Authorised by an act of Parliament in 1853, the Circle Line became the world's first underground railway and the genesis of the entire London Underground network.
You might go an entire route without seeing another person, and speaking only over the PA or the radio to the control centre.The third part of the popular ‘World of Subways’ series puts you in the driver's cab on the iconic Circle Line of the London Underground. While your train might be filled with passengers, your cab will usually be just for you. You will be required to wear a uniform at all times.Īs a final note, you will need to be comfortable with being alone much of the time. Wintertime can be very cold, while the heat during the summer can be considerable. In addition, you will find that temperature extremes can be great, particularly during the winter and summer. Shift work will certainly be part of your working conditions and should be accepted from the outset. London Underground has very different working conditions from train driving positions with surface railways. WORKING CONDITIONS ON THE LONDON UNDERGROUND You will have to complete a Personal Track Safety Certificate, as well as an NVQ Level 2 in Rail Transport Operations (Driving) before your training is complete.
Training covers hands-on driver training with an instructor, driving theory and safety training. Training outside of London can take up to 12 months. Once they have the job, training to become a London Underground Train Driver is currently almost 6 months. You will undergo some rigorous theory work, as well as hands-on training with different types of trains and their associated systems. This will mark the beginning of a long period of intensive training. When you receive your confirmation email, contact TFL or the centre itself for more details.Īssuming that you pass the assessment centre, you will wait for a few more days until you are notified about where to report for training. This will depend solely upon the assessment centre which you are attending. The weaker candidates will be ‘cut’ after the opening sessions, and the stronger candidates will progress to the later stages. Sometimes, the assessment centre will be split in two sessions, morning and afternoon. You will also be required to take a competency based, face to face interview with assessors, who will further determine whether you are suitable for the role. The information gathered during these tests, as well as whether you pass or fail, will determine whether or not you are offered a place on the training course. These are designed to give the company information about your skills, aptitude and attitude, and much more. This will include: psychometric testing, aptitude testing and personality testing. This will take the form of both individual, and group examination, in several key areas. If you are successful, you will receive an invitation to attend an assessment centre, informing you of when and where you should appear for further testing.Īt the assessment centre, you will undergo rigorous testing. This is also good practice for similar tests that you will be required to take later in the application process. This is a vitally important part of the process, and requires 100% of your concentration. When taking the real test, make sure you find a quiet location where you won’t be disturbed. On the SHL website, you can complete practice tests and questions to get yourself ready for the process. You will be given several sample questions prior to the test, so that you can familiarise yourself with the process. The test will examine your ability to perform skills such as numerical calculation, or understand written information.
You will either be asked to complete the questions online, or in person. Eventually, you will receive a response to your application, which will invite you to complete a 30 minute, multiple choice ability test. This can be a lengthy period, but have patience. Once your application has been submitted, you will have to wait for a decision. – Competency Based, Face To Face Interview The London Underground Selection Process Can Consist Of:
Tubeprune is one of the best sites about the Underground. Much of Dave’s information can also be found on Tubeprune, an unofficial website for people that have become a tube driver.