Whilst Mainline Drivers are the ones that drive trains in passenger service, our Depot Drivers are responsible for moving units around our train care depots throughout the day and night and preparing trains for service ahead of the morning and evening peak. We’re now improving the way we train our Depot Drivers by introducing Depot Driver Mentors, who can train and coach them on the job.
Until now, once Depot Drivers had finished their initial training at the Operations Training School, a Mainline Driver Instructor would oversee their training at the depot. Given the instructors’ other responsibilities, this could take time to arrange.
Introducing Depot Driver Mentors helps ease any delays. As well as being able to help the trainees learn how to drive a train and couple and uncouple units, the Mentors also have a working knowledge of the depot, including using the radio and the more intricate moves like driving over maintenance pits or removing the middle unit out of a three-train formation.
Clapham Depot Driver Mentor and ASLEF rep, Scot MacFarlane has recently helped Dzolan Daniel qualify and become the first Depot Driver to be trained by a Mentor. Scot said: “There’s benefits for everyone. Dzolan was part of the team from the day he joined the depot, and throughout his training had more opportunities to practice train movements, so he’s ready to go from day one. It also benefits the Mainline Drivers as the Instructors can continue to prioritise their training, without slowing Depot Driver training.”
Operations Trainer Darren Rees said: “We’ve always been trying to improve the experience of Depot Drivers and the Depot Driver Mentor scheme has been something we’ve been working on for a long time. Throughout this process our communication between the Training School and our Depot Drivers has improved and going forward we’re looking at other improvements we can make too.”
