Good money but golden handcuffs - Train Driver Southern Railway Employee Review

Great pay, hours, travel, discount. Fantastic pension keeps staff working there without raising issues. Great work colleagues.

Joined when Southern was independant and I really enjoyed it. Within our team, we won a company team award for raising safety issues. In 2016 Southern got taken over by Govia Thameslink whom had a totally different outook to safety. After several years of not having concerns heard, I finally spoke out about dangers including possible asbestos and highly toxic hydrogen suphide gas, which could leak within the sidings plantrooms, when the train toilets were emptied. I also raised concerns about not follwoing manufacturers recommendations in respect of lighting columns. It had only been a few years since a member of the public had sustainstained life changing injuries as a result of one of these falling. These were serious safety concerns. Within months of speaking out, I was sacked over a very minor issue. The management opted to remain blind to the safety concerns that I was trying to raise. I then advanced my concerns to the whistleblower contact - an investigation followed, where GTR investigated the wrong location as to where I raised my main concern. With GTR not being able to carry out an investigation to a professional standard, I escalated my concerns to the Railway Regulator. Fortunately they did listen. Maybe guidance of the railway regulator will help the GTR management to understand that they have a duty to uphold safety? Lets hope so.

Pay good and management fair

Boring job and not many perks