This genuinely sounds like a dream job. I’m sure we’ll get a dozen jokes about the catch being “living in Fort William,” but the opportunity to live on Loch Ness sounds like a dream come true. Is ScotRail a pain to work for? Are these positions actually only for terrible hours? Are there a million applicants so there’s no real use in applying? What’s the catch?

by wiseoldllamaman2

12 comments

  1. Check if that included therapy, the first jumper you get and you might need it.

  3. The hours could be weird, it says that in the description. Regular drug screenings too in case that would spoil your fun!

  4. It’s not an easy job. The training to become a train driver is intense, brutal and doesn’t ever really stop. The failout rate is apparently massive. And then once you’re qualified, you need to be constantly aware the entire time, it’s not like you can just press Go and keep an eye on things. It’s not even like driving where, let’s be honest, a lot of us zone out a little on a long motorway drive, you’ve got to be at full alertness 100% of the time you’re in motion. I saw a video about it recently and honestly I’m convinced those guys and girls deserve every penny they get.

  6. Fort William is on Loch Linnhe, not Loch Ness.

    Anyway sounds like a great job and you should go for it. Also it’s a trainee driver, not a conductor. These positions are fairly competitive.

  7. You have to complain about everything, go on strike because a colleage left the doors open and several people fell out (not his fault, sun in his eyes at a station) and then claim the strikes were not planned to cause disruption, even though all 5 co-ordinate with high profile events on the day.

    ​

    but apart from that….

  8. It’s fucking hard work to become a train driver. It’s not just looking at the pretty views all day. 9 out of 10 people won’t make it. That’s why it’s well paid even at training level.

  9. It’s a hard job, takes a great deal of skill and carries huge responsibility. It is also an example of what pay can be like if you have a good union.

  10. You can be held legally liable if someone gets caught in your door and be tried for manslaughter

  11. Telling on myself here a bit, but have a go at a train driving simulator game, and see if it seems like something that would suit you.

    It’s harder than it looks getting those raily boys to stop in the right place, and that’s only a small part of it.

  12. Most drivers are ex forces or emergency personnel, it’s very hard to join from “the outside”. Most outsiders start as cleaners or conductors as they favour internal applications. The driving test is 3 weeks long and the theory part is 500 essay type questions every year (I think). It’s a huge huge task becoming a driver!

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