Hi
I have seen a Jobs posted on Seek for Trainee second person opportunities at a few NSW rural Locations with Railtrain.

I have a few question to ask after searching for a while with no or little results.

The Jobs offer Training for 5-6 weeks, paid. Than there is no guarantee of any work there after.
I believe they than act as a Job hire company there after until you are Assessed as competent as a Second Person,
Than down the track finish Cert IV Rail Transport to become a driver.
Which could take a few years, or More. Possibly based on hours as well and competency.

I understand the Use of Casual employees in the workforce, is to offer opportunity but reduce the risk to the employer of committing to hiring Part Time or  full  employees in case work dries up or worse being stuck with a dud.
So is this the main (only) way into the rail industry now, especially in Rural/ Bulk transporting areas?

With the likes of Qube, PN Bulk, SCT, SSR etc I see very little Trainee Jobs Advertised. Is it the risk of leaving a full time job to get training in rail but than to risk no work at all. I worked a Government Job, rotating 24/7 rooster, than changed to Merit base list which doesn't work for anyone with any commitments ( other casual job) and very well for good Brown nosing.
How much notice would the Companies who you are Hired to give before the start off a shift and would this hurt your chance of getting more work?                         I live just over an hour away. It would be silly to move or rent there just in case the phone rings.

Looking forward to your input and to fill in the blanks.

I would be extremely careful in dealing with any company associated with RailTrain or their former directors. IIRC, the original RailTrain went bankrupt owing many crew several thousand dollars in unpaid wages, super, etc, then popped up again as "Railtrain Services" or something like that...If you Google "RTBU Railtrain Underpayment" or similar terms you'll come across a swag of sites and bulletins detailing the issues. I don't think they'd be able to get away with it twice, but still.....

OneRail was recently advertising for trainees across multiple states, WorkPac was advertising for casual FIFO Shunter's for Rio Tinto too last week.

Insofar as notice of your shift, I can't comment on RailTrain specifically, but if you were to become a "permanent casual" with the likes of PN Rural & Bulk, you'd typically find out at the end of your previous shift what time you're starting your next one. You would know your RDO's as they're set in stone, but that'd be it.

I would be extremely careful in dealing with any company associated with RailTrain or their former directors. IIRC, the original RailTrain went bankrupt owing many crew several thousand dollars in unpaid wages, super, etc, then popped up again as "Railtrain Services" or something like that...If you Google "RTBU Railtrain Underpayment" or similar terms you'll come across a swag of sites and bulletins detailing the issues. I don't think they'd be able to get away with it twice, but still.....

OneRail was recently advertising for trainees across multiple states, WorkPac was advertising for casual FIFO Shunter's for Rio Tinto too last week.

Insofar as notice of your shift, I can't comment on RailTrain specifically, but if you were to become a "permanent casual" with the likes of PN Rural & Bulk, you'd typically find out at the end of your previous shift what time you're starting your next one. You would know your RDO's as they're set in stone, but that'd be it.

Thanks good to get feed back.

I would be extremely careful in dealing with any company associated with RailTrain or their former directors. IIRC, the original RailTrain went bankrupt owing many crew several thousand dollars in unpaid wages, super, etc, then popped up again as "Railtrain Services" or something like that...If you Google "RTBU Railtrain Underpayment" or similar terms you'll come across a swag of sites and bulletins detailing the issues. I don't think they'd be able to get away with it twice, but still.....

OneRail was recently advertising for trainees across multiple states, WorkPac was advertising for casual FIFO Shunter's for Rio Tinto too last week.

Insofar as notice of your shift, I can't comment on RailTrain specifically, but if you were to become a "permanent casual" with the likes of PN Rural & Bulk, you'd typically find out at the end of your previous shift what time you're starting your next one. You would know your RDO's as they're set in stone, but that'd be it.

So with regards to these training groups, is this about the only way into the industry now?
I see very little "trainee Positions" advertised by the larger Rail freight companies for operations in rural areas.
Thanks again.

I would be extremely careful in dealing with any company associated with RailTrain or their former directors. IIRC, the original RailTrain went bankrupt owing many crew several thousand dollars in unpaid wages, super, etc, then popped up again as "Railtrain Services" or something like that...If you Google "RTBU Railtrain Underpayment" or similar terms you'll come across a swag of sites and bulletins detailing the issues. I don't think they'd be able to get away with it twice, but still.....

OneRail was recently advertising for trainees across multiple states, WorkPac was advertising for casual FIFO Shunter's for Rio Tinto too last week.

Insofar as notice of your shift, I can't comment on RailTrain specifically, but if you were to become a "permanent casual" with the likes of PN Rural & Bulk, you'd typically find out at the end of your previous shift what time you're starting your next one. You would know your RDO's as they're set in stone, but that'd be it.

So with regards to these training groups, is this about the only way into the industry now?
I see very little "trainee Positions" advertised by the larger Rail freight companies for operations in rural areas.
Thanks again.

Try going for an entry-level role with one of those companies. If you impress them in a non-rail position, you'll have a chance of getting a rail position through internal recruitment before the remaining positions (if any) get advertised to the public.

Don't just rely on public advertisements posted to Seek etc, the rail jobs will be gone before they are even posted on there. Companies of all types are avoiding Seek where possible because they just get flooded with hundreds or even thousands of blatantly unsuitable applications from people going through the motions for Centrelink.