Originally Posted by
5000psi
Its amazing 2 transport related industries, both post privatisation, both limited operators. Both obviously desirable careers judging by the numbers that apply for the railways.
One funds all of the new enterent training, 4 day weeks and everyone happy.
The other, £100k plus to train, self funded, work max hours, treated like ..., etc etc.
How did we end up here? Genuinely interested. Some will say the unions, but that cant be it.
Strong unions such as ASLEF and RMT have an awful lot to do with it. Also how many train drivers do the job for nothing just to gain experience plus the dreadful Pay 2 Fly schemes that were/are in operation in the aviation world. Train drivers don't trample over each other to get onto the "flight deck" either. My son left aviation under sad circumstances and joined the railway as a Driver. The selection was tough and out of 100 applicants, only 2 got through to the next stage. He loved the job but was lured back to Aviation when an upturn happened. Guess what? He is back to square one again due to C-19 and now wishes he had stayed driving trains. I did warn him!