The life and adventures of a retired London Underground train driver. My name's Paul Rigby and I recently retired after almost 22 years of working for London Underground. I launched this channel with the first video in a series covering my last day, driving trains on the Jubilee Line. Future content will include travel, lots of travel I hope, because what's an adventure without some sort of travel being involved ? And then there will be videos who's subject will come from the inevitable challenges that life will throw at someone who has retired without a proper plan. And even more videos on topics that I haven't even thought of yet.
You could always write about your experiences and get them published. I have not go half the knowledge you have but have managed to publish a London travelogue on Amazon. I have been riding the system since 8 years of age and am now 73. Good luck and thank you for a good set of videos for your retirement express.
Thank you for watching, I’m pleased you enjoyed them. I’m not so sure about writing a book but I do have some more videos coming soon . They have taken me so long to write scripts for them
Hi sir. I know you're know retired but I wanted to ask you something. I'm considering being an underground train driver and I already know what are the steps for it. I just wanted to know if you think it is a job that is still going to exist in a few years, I mean if train drivers are going to be always needed. And since you are a professional and you probably know everything about this job I also wanted to know if you think it's a good job and also if it is worth the effort and sacrifice it requires. Thank you so much, hope to know from you soon.
Thank you for your questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them. It’s my opinion that train drivers will be needed for as long as trains exist even as automated systems evolve someone will be required to control them. For me it was a very good decision to become a train driver definitely no regrets. Good luck with whatever career path you choose 👍👍
Thanks for your question, yes I did retire after almost 22 years of driving but no I hadn’t become bored with it. Sometimes it could be a bit monotonous but I found that easy to deal with. If that job was boring I don’t think I would have lasted 22 days let alone 22years 👍👍
Thank you, I’m pleased you enjoyed it. When I joined London Underground they chose which line and depot I would work from, they put me where they needed operators, which was Wembley Park on the Jubilee line. Once employed I was able to nominate a depot and line of my choice and get on a waiting list. I was happy with the line but as I lived nearer the North Greenwich depot ( Stratford didn’t exist at the time) I joined that waiting list and it took over two years to get there.👍👍
I bet you were one of the greatest drivers on the Jubilee Line. I can’t tell you how much fun I had watching this series when you first released it. I think this is like the 10th time I’m re watching it and I enjoy this for two reasons. - I love the jubilee line trains so much and I basically have since I was a young toddler! - You’re a great driver + I hope you’re having an amazing retirement.
Sometimes I would see you as the driver and you would wave to me! It was an honour to board your train. I’d consider a miracle every time I saw you! So this is basically the 3rd reason why I love rewatching the series every single time. You were such a great driver, never forget that. I hope you’re having an amazing retirement. :D
Greetings from New Zealand! I’ve just binge-watched all five of your videos and went through most of the comments and replies here. Seeing how you respond to everyone inspired me to leave a comment too! Thank you for sharing your retirement day duty with us. As an engineer who occasionally works on railways, I’m curious if you have any memorable highlights (technological/engineering) insights from your 22 years of train driving that you’d like to share?
Hello , New Zealand. Thanks for watching my videos and yes I do try to answer all comments. I think that if someone takes their time to watch and the comment , it deserves an answer. An insight from me after almost 22 years of driving tube trains? It’s a bit like formula 1 motor racing, all most people see is the driver, but there’s a massive team behind the running of the train, controllers and managers , maintainance and service support engineers emergency response units it’s a lot more people intensive operation than most people would think, to run a train. And then there’s the constant evolution of the railway and trains running on it. In my time the obvious changes were 6 to 7 carriages and manual to auto operation but it would be impossible for me to remember let alone list the amount of continual updates to just the software of the signaling. Yes that’s my bit of insight, a railway is continually evolving 👍👍
@@itsjustanidea This clarifies why someone who isn't familiar with the intricate details and effort involved in railway operations might feel confused and frustrated when seemingly straightforward projects, such as launching a new train or stock, take a considerable amount of time. Thanks. Looking forward to your future videos.
Hello, the building is the staff depot at Wembley Park. Most shifts start and end on platforms when the previous operator hands over to the next and other duties start either at Stanmore sidings or Neasden or Stratford train depots.👍👍
@@itsjustanidea Thanks for your service, you most likely took me to my destination one day, it sounds like it would be a fun career but if all it is is constantly hitting a auto button, it sounds pretty boring lol
@@itsjustanidea Well that sounds good for some people, but I always liked the idea of speeding up, then slamming on the brakes at the last second and come to a abrupt stop.. I guess automatic trains wont do that.
@@sethgamesandmorehedleyh3049 what you describe sounds like it would be fun on a computer game🤣 but we are carrying passengers in real life …. I don’t think they would enjoy that and it would certainly be dangerous 🤔👍
Thank you. So far retirement has gone extremely well, not exactly how I expected it to go, but then I didn’t really plan it. I kind of stumbled into it 🤣. There have been some challenges for sure and the best way of describing it is , for me retirement has been like going back to school. I am planning some videos about my retirement and yes it’s definitely going well and I’m enjoying it 👍👍👍
Thank you for watching and your kind comment. Yes, definitely lots of stories that’s for sure! All of those changes and of course the London Olympics and events at Wembley, before I start thinking of broken down trains and other problems on the line🤣👍👍
Thanks for watching and for your questions. I’m not certain of the current salary but think it’s around £65k pa gross and yes it’s the same across all London Underground lines. It’s a pretty good salary 👍👍
i lived in stanmmore for a few years and also went to school in area. the station, those white gates, the stairs. i love everyhting about this video. when you went through the white gates i go so excited
Seeing videos like this kind of makes me want to become a metro train driver. Unfortunately I have a few issues, one of them sometimes (maybe a but often) not being able to understand words, which could be problematic when listening to traffic control while driving trains. I am not sure if asking them to repeat may always work. This is a limiting factor. But being a metro train driver would be cool.
Sorry to hear you think you have some issues that could prevent you from being a train operator. The one you cite isn’t one believe me, controllers and signallers are often being asked to repeat messages, it really is a noisy workplace.👍👍
Thank you for sharing this video which gives us a great insight into how the Jubilee line operates - and ultimately how they may all operate (Piccadilly you are next?). I'm slightly sad that all the train operators have to do it open and close the door and watch out for safety but I am very glad that you are all there. Thank you for your service (and I don't mean Service 1)
Good question. What I was explaining is that for most of the time we are meant to be and expected to be operating the train in automatic mode. There are occasions when we are instructed to drive in manual mode. The most common reason for this is when there are workers on a particular section of track, ie Between Neasden and Wembley Park. When this happens the signaller will impose ANP (auto not permitted) and the train would not be able to operate automatically. 👍
Hi, thank you for your service and for taking out the time to reply to every comment, i hope it is not too personal but i was hoping you could tell me the starting salary for a jubilee line driver, as im most partial to this line. Also i was wondering if you could tell some tricks about applying.
Thanks for your comment and question, I don’t have any problem in trying to answer it. First of all there is no starting salary for a London Underground train operator or any difference between the lines. There’s just one salary and I don’t now the exact figure now but I think it’s around 65k . As for applying, first get any position within TFL then you’ll be able to apply for the t/op role. The only trick I know is don’t give up if you’re unlucky the first time keep on trying 👍👍
Thanks for the question. The answer is yes. You are expected to drive in ATO most of the time however. Trains have to be driven manually in depots ( Stratford and Neasden) and when instructed to in certain situations such as driving through signal problems in a mode referred to a RM ( remote manual) . In P M ( protected manual) when instructed to for operational reasons. Often in training situations and on most Sundays between Wembley Park and Stanmore in order of maintaining train operator skills. There are a few operators who still prefer to and do drive manually in PM whenever they can.👍
Really nice video. How did you go from Premier Inn Wembley Park to Stanmore ? I mean no trains at that time. No hotels in Stanmore ? Thank you again really nice video
Thank you for your question and I’m pleased you enjoyed it. That particular duty is one where the train operator signs on for duty at Wembley Park and travels to Stanmore on one of the first trains out of Neasden depot. With the duties that need to get to Stanmore before any trains run to Stanmore a staff taxi is provided. I’m sure there are hotels in Stanmore, but the Wembley Park Premier inn was the most convenient for me. Thanks again for your nice comment and question.👍
To calculate annual leave you start with 28 days.The add to that how many Bank holidays there are in the year. Then because operators are contracted to work 35 hours per week but are rostered for 36 the extra time is added to annual leave and not pay. So that all works out to just over 40 days and is allocated in 4 blocks of 2 weeks throughout the year.👍👍
I don’t think the underground could ever become driverless - when it’s very busy how does the computer know how to shut the doors without slamming on someone.
When the jubilee line eventually gets new trains around 2040 do you think they will be similar to the 24 stock going on the Piccadilly and other deep level lines. Also may have to change the PED’s at the extension part as new tube stock nowadays are being made with double doors instead of the smaller half one at the end of the carriage.
Thanks for the question, it was because I thought the west bound platform was dangerously crowded at busy times. I do like to reply to comments because you and everybody else that has commented have taken the time not only to watch but to comment or ask a question. It would be rude of me not to reply. Thanks again 👍👍
Well done Sir. I used to get the Jubilee Line Train from Westminster to Bermondsey and then walk through the council estate opposite Bermondsey Tube Station and make my way through to the River Thames and walk from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge. It was lovely to see all lights in the evening and during the day it was a pleasant walk. Then I would walk to Waterloo Station and get the 21 00 pm train home to Portsmouth.
Thank you , that sounds like an enjoyable walk. Many years ago I used to drive along the embankment quite often , that’s when I used to enjoy driving 👍👍
in the course of your career you've seen the tracks next to the jubilee line between stratford and canning town change from NLL to DLR, the end of wayside signals on the Jubilee, the addition of a seventh carriage, both A and S stock on the Met, and the 1996 stock refurbishment. also there was the period when it was part of the "Tube Lines" enterprise. You've made so many Londoners' lives more convenient and the TFL will miss having a great driver.
16:35…….love the way you sit there as the train is moving like Captain Kirk at the helm of the enterprise! Hope you are enjoying life at a leisurely pace now and not at warp speed👍
Thank you, I like that description 😀. I am enjoying life and the pace? I don’t know about warp speed but time definitely goes too fast, I’d swap that enterprise for the doctors Tardis anytime 🤣🤣👍👍
