Re: conditions as train operators

["Erika" <torpan@torpan.com>]

You shiuld be aware the safety records here are under question.It could be
termed as a hasardous job.

"C. Dewick" <craigd@lios.apana.org.au> wrote in message
82emgc$iit$1@lios.apana.org.au">news:82emgc$iit$1@lios.apana.org.au...
> 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
>  Send email to craigd@lios.apana.org.au |  Visit my Australian rail
transport
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