Re: conditions as train operators

[craigd@lios.apana.org.au (C. Dewick)]

G'day Terry from a train driver in Sydney...

In <38486def_3@news1.vip.uk.com> "minitel" <minitel@arsenalfc.net> writes:

>HELLO
>I AM  A TUBE DRIVER IN LONDON AND I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THE CONDITIONS
>ARE FOR TRAIN OPERATORS (& GUARDS IN SYDNEY) IN MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY. OUR
>CONDITIONS ARE
>          £26 000 ($62 400) £18 000 GUARDS (PHASED OUT NEXT YEAR.
>          35 HOUR WEEK  AND ABSOLUTELY NO OVER TIME
>          7 WEEKS ANNUAL LEAVE
>          SHIFTS NO LONGER THAN 8HR 15MIN
>          NO LONGER THAN 4H 15MIN DRIVING WITHOUT A BREAK

>I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD HELP ME, ALSO HOW DO YOU GET JOBS AS
>OPERATORS AND HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

Thanks for the info. I've never actually looked at a comparison between
metro train drivers/operators/whatever in other countries before...

Anyway, I'm what's called a Driver Thereafter grade, which apart from Driver
Trainer, etc is the top driving grade pay-wise. The current hourly rate is
about $19.50 an hour for Monday to Friday, 1.5 that on Saturday and
double-time on Sunday. Our standard week is 76 hours (38 per week), and our
base salary (with no overtime, shift penalties, etc.) works out to $38492.

I earnt a smidgen over $50k last financial year because I had to take a lot
of time off due to my partner suffering a serious injury in December last
year, but we've had a few pay rises, etc. as well and this current financial
year I'll probably get up around the $55 - 60k mark.

We've still got guards too, and there's no move to displace them until at
least the end of next year (after the Olympics, etc.)

We have a variable ammount of overtime - normally not very much but
sometimes we'll go for months and months with one extra shift every week (12
days a fortnight instead of the standard 10), and get phoned up and asked to
do more. Just depends on the staffing levels, etc. since there are a lot of
new drivers and guards schools running at the moment, so that means lots
more people on leave, etc. as well as older staff retiring.

We get 5 weeks annual leave plus whatever accrued public holidays we've
worked during the year. After 10 years of service we receive 2.5 months of
long service leave credit, which increases by about one day for every 15
days of employment after that. I've been employed by State Rail (in several
different positions) for nearly 13 years now...

Our maximum allowable shift length is 8 hours 33 minutes (except in
emergencies), but we start getting paid overtime after 7 hours 36 minutes
instead of the standard 8 hours because we don't get a mandatory rostered
day off every 4 weeks like the office workers do.

We have no limit on how long we can drive without a break, but our meal
break (only 20 minutes long, but including the allowed 6 minutes walking
time either side it becomes a minimum of 32 minutes) has to be provided
between the 3rd and the 5th hour of our shift. One of the issues currently
being pushed by State Rail management is to have this changed so crib can be
taken between the 3rd and the *6th* hour - It's easy to imagine how 5 hours
non-stop (discounting tiny breaks when changing ends, etc.) on the one
train leads to a serious fatigue problem...

When the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority pushes the 'take a break every two
hours' maxim for road vehicle drivers, we still have the railway management
thinking we can drive a train continously for up to 5 hours without needing
a decent break.

We (suburban electric train) drivers can drive up to 209 km's in a shift
before we have to be paid 'mileage', so there are only a few shifts in each
depot's roster which run over 209 km's, normally no more than 215. I don't
know if the intercity (electric intercity commuter and diesel railcar train)
drivers have a mileage limit or not...

I hope this answers your questions.

Regards,

Craig.

-- 
            Craig Ian Dewick            |       Stand clear - jaws closing
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