Employment on Aussie railways

[beerhead@noshortpints.net (Tom Clifton)]

Hi, all.

I know there's a few rail employees hanging out on this ng, and I have
a few questions. Some may think I'm crazy for even expressing an
interest, but here goes.

I work as train crew (guard and emergency driver) for one of the
private train companies in the UK, with operations through the Channel
Tunnel (which of the 3?   I'm not    saying  in case someone tells
the boss;-)). What I am wondering is what the prospects are for a UK
national finding similar (or not-so-similar, but still railway) work
in Australia.

I understand that unless the job can't be filled locally, you have a
lot of money or can meet certain criteria, the chances of doing
anything more than flipping hamburgers in the black economy are pretty
slim, but I don't know what things are like on Aussie railways.

Is it generally difficult filling vacancies?

What are industrial relations like?

What sort of pay and time off can be expected in the train-crew
grades? 

Are drivers taken "off the street" for training or  promoted from
existing grades? Maybe after 20 years service?

The areas I would be interested in are NSW (South, Central or North
coasts but not so much Sydney) and the Melbourne-Geelong area.

Maybe I'm wasting my time but if you don't ask, you don't get to find
out. If anyone has any answers to these questions or any other
comments, please post; e-mails would be much appreciated.

Cheers,



=====================
Tom (West Sussex, UK)
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emailto:tom.clifton@virgin.net