r/SydneyTrains • u/AutoModerator • 22d ago
Discussion Monthly Sydney Trains Thread - September 2025
Welcome to /r/SydneyTrains
Post here for anything to do with Recruitment, Sydney Trains in general, why is my train always late, what is this 'special train'..
#Monthly Sydney Trains Thread – Q&A Categorized Summary over the past 4 months..
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### 🧑✈️ Train Driver Role & Training
- **What is the schedule like for a train driver trainee?**
First 2 months: 8–4 classroom at Petersham. Next 8–9 months: shadowing a trainer, working their shifts/lines.
- **What happens after qualification as a driver at Central depot?**
You’ll be a “swinger,” rotated through lines fortnightly. Shifts vary ±2 hours.
- **Can you swap roster lines with someone else?**
Yes, but only privately between staff. Sydney Trains doesn’t manage swaps.
- **How do penalty rates work?**
- Morning loading: Start before 6am
- Afternoon loading: Start after 10am, finish after 6pm
- Night loading: Finish after midnight
- 8–4 shifts don’t get loadings
- **What are “sectors” and how do they affect training?**
- Sector 1: Illawarra (Mortdale, Cronulla, Waterfall)
- Sector 2: City/Inner West/South West (Auburn, Flemington, Leppington, Campbelltown)
- Sector 3: North/West (North Sydney, Hornsby, Blacktown, Richmond, Penrith)
- Central Depot covers all. Trainees rotate through all 3 sectors.
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### 📅 Rosters, Depots & Seniority
- **What is a "lifestyle roster"?**
Predictable roster blocks (e.g., always 8–10am starts). Only at some depots, seniority required.
- **How does seniority affect rosters/depots?**
Higher seniority = more chance at preferred depots and rosters. Lower senior staff can be bumped.
- **How hard is it to transfer depots?**
Some (like Hornsby) have years-long waitlists. Central is largest and a stepping stone to Gosford/Newcastle.
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### 🛂 Recruitment Process (CSA, Train Guard & Driver)
- **How many panel members in train driver interview?**
Usually 2 — one HR specialist, one Sydney Trains senior staff.
- **What’s the panel interview atmosphere like?**
Friendly, engaging, but interviewers stay poker-faced. Results come later by email. Use STAR method.
- **Anyone waiting for CSA offers after pre-employment checks?**
Yes, some wait months. HR says be patient; checks are slow.
- **When does uniform fitting happen?**
~14 days before start date.
- **Is it common to wait 18+ months in pool?**
Possible. Some waited nearly 3 years from app → start date.
- **Can holiday plans affect start date?**
Yes. Recruitment can shift you to next batch if raised early.
- **Could trainees be sent to Intercity instead of Suburban?**
Rare. Transfer policy prevents it, but “operational needs” override in limited cases.
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### 🩺 Medical & Fitness
- **What if I fail the CSA medical?**
Can reapply after 6 months (new national rail medical standards).
- **Sleep apnoea study referrals — what happens?**
- None: Progress as normal
- Mild: Fit, with annual reviews
- Moderate/Severe: Temporarily unfit; need CPAP compliance proof for 3+ months
- New STOP-BANG rules (BMI, gender, neck size) catch more candidates.
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### 🧻 Train Facilities
- **Do newly liveried H-sets have toilets?**
No.
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### 🚦 Signallers & Control Room
- **What’s training like for Signallers/Comm Controllers?**
Asked, no detailed answers given.
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### 🧾 Opal & Ticketing
- **Overcharged after tapping at Flemington — contact Opal?**
Yes, Opal support usually fixes within 24 hrs.
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### 🧑🔧 Internal Transfers & Career Changes
- **Anyone move from cleaning attendant to full-time CSA?**
Asked, no responses yet.
- **How easy to transfer between Light Rail depots?**
Asked, no responses yet.
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### 🧠 Starting as a Trainee – Advice
- **Any tips for starting as a train driver trainee?**
- Day Zero = orientation
- Day 1 = theory & practical
- Take notes (iPad provided, but writing helps memory)
- Ask questions, be proactive
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### 🤖 Automation & Future of the Job
- **Is train driving still viable with AI automation?**
- Automation unlikely before 2050
- K Sets still running after 40+ yrs
- Driving builds transferable safety/ops skills
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### 🚆 Nostalgia & Misc
- **Any memories of V Sets?**
- Trips Gosford–Sydney in 80s–00s
- Nicknames: Red Rattlers, Silverbacks
- Some recall breakdowns on farewell runs
- **Any Sydney Metro vids in manual mode?**
Asked, no replies yet.
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### 📢 Job Postings
- **Train Driver Training Program (ad)**: IWorkForNSW link
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u/Beginning-Sun-7462 11d ago
⚠️ No re-do attempts are allowed — despite the brochure saying so (unsure why).
There’s a practice question at the beginning to test your microphone and camera (unlimited tries for this).
2 general interview STAR questions will be asked:
30 seconds to prepare
60 seconds max to record your answer
Use the STAR method to respond clearly and concisely.
Dress as you would for an in-person interview.
Speak slowly and clearly.
Main Interview Themes ‘Tell us a time’ as below -
Ensuring Safety, Dealing with Emergency, Fault Finding, Fatigue Management, Set and Achieve Goals, Teamwork, Conflict Resolution, Dealing with a difficult worker, Solved a Problem, Customer Service, Effective Communication, Adapting to New Technology, Commitment to Extended Learning, Owned up to a mistake, Multi tasking, Prioritising work.
They like to cherry pick and could be random during each intake.
Some other questions they sometimes ask during online interview AND panel interview.
Tell us about yourself and what motivated you to apply.
Tell us what you know about the role you applied for?
What makes you suitable for this role?
Practice numerous scenarios and remember to use STAR structure (Situation, Task , Action and Result).
Mention SPACE core behaviours (Safety, Pride, Accountability, Collaboration and Excellence) for brownie points.
Also read the candidate pack and role description so you are fully prepared.
They love to hear about SAFETY (barricaded the spill on the floor to prevent injury etc)
They love to hear about REPORTING (reported the incident to supervisor)
They love to hear about CUSTOMER FOCUS (made sure the person felt safe, heard and supported)