.au/vacancy.aspx#TopPage

Also ARG are employing at the moment for Operational Maintainers, basically you change brake shoes, inspect wagons, shunt etc

3981 might be able to tell you exactly what is involved in the role.

Maybe flick them an email and ask about P plates.

But i have to say, you are SO much better off going down this route, money wise, knowledge wise and future job prospects. I know it is hard for some of these railcar drivers to go and driver freight trains and company's will do anything to get ex freight train drivers.

Start at the bottom, work your way to a trainee driver and then you have knowledge of the system and how things work so you go driving with some sort of background knowledge and understanding. once again my opinion but if you want to be a good driver i think this kind of knowledge is vital and besides that way you get to drive real trains Razz

These day's i doubt you would even do this job for a year going by ARG's recruiting lately.

It took me 5 years to become a fully qualified driver, hardest thing i have ever done. Every single test i took with Westrail was 100% pass or see you later. I remember spending weeks just learning about the 26L Brake Valve and then another several weeks on the Vacuum brake which is a totally different system. I spent a couple of year wiping down windows, control stands etc, i sat in the observers seat for a long long time before i even got a chance to prove myself to the driver i was with.

Anyway that's my novel, i waffle on far far to much Smile

wanttobedriver · Beginner Joined: Oct 13, 2008 Last Visited: Oct 15, 2008

Yeah doing something properly. I didn't realise there was any great difference between big electric buses and the bigger diesel trains.

Cheers for the heads up with private companies and training. I had a look at the ads for ARG's operational maintainers and it does say that they need an un-restricted license but I've been good with my license so far and if I drive like a saint for a few more months I'll be set.

The other thing I was considering in terms of my age for the PTA was, would they be less willing to employ me because being young and having less ties I would stereotypically skip out up north once I've finished my training? Yet I suppose they take the same risk on everyone.

Sorry the whole all knowing orb thing again Smile

but anything from people in the industry is greatly appreciated.

bluebird252 · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:35 pm

As regarding the Pac Nat jobs here in sa are they for trainees or quailfied?

phower · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:18 pm

bluebird252 · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:38 pm

they looking for quailfied drivers for Pac Nat oh well at least I tried Rolling Eyes