Working class heroes wrote: » Did you "Mentor" yourself? Or did you just walk in off the road with all the know how?
Rootsblower wrote: » I wasn't mentored by any one driver I served my time as a guard/shunter and general operative over a few years then I was selected to train as a diver. I had a very good feel for railway operations before I was allowed to drive 300 passengers at speeds of up to 100mph. Nowadays you can never have even seen a train and be driving trains at 100mph within 9 months. I believe this system to be flawed as most other drivers do. Also in the past if a trainee driver makes a mistake a bit of leniency was shown to the driver that was training the trainee, now if a mistake is made no matter how small the driver is disciplined so for a payment of €8 it's not worth it cos any subsequent mistakes by the driver compound on your record and you could lose your licence. I have trained drivers in the past and would again no problem for free if the training regime was returned to the previous methods
Working class heroes wrote: » So you were mentored. The process used to select drivers has not changed. They are selected as per suitability for the role as you were. Are you saying you were selected as a driver under a flawed system? You said previously you would not mentor a driver for all the tea in China, now you say you would if the training regime was returned to previous methods. Can you differentiate between the past and current training regimes please?
Fred Swanson wrote: » How often under IE rules does a driver have to drive a route to keep his route knowledge current?
Stephen15 wrote: » Just asking why would the unions be so against driver training when at the end of the day the people being trained are going to be paid up union members when they qualify.
Fred Swanson wrote: » Same as the UK so.
Rootsblower wrote: » Current system 3 weeks in training school doing a basic operations course. 3 weeks " in cab experience " i.e just sitting with a qualified driver just observing 3 months back in training school learning rules and regulations and practical training based on driving ICR's. After 3 months maybe a further 2 weeks training on locomotives but in my depot the trainees under this system have not all got this so when they return they cannot drive a loco hauled train. Circa 4 months with a mentor driver ( usually left with the same driver)getting 250 hours driving experience, 40 of these hours must be during darkness so if this period lands during the summer then these 40 hours can't be accumulated as most depots have no regular driving during night since the demise of freight. When this process is completed then it's a final exam and off you go Previous system assuming trainee had guards certificate which was 10 weeks training 12 weeks learning all types of locos and rules with out road experience every Friday observing qualified drivers over various routes After 12 weeks trainee exam. Return to depot learning yards and station on road knowledge applicable to your depot driving under the instruction of another driver. Probation exam followed by further road knowledge if required before being passed for driving on your own around the depot but were prohibited from driving a train with passengers on board During the probationary period you learned any relevant railcar classes and did regular rules refresher training with inspectors After 6 months probationary exam we did a 5 day rules exam which you had to get at the time 90% score but certain safety critical questions correct or else back to training school for a week of rules training then 1 more attemp to pass. Re examined by inspector around yard/station in your depot and if all is correct passed out as a fully qualified driver. In smaller depots then you were sent to heuston/Connolly to learn their yards and only then given road knowledge on mainline then passed again by inspector In larger depots with pilot links you could be a further 1 to 2 years before you were given mainline road knowledge. As you can see the older method was more of an apprenticeship type of training method that allowed a driver to develope their skills around yards and stations where there are less things to go wrong. Also, during the mainline road knowledge portion of your trading you were sent with many different senior drivers to see the different driving styles and hopefully pick up all their good habits. The newer mentoring system is flawed in my opinion as it generally puts a trainee with one mentor for the whole 250 hours so the trainee doesn't get to see all the different tips and good habits from having multiple trainers. The current mentoring system also requires the mentor driver to sign a training log each day for the trainee based on the journey undertaken and noting any unusual moves made that day. The mentor must sign that the trainee completed the move correctly etc. Here's the crux of the whole problem drivers have If a driver shows the trainee how to make an unusual movement and signs the trainee log that this move was made by the book and then, 5 years later the now qualified driver goes to make the same movement for the first time on their own and makes a serious error causing an accident which results in a fatality god forbid. Will the original driver who signed the drivers trainee log be dragged into the whole mess and questioned under the Railway Safety Act 2005 and possibly be subject to a fine or prison time if found to be in any way negligent.
Grandeeod wrote: » Despite ignoring me I assume this is your version of a solution - a comparison to how it used to be done versus how its done now?
KCAccidental wrote: » always great to see facts wiping away bluster.
Working class heroes wrote: » Just for clarity this figure is wrong. The figure is €33 per day.
Rootsblower wrote: » Incorrect the previous mentoring system paid a taxable allowance of €23 per day if you had a trainee with you. There wasn't much uptake. Current proposal is an allowance of €2000 per year which is roughly €40 per week which is €8 per day. This equated to €1.98 euro after tax/prsi/usc per journey assuming an up to Dublin and back turn of duty. System of mentoring was introduced around 2006/07
Working class heroes wrote: » Nope, definitely €33.00. And this was paid when the last batch of DART drivers that were training. EDIT: You're maths is either way off or the tax man owes you a few bob.
Rootsblower wrote: » Nope it was €23 As I stated current proposal is €2000 per year €2000 / 52 weeks = €38.46 per week This equates to €7.69 euro per day At the marginal rate of tax as 51% equals €3.76 Assuming for example cork to Dublin and return with a trainee this equals €1.88 per trip
Working class heroes wrote: » Why not go the whole hog and say its €0.40/hr. :rolleyes: I'm telling you now €33.00 is the figure. By insisting its €23.00 shows you are been disingenuous and are lacking credibility. No point debating with you so ill leave it there.....
metrovick001 wrote: » "Having secured a reduction in train fares from Sallins by up to 50% by having the LEAP card extended last year, I continue to work closely with Irish Rail". .....These politicians really have some neck when you think about it.
Rootsblower wrote: » The old I don't want to hear your rebuttal trick. No wonder those of us on the inside don't share what the public doesn't hear.
aodh_rua wrote: » There's a six car set on this morning's 7:20 from Newbridge. It'll give Celbridge and onwards commuters a nice surprise.
LuckyLloyd wrote: » I've recently started using the PPT services every day between Pearse and Parkwest and have to say that I find them incredibly reliable and punctual. When is the increase of service due to commence? By the sounds of this thread they had teething problems to begin with but certainly seems like they have been put to bed.
