Please tell me about the training when you first joined?

As a Commercial Guard, the training I received 12 years ago is not dissimilar to the training received today for new entrants. It started in a classroom environment at the training school, where I was in a group of approximately 12 and took a period of around 8 weeks. We spent time learning the safe running of the railway system and how as guards we can have an impact in that. This involved Personal Track Safety qualification as well as practical and written assessments throughout the training at the training school. To complete the centralised training we undertook a practical assessment to ensure we have thorough knowledge of the train traction type. When this was completed we were released to our local depot to undertake training in the specific lines of route associated with our own depot's workings. This was to ensure as guards we were aware of any potential risks involved when operating our trains. We needed to understand the signalling systems on the routes as well, where the additional risks are likely to be due to passengers boarding and alighting. In a railway system that was built over 100 years ago, stations were not built at a time when the main focus would have been to ensure that a clear view is provided from anywhere. As a guard you need to be aware of the best place to dispatch and work your train to try to mitigate as many risks as possible. The route learning part of the training facilitated that.
Finally, in order to be assessed as competent to be a fully productive commercial guard, a 2-week course on all railway tickets had to be completed. Again, this was conducted in a classroom environment and was concluded with a written assessment.

Yes I’m ready for that

Hi Rosa. I don't know your location but South Western Railway are continually recruiting guards, so please visit the job search page of our careers site and look out for vacancies in your area - https://careers.firstgroup.co.uk/jobs/search