Operating an electric train requires extreme concentration and attention, however, it is often impossible to cope with these responsibilities alone. That is why rolling stock on the railway is usually controlled by two people - the driver and his assistant.
Assistant drivers on the Russian railway usually have three main specializations. There are workers who operate diesel locomotives (locomotives with diesel traction), electric locomotives (locomotives with direct and alternating current), and electric trains (special electric trains for transporting passengers).
An electric train (or in common parlance - an electric train) is used mainly for suburban or intercity transport. In large cities there are also city trains. In addition, metro trains also belong to electric trains.
Electric trains are distinguished from other types of trains by their intensive operation; they have to move along the busiest sections of the railways. And this requires special professionalism from the crew.
Let's explain in simple words What does an assistant electric train driver do? In short: he is the “eyes and ears” of the driver. While driving, the assistant must loudly, clearly and clearly duplicate the signs, signals, and commands of the dispatcher. He tells the driver the situation along the route and strives to make sure that the “helmsman” does not lose sight of anything.
In addition, an assistant electric train driver has a lot of other responsibilities:
Maintenance of train mechanisms (brake system, electrical, mechanisms);
Acceptance and delivery of electric trains before and after the shift;
Lubrication of components and parts, preparation of the composition for work;
Announcement of information for passengers (stops, announcements);
Monitoring the safety of passengers boarding and disembarking.
It should be noted that not all electric trains have assistants; in some modern trains they have been replaced by automation. However, there are still plenty of trains where this position cannot be avoided. In addition, in case of emergency, the assistant is able to replace the driver and bring the train to its final destination.
There are no days off or holidays on the metro or railway. So the standard working week of an electric train driver and his assistant is different from the usual one.
By law, the crew must work no more than 12 hours at a time - this is the standard work shift. This must be followed by at least a day of rest; it is prohibited to work for more than two days in a row. Moreover, such rules apply to both the crews of commuter trains and metro trains. In practice, of course, everything is different and processing on the railway, unfortunately, is far from uncommon.
Working conditions for an assistant driver are always quite strict, regardless of what train he works on. At the same time, operating an electric train imposes additional responsibilities.
Suburban traffic is more intensive and requires special care to maintain schedules;
We are talking about transporting people, and this is always an additional responsibility;
There are a lot of intersections with highways, you need to be careful because of the risk of accidents.
Human factor. There are many people crossing the tracks in the wrong place, inadequate passengers.
In a word, railway workers always have a lot of responsibilities, their work is always associated with high responsibility and danger.
An assistant electric train driver must be attentive, disciplined, careful and efficient. He should always strictly follow the commands of dispatchers and the driver, actively look around and monitor the situation.
What an assistant electric train driver should know:
plumbing and basic electrical engineering;
rules for repairing rolling stock, as well as methods for eliminating various faults;
rules for coupling/uncoupling cars;
track signs and signals on the railway;
train traffic instructions (IDP);
signaling instructions (IPS);
train schedule along the route.
There are many educational institutions in Russia that train specialists for the railways. There are technical schools and colleges in this area in all major cities. However, if you want to work in the metro, the choice of educational institution is much smaller. As a rule, they are located in cities with their own metro. There are colleges in Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk. Of course, there are those in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
To qualify as an electric train driver, you need to complete grades 9 or 11 and receive a certificate of secondary education. The duration of training will be 4 or 2.5 years, respectively.
An alternative option is to take courses and internships directly at the depot, however, for this you still need to have a specialized secondary education as a rolling stock mechanic of at least 3rd category.
However, to get a job on the railway, it is not enough to complete your studies and pass the final exam. To be hired, an assistant driver will need:
undergo a medical commission and receive a positive opinion from doctors (including a psychiatrist);
pass the mandatory industrial practice as a rolling stock mechanic in a depot;
undergo a 14-day internship under the supervision of a driver-instructor.
On the railway there is always strict professional selection and serious training, so without special knowledge you cannot get into the position of assistant electric train driver.
The salary level of an assistant electric train driver very much depends on the place of work. So, when working in Moscow, he can count on an average of 60 thousand rubles. In other cities, salaries are significantly lower - from 35 to 40 thousand rubles, excluding bonuses.
The job of an assistant electric train driver has its own advantages:
stable wages and official employment;
full social package, free medical care, benefits and early retirement (55 years);
demand in the labor market.
Cons, however, significantly outweigh the advantages:
low wages;
lack of career growth;
busy work schedule;
high responsibility;
harm to health;
production risks (accidents, traffic accidents).
Every time we leave the railway station for a trip, we are amazed at the strength and power of the machine, which powers a huge train consisting of several cars. Of course, such a device is difficult to operate, and it is simply impossible to cope with it alone. That is why trains, as a rule, are operated by two specialists at once: the driver and his assistant.
Every time we leave the railway station for a trip, we are amazed at the strength and power of the machine, which powers a huge train consisting of several cars. Of course, such a device is difficult to operate, and it is simply impossible to cope with it alone. That is why trains, as a rule, are operated by two specialists at once: the driver and his assistant. In other words, when boarding a train, you don’t have to worry about safety: two professionals will take you to your destination quickly and on time.
You may have a completely logical question: since modern trains are almost completely automated, why is it necessary today? Occupation: assistant driver? Is it really impossible for the driver himself to cope with the control of a computerized locomotive? No, it can't! The fact is that quite often in the process of controlling a train it becomes necessary to perform several technical operations at once in places remote from each other. In addition, the work of a driver has a number of features that make it possible to classify this profession as very difficult and dangerous, so the assistant driver often serves as “insurance” in case the driver loses his ability to work while on the road.
A railway transport worker who is part of a locomotive crew. Place of work this specialist are all types of trains of different connections and destinations (freight, passenger, electric trains, etc.).
The name of the profession comes from the Latin word māchina (tool, device, mechanism). That is, the name itself directly indicates that we are talking about a specialist who helps operate the mechanism. It is interesting that initially those who operated a mechanism were simply called “mechanics,” and only later the responsibilities of specialists were redistributed: a mechanic began to be called a person who understands the principles of operation of the mechanism, and a machinist was a professional who controls the mechanism. This profession arose relatively recently, namely when the first steam locomotives appeared. In Russia this happened in the middle of the century before last.
What does an assistant driver do? First of all, it must be said that the assistant driver is not just a backup for the chief manager of a diesel or electric locomotive. He has his own, very important role and place in the cabin, and a lot depends on the activities of the assistant driver. Assistant driver job assumes employment in all cycles of the trip: before, during and after:
To summarize, we can conclude: assistant driver's activity comes down to ensuring the safety of passengers in transport, the serviceability of rolling stock and the acquisition of experience and professional skills that will subsequently help a specialist independently operate a locomotive.
Since professional responsibilities assistant driver are not much different from the activities of a person responsible for operating a locomotive, the personal qualities of this specialist, first of all, should include responsibility and discipline. Besides, the most important requirements to the assistant driver are:
An assistant driver is a profession in which people who have not received special education cannot work. You need to know a lot: the features of the train, the operation of the locomotive, the communication routes, as well as a thorough knowledge of the technical characteristics of the train, be able to read readings from complex instruments and monitor the normal operation of the locomotive.
Basics advantage of being an assistant driver is in high demand. Despite the active development of air and sea water transport, the railway in Russia still remains the main means of transportation and cargo transportation. Therefore, the need for such specialists will only increase in the coming years.
Another advantage of this profession is the fact that the work of a locomotive crew is highly paid. The risks in the profession are very high, and the payment must be decent - today, specialists directly involved in operating a train receive on average about 40-50 thousand rubles.
We cannot remain silent about the great opportunities for career growth. Not only that, after several years of successful work, an assistant driver can become a driver or move to the position of a foreman or section manager at a depot. In the long term, there is no upper career ceiling in this profession at all - you can even become the Minister of Railways.
Since technology is constantly improving, an assistant driver must constantly develop his technical skills and gain new knowledge, and this is an excellent opportunity to increase his level of erudition and “train” his brain. In other words, a specialist in this field can safely consider himself an intellectually developed person who understands the latest achievements of science and technology.
And lastly, locomotive crew workers are subject to increased demands in terms of health (the health of both the driver and his assistant is monitored before each trip), so representatives of this profession do not have to worry about the presence of any pathologies and chronic diseases.
Disadvantages of being an assistant driver associated with difficult working conditions. Constant work in the confined space of a locomotive cabin, strain on vision and hearing, vibration, noise, road dust - all this accompanies the locomotive crew throughout the working day. This does not exclude a high degree of fatigue at the end of the working day, and the assistant driver is simply obliged to rest well, which is not always possible. Otherwise, fatigue accumulates, which can lead to irreversible consequences.
It is also worth noting that an assistant driver is a profession with a high risk to the life and health of a specialist. Transport disasters, unfortunately, are not uncommon. Therefore, it cannot be said that this profession is absolutely safe. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the purely psychological disadvantage of the profession - a high degree of responsibility for the safety and lives of people, which leads to increased anxiety.
Among the many working specialties, there are those that have been dreamed of since childhood. They are shrouded in an aura of romance and high professionalism. One of them is the profession of “train driver”. He is the most important person in railway transport, and his activities are related to locomotive control.
As soon as the first rails were laid and the first train was released, the question of its management became acute. For a successful trip, you need not only relevant knowledge, but also specific character traits.
In Russia, the profession of “train driver” arose back in 1834. Initially, small trains of only four cars ran on the rails. Their speed did not exceed 33 km/h. But after increasing the power and speed limit to 42 km/h, people were needed to cope with the increasing load. Therefore, training courses were organized to gain knowledge and skills in railway transport management.
Machinists were especially in demand during the Soviet Union. The laying of rails proceeded at a tremendous pace, and various trains for transporting goods and passengers were produced in the country. Qualified people were required, fully trained to manage the train.
The profession of a machinist is often seen as a purely male profession. However, no one will restrict female representatives if they deign to learn this skill. But in order for the choice to be informed, it is necessary to know exactly the description of the profession “train driver”.
The specialty has a number of specific features that you should pay attention to. The activity requires not only endurance, but also excellent health. Therefore, upon admission to the appropriate educational institution A medical certificate of fitness will be required.
The profession of “train driver” implies knowledge of the technical features of the machine and automatic devices located in the locomotive cabin.
The driver is required to have extreme concentration. To prevent an accident, you need to pay attention to road signs, weather conditions and instrument readings. Long-distance trains are always equipped with assistants who provide backup for the chief driver and give him the opportunity to rest.
When the train is moving, the driver and assistant perform the following main functions:
The profession of “train driver” requires frequent absences from home. But it gives you the opportunity to see many new places. Therefore, people who crave new experiences and are ready to study the technical characteristics of railway transport often choose this specialty.
Those children who, during career guidance lessons, write an essay on the topic “My future profession is a train driver” need to visit the children's railway.
Such organizations already exist in many Russian cities. For those who dream of driving not just a toy, but a real full-fledged train on rails, special training is organized. After receiving the necessary knowledge, the guys can work as real conductors, station attendants, and even help the driver drive a real train with passengers.
The Children's Railway not only provides entertainment services for young children, but is also an institution of additional education. Children aged 8 to 15 years can study various railway specialties and consolidate their acquired skills in practice.
The profession of “train driver” for children is learned not only in classrooms. On real trains of a slightly smaller format and along a narrower rail track, under the strict guidance of an adult, the teenager masters the basics of a complex skill.
Everything is real on the children's railway. To the extent technically possible, all equipment corresponds to the same on the tracks general purpose. And, although the rails do not have access to a common track, the train fully corresponds to a full-fledged passenger locomotive and the people are real.
For those who dream of conquering a heavy machine and becoming a manager of a long train, it is useful to know where to get the profession of a train driver. Specialties are taught at railway technical schools; admission is possible after 9 years of secondary school.
The main disciplines that future students will study are related to technical sciences, safety rules for transporting people and goods, and the basics of railway traffic.
In order to competently manage an entire train, it is necessary to study its characteristics and have knowledge in software and the principles of its work.
To make your dream come true, all that remains is to choose the nearest educational institution, the list of which is quite extensive. Among the most famous are: Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, Penza technical schools of railway transport.
To receive higher education it is necessary to enter state universities of railways, where you can obtain the profession of a train driver and the qualification of a railway engineer. Universities are located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Rostov, the Far East and other regions.
Before choosing future profession it is important to know its prospects. The locomotive driver specialization occupies a leading position in the list published by " Russian newspaper" a couple of years ago.
The demand is evidenced by requests from employers on labor exchanges, among which 33% of the total number corresponded to the job “machinist”.
Like any other, the profession of a driver has its undeniable advantages. One of them is associated with the aura of romance, when a person is constantly on the move and sees many new places. But this advantage also gives rise to disadvantage. The specifics of the profession forces a person to be away from his family for a long time, which may not suit some people.
But the colossal responsibility for the lives of passengers and the safety of cargo also guarantees decent wages. Russian railways, in addition, provide their employees with additional support in the form of bonuses, trips to a sanatorium and long vacations.
The downside is the high load on the body and the impact harmful factors to your health. The driver's shift lasts 12 hours, which he spends in a confined space and extremely concentrating.
After training, all specialists begin their journey as an assistant driver. Depending on basic education and practical skills, an aspiring specialist can hold the position of assistant from several months to two years.
Only after testing by a professional and passing an appropriate interview is a person trusted to independently lead
The profession of a driver is associated with the management of passenger and freight transport on various types of railways. Such an employee controls the locomotive to which a steam locomotive, diesel locomotive or electric locomotive is attached. Against the backdrop of the expansion of the surface and underground transport network, the demand for electric train drivers began to grow rapidly. There are several ways to obtain a position of interest. Each approach has its own pros and cons. Before starting a career, applicants should evaluate their own capabilities. Train drivers are hardy, healthy, strong people with well-developed technical thinking. Not everyone will be able to work in this direction.
In Russia, the profession of “train driver” arose almost 200 years ago. Even then, special requirements were placed on its representatives. To operate a locomotive, it was necessary to have highly specialized knowledge, high reaction speed, responsibility, and resistance to stress.
Technological progress has led to the emergence of various types of trains; working on each of them requires the presence of certain skills.
Also, the locomotive driver must get used to the specifics of the work process:
The electric locomotive driver is the main person who is responsible for the passengers or cargo being transported. Depending on the direction, they drive their trains daily and repeatedly along a short route or cover hundreds of kilometers at a time. Moreover, the operation of each type of composition requires control, which requires special technical training.
Demand and accessibility are the main positive aspects of this career option. Every year the number of specialized vacancies increases. Even young professionals without work experience can count on good place. The variety of training options is also considered a significant plus.
Many people are attracted to this direction by how much machinists earn. Employees can expect high basic salary, impressive bonuses for length of service and trouble-free service. Train drivers have the opportunity to retire earlier due to the complexity of the conditions. Depending on the conditions provided by the employer, the social package may contain extended medical insurance and paid trips to a sanatorium.
A significant disadvantage of the profession is significant stress on health. The worker expects long hours of work. At the same time, the employee is in one position almost all the time and does not even have the opportunity to warm up. This negatively affects the general condition of a person. Modern compositions have been brought to the maximum in terms of technical characteristics, but there is still a risk of developing “vibration disease”.
Many people are bothered by the need to constantly be in a confined space. Lack of communication among drivers working alone sometimes has a negative impact on the psyche. This career is not suitable for a person who is not good with technology - the employee must be able to cope with minor problems and evaluate the quality of operation of devices.
Holder specialized education can get a position as an electric train driver in the metro, on short- and long-distance railways. Such employees are in demand at large industrial enterprises, mines, large construction sites, at geological exploration sites. Specialized drivers are also involved in operating trams.
Completing specialized training to become an electric train driver is not always enough for successful work in the field. A number of requirements are put forward to applicants in physical and psycho-emotional terms. The absence of certain character traits can complicate the work process and increase its level of danger.
To work as a locomotive driver, you must have the following qualities:
Special requirements are put forward for the health indicators of the future driver. The employee must have no vision or hearing problems. Color blindness is a direct ban on such work. Applicants with bronchial asthma, heart and vascular diseases, problems with the vestibular system or the musculoskeletal system may not pass the medical commission. Persons with mental disabilities are not allowed to serve in responsible positions.
Contrary to popular belief, working on a train locomotive is... complex process, requiring constant voltage. Even those with technical professions need to study to become a machinist and gain first practical experience under the supervision of a professional.
Electric train drivers must have the following knowledge:
Studying at a specialized institution allows you to gain only a basic understanding of the specifics of the field. The bulk of skills and abilities are accumulated in the process practical work. Seminars are regularly held for machinists, which provide them with new knowledge and consolidate old ones. Additional independent studies in the field provide the opportunity for further career growth.
For those interested, training to become a driver can begin at age 8. Children who are interested in this direction should visit the children's railway. Such branches are open in many Russian cities. Kids get the opportunity to manage a real train, acquire basic technical and engineering knowledge, and evaluate their innate talents. The profession of a machinist is taught at various institutions, which you can enter after the 9th grade. Applicants should prepare for the fact that in any case the emphasis will be on exact disciplines.
It can take from six months to 5 years to become a train driver. The indicator depends on the goals and form of training, the level of basic education, and the chosen path of development. In any case, for some time after receiving your diploma you will have to work as an assistant driver for from several months to 2 years. This is followed by special testing, which allows you to determine whether the employee is ready to independently manage the composition.
After the 9th grade, you can go to a railway college and get a profession there as an assistant driver of a locomotive, diesel locomotive, or electric locomotive. It will help you start a career in your chosen field, but in order to move up the career ladder you will have to study further. The salary of an assistant electric train driver is not so high, but the workload is significant. But such a place allows you to learn all the intricacies of the direction in practice and choose your specialization. Another advantage of this approach is that you can then learn to become a train driver using a simplified scheme.
After the 9th or 11th grade, you can enter a technical school or college, choosing the direction “Technical operation of rolling stock.” This approach will take more time; as a result, the student receives the qualification “Technician”. Already in their final years or as an additional education, students are trained to become train drivers, engineers, mechanics, car builders and other areas. Further, if desired, you can obtain a higher technical education for vertical career development.
Many representatives of modern youth and adults without specialized education are interested in how to quickly become a train driver with a further guarantee of employment. In this case, it is best to contact the depot directly in the direction of interest. Railroads and subways themselves often recruit apprentices who are offered highly focused training in operating a specific type of train. The training includes theoretical and practical classes in plumbing, locomotive equipment, traffic rules and other disciplines. To facilitate the process of assimilation of material, simulators are often used.
According to statistics, the salary level of machinists is above average. Assistants receive on average from 20 to 30 thousand rubles. After switching to independent work The salary of employees ranges from 40 to 60 thousand rubles. The salary of a train driver who has completed a certain number of trips without emergency situations can be within 100 thousand rubles. Many employers provide additional bonuses for the quarter, year, and length of service.
Subway drivers are often paid their salaries during the training process. This “scholarship” averages from 17 to 25 thousand rubles. In private industrial or mining enterprises, the income level can reach 150 thousand rubles per month. Also, the salary of an electric locomotive driver can be influenced by his type of employment, place of work, and the presence of additional responsibilities. The list of the latter often includes training new employees.
Contrary to popular belief, an electric train driver is no longer just a male profession. Today, more and more often, universities, technical schools and colleges accept girls who are well versed in technical disciplines. Every year the operation of locomotives and trains is improved, and the range of electronic applications is expanded. Now workers are valued not so much on physical strength, but on endurance, reaction speed, and knowledge of the basics of engineering.
Progress moves tirelessly forward, transforming everything around, and the railway is no exception. Over the past decade, quite a few new train models have been released that can operate in semi-automatic mode. However, this did not change the fact that two people must drive a train: the driver and his assistant.
So, what is the profession of an assistant driver? Is it difficult to master? And what advantages and disadvantages does it have?
An assistant driver of a diesel or electric locomotive is a position that is available in any railway crew. Without this specialist, the train simply will not be released from the depot. Therefore, the assistant driver is an integral part of the work team.
However, not everyone can apply for this vacancy. Which, strictly speaking, is not surprising, because the duties of an assistant driver require the candidate to have certain personal qualities and professional skills.
First, let's figure out what qualities this employee should have. After all, the specifics of this profession greatly limit the range of potential candidates.
So, the main criteria for such a profession as an assistant driver are as follows:
An assistant driver of an electric locomotive (diesel locomotive) is a profession that requires special education. They receive it at a specialized technical school or college. You can find such an educational institution in many regional and regional centers of the country, and the selection conditions will be the same almost everywhere.
However, it should be noted that hundreds of applicants apply for this profession every year. Because of this, fierce competition arises, complicating the admission process.
As mentioned earlier, the assistant driver must always give his best and perform the duties assigned to him efficiently. After all, not only the technical serviceability of train mechanisms, but also the safety of passengers depends on this.
So, the main responsibilities of an assistant driver:
The main advantage of this job is the salary, the level of which can be assessed as “above average”. There is also career growth, which stimulates further work.
Among the disadvantages, the first thing to note is that these specialists have to spend a lot of time traveling, and this has a bad effect on their personal lives.
