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boyfrombelgium · Beginner Joined: May 18, 2008 Last Visited: Aug 11, 2008

What for diploma do you need to be a traindriver?
Is it true that when you pass the practical test you can drive only cargotrains and shunters?May you wear glasses if traindriver?

Johnmc · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:43 am

This one would be better in the Employment section...

1. Diploma? I hope not. When the time comes that one needs tertiary qualifications to drive a locomotive, it will be a very sad sad day. Sad

Most big operators do their own inhouse training, with no previous skill required.

2. No. A driver is a driver, and i theenk most training these days is nationally recognised. Your core driving skills would enable you to apply for jobs with different operators, and then they would train you in what skills are required to operate their specific trains.

3. Absolutely. I have been wearing glasses since I was 5, and I have been a train driver for 5 years.

All comments made by myself are as a private citizen, and are not made on behalf of QR.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johncnj/
Johnmc
Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn

boyfrombelgium · Beginner Joined: May 18, 2008 Last Visited: Aug 11, 2008

I would like drive a train in australia!Is it difficult to emigrate to australia en then dear drive a train?

craigd · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:13 am

A fully qualified train or locomotive driver has the equivalent of a Certificate 3 (Transport and Distribution) in the ANSCO database of job classifications, BUT almost no operators will actually issue a formal qualification like that unless you go through a full traineeship program. Usually a new person off the street with no rail experience would achieve a Certificate 2 first, and with more upskilling and practical experience would be at Certificate 3 level when the practical experience components are validated.

I don't know the exact content or progression path that RailCorp follows for it's CityRail train driver traineeship program since I haven't been exposed to it, but RailCorp does, I believe, issue Cert-3's to people who complete the post-Olympic traineeships with fully-validated post-training logbooks, etc. (but not to any other pre-existing train crews who didn't go through that formal TAFE-based program), and I presume that Transperth does too. Don't know how training recognition is provided in VIC or QLD. In VIC it's probably outsourced (?) unless Veolia/Connex do it in-house.

People who increase their qualifications to become a Driver Trainer or similar later in the their career have the equivalent of a Certificate 4 (Transport and Distribution).

Craig.

Craig Dewick - Qualified Train/Locomotive Operator (GWA) + HO Scale Rail Modeller
Image Galleries at: http://www.railzone.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=125 and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/navarzo/sets/72157607422917204/

rumbleman · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 7:41 pm

Furthering what Craig mentioned about the quals, you may also possibly recieve a workplace assesor qualification as an Inspector or Driver Trainer.

But I imagine this will greatly depend upon company policy and will vary between companies.

2001 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 11:29 am