The ultimate Pre-employment preparation & knowledge program for people interested in, or considering a career in becoming a train driver in Australia.
The three courses within PreTrain - RailReady, FastTrack and MainLine, help you understand, and prepare for entry into the Australian railway industry as a trainee train driver.
Get ready for a career on the rails!
This bundle of all three courses, aims to help the viewer to:
- Be very aware of both the potential benefits and the potential drawbacks of this interesting career choice, delivered equally - so you can make an informed choice in this career option.
- Have a high-level overview of the Australian railway industry as it relates to trainee train drivers seeking their first start;
- Know whether the job is the right "fit" for you, or which part of the industry may best suit your own needs;
- Be aware of the different railway networks and train driver traineeship types that you could choose to apply to;
- Gain a competitive "edge" on other applicants for traineeship opportunities, by knowing what's typically ahead of trainee driver applicants, including quizzes along the way to see if you are on the right track, and links to relevant further learning;
- Gain some basic foundational, fundamental railway knowledge to make your transition into training much easier;
- Have an idea about the longer term career path options that may become available once you've made it as a driver
All delivered by a real-world, current professional train driver who has been a trainee driver before, and who has since gone on to become a highly experienced driver trainer - in an honest, up-front and balanced way to help you achieve your goal of becoming a train driver.
Suburban Electric & Regional Passenger Trains
Freight Trains
Heavy-Haul & Bulk Trains
PreTrain - Pre-employment preparation knowledge for prospective trainee train drivers
- The basic requirements to meet to become a Trainee Train Driver (11:33)
- Benefits of becoming a train driver (29:13)
- Perceived drawbacks of becoming a train driver (53:04)
- Addressing some old myths & other misconceptions (15:08)
- Ideal attributes & characteristics of a Trainee Train driver (14:54)
- Section 1 - quiz 1
- Section 1 - quiz 2
- 2.0 The two roads in - Internal and External pathways to train driving & Australian railway history 101 (8:11)
- 2.1 Internal pathway overview (4:52)
- 2.2 External pathway overview (6:05)
- 2.3 INTERNAL recruitment - passenger or freight & bulk railways (14:13)
- 2.4 EXTERNAL recruitment - passenger or freight & bulk railways (7:31)
- 2.5 All other trains & railways - other possibilities to consider (3:11)
- 2.6 Heritage railways (volunteer / hobbyist) (5:38)
- 4.0 The initial application process (3:58)
- 4.1 Potential online assessment tasks - safety aptitude & mechanical reasoning (7:41)
- 4.2 The selection centre process (7:09)
- 4.3 Psychometric testing explained (7:24)
- 4.4 The interview process (8:56)
- 4.5 Medical assessment - Rail Safety Critical Category 1 medical (10:50)
- 4.6 Reference checks, application time frames & next steps (9:02)
- 4.7 What to do (and NOT do) if you're unsuccessful the first time (8:03)
- 5.0 Introduction to Module 5 & overview of the training ahead - theory & practical (5:10)
- 5.1 Preparing for your first day in school & the theory training ahead (13:25)
- 5.2 Introduction to the rail corridor & track fundamentals (17:04)
- 5.3 Introduction to safeworking (16:58)
- 5.4 Introduction to railway signals (19:05)
- 5.5 Introduction to safety critical communications (7:21)
- 5.6 Introduction to rollingstock - power units (8:13)
- 5.7 Introduction to rollingstock - carriages, wagons & trailer units (4:26)
- 5.8 Practical training & route knowledge (9:14)
- 5.9 Assessment & qualification (12:47)
- 6.1 Your first twelve months as a qualified driver and beyond (6:49)
- 6.2 Industrial relations, unions, management & you (6:50)
- 6.3 Building your knowledge, qualifications & experience options (2:51)
- 6.4 Internal & External career path options - driving and beyond (6:16)
- 6.5 General life planning, coaching, investing & expansion outside the job (4:37)
Hi, I’m Hamish
I'm the creator of PreTrain and I am also your virtual trainer for the program.
Having been (and still am) a qualified train driver and train driver trainer / assessor for over 15 years, this program is the culmination of thousands of hours of thoughts, ideas, discussions with trainee drivers, other drivers and interested people, to bring together a simplified package to help new people get a basic overview of the rail industry in Australia, and how to get a start in it, in a self paced, easy to understand and follow way.
I am now delighted and very excited, to present to you PreTrain.
Welcome aboard!