Qualified Train Driver - North West

BUSINESS FUNCTION: Operations - Central & West

GRADE: Qualified Train Driver

SALARY: £58,378 rising to £67,104 per annum once you have signed your first route and traction.

HOURS: 35 per rolling week

LOCATION: North West Region (Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan, Blackburn, Blackpool, Barrow)

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly skilled Qualified Train Driver to join Northern.

At Northern, we play a vital role connecting millions of people to work, leisure and education opportunities.

We operate 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England. But our vision is about more than just train travel. It’s about setting a new standard for customer experiences. And that means building a different kind of workplace. One that values individuality and celebrates differences. Somewhere we can work together, have fun, and get stuck in to making our customers’ lives easier. A place that goes out of its way to create incredible opportunities for everyone to grow and be the best we can be every single day.

So, if you’re forward thinking, passionate and full of fresh ideas like we are, you could play your part in making it happen.

About the role:

As a Qualified Train Driver one of your main responsibilities will be to transport customers safely and efficiently across the northern network.

Working on the frontline, you’ll collaboratively work alongside Train Conductors, Station Dispatch, and Control colleagues – together ensuring our customers enjoy a true Northern experience onboard our trains.

Key responsibilities:

As a Qualified Train Driver, you'll be the driving force behind safe and efficient train operations. Your responsibilities will include:

• Train Operation: Responsible for driving trains and operating the controls, ensuring the train runs smoothly, adheres to the schedule, and maintains safe speeds.
• Safety Compliance: Strictly adhere to safety protocols, including signalling systems, speed limits, and track conditions, to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the public.
• Emergency Response: In the event of an emergency or unexpected situation, respond quickly and appropriately, following established procedures and protocols.
• Continuous Training: Undergo regular training and assessments to stay updated on safety procedures, regulations, and any changes in operating practices.
• Train Inspections: Conduct pre- and post-trip inspections of trains, checking for any mechanical issues or abnormalities, and reporting any concerns to maintenance staff.
• Record-keeping: Ensure accurate documentation of activities, including departure and arrival times, any incidents or delays, and other relevant information.
• Communication: Maintain clear and effective communication with control centres, signal operators, and other relevant personnel to ensure smooth train operations.
• Timetable Adherence: Following scheduled timetables, ensuring trains depart and arrive on time.
• Adaptability: Adapt to changes in routes, weather conditions, or unexpected circumstances while maintaining operational efficiency.

About You

Working as a Qualified Train Driver, your greatest strengths will be your concentration skills, your ability to work on your own for long periods of time, and being able to react and adapt to different situations using your knowledge of rules and regulations.

You’ll also be the face of Northern, so you’ll need to have excellent customer service skills and be able to think on your feet.

You should also be able to demonstrate the following:

• Highly disciplined and with the ability to work within rules and regulations
• Ability to remain calm even when under pressure
• Remaining alert and vigilant at all times
• Customer focused
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Punctuality and reliability

In your role as a Train Driver, you will work shifts from the early hours of the morning until late at night, weekends and Bank Holidays. You will work an average of 35 hours per week and receive your rosters in advance.

Role Requirements

• Your home address needs to be within a 45-minute drive (at peak time) of the train station you are applying for.
• You must hold a valid Train Drivers License - with no endorsements.
• You must have a minimum of 2 years’ experience driving on Network Rail Infrastructure – with proof of your TDLCR Complimentary Certificate.
• You must have 2 years continuous competence - no prolonged break in competence.

Our Benefits:

Because we value our people and reward hard work, we’ve created a benefits package that we think you’ll love. So, you’ll be able to make the most of:

• Opportunities to progress and grow - including comprehensive training schemes and a range of online learning courses.
• Full Uniform for Frontline Facing Roles - our frontline people are the face of the business, so we provide you with a stylish and high-quality uniform.
• Cycle to Work Scheme - save up to 42% on the cost of a bike, while also spreading your payments throughout the year.
• Free Travel on Northern services - everyone who works at Northern, plus their partners/spouses and dependents, can travel for free right across our full network of services. *Certain eligibility criteria will apply.
• 75% discount with other Train Operating Companies - after 2 years with us, you’ll also get discounted travel on many other rail services in the UK and Europe.
• Defined Benefit Pension Scheme - you’ll rarely find a pension as good as a Northern pension, and we top up your pension with a generous 1.5 times your contribution.
• A generous holiday entitlement - our holiday entitlements can help you feel like you can get away too.
• Maternity and Paternity Benefits - we go above and beyond the standard, and mums can enjoy 9 months’ maternity leave on full pay while dads can make the most of 2 weeks’.

Please note that Northern reserves the right to close recruitment for this role before the published closing date, if high volumes of applications are received.

However, if you miss the application window for this particular role, please keep checking back for other opportunities. We are always on the lookout for great people to join the Northern Team!

We’re an equal opportunities employer and a promoter of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, sex, ethnicity, race, religion, education, socioeconomic background, disability, or sexual orientation.

We also have Disability Confident status, which means we’re committed to making the most of the talents that disabled people can bring to the workplace.