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EthanFl t1_itpwuyz wrote

Historically it was a position offered based on seniority to ATU members.

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walkallover1991 t1_itq0irf wrote

I was under the impression that you had to start as a bus driver or station manager, and then once you received enough seniority within the ATU you could move up to a train operator.

100% could be wrong though.

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techfinanceguy t1_itq6x41 wrote

One requirement is the ability to speak in dulcet tones while sounding like a pro boxer who just got the wind kicked out of them.

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Midnight_Morning t1_itqjd6s wrote

There was an opening a year ago. My coworker applied, took an assessment, got interviewed and just received a contingent offer from Metro. He's taking a huge pay cut to do it, but driving a train gotta be less stressful than dealing with cases.

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MCStarlight t1_itqzeow wrote

I thought they will eventually phase drivers out and automate them.

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CalebH92 t1_itr3bz6 wrote

You have to start as a bus driver

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dukescalder t1_itr7u17 wrote

Highlander rules. Challenge the current conductor to a sword fight. If you win you absorb their train driving powers.

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kimjongil1953 t1_itr8m20 wrote

You have to be able to set the train on fire on command.

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let-it-rain-sunshine t1_itrj24t wrote

You have to have the ability to stay off your cell phone while operating the trains.

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Yaratam t1_itrjw1p wrote

I wonder what's the starting salary for WMATA bus/train drivers?

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joegant t1_itrll5t wrote

There’s easier ways to harm yourself

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_night_flight_ t1_itrx0em wrote

Be in a union. Anyway, they should have automated the whole system by now.

0

Ok_Calligrapher_8199 t1_its39ul wrote

You have to learn how to say L’Enfant wrong. The first N will be silent now.

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charliebbyg t1_its6gcq wrote

Likely a sign that it isn't a good company to work for if they don't even have their job postings in order.

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sudsomatic t1_its88jy wrote

Replying to MCStarlight (#223,007)

Fast fact: they automated them back in the 70s/80s but made them manual since the accident back in 2008 (I think?). and metro decided they throw the baby with the bath water and kept them manual to this day. Sad that we’re less advanced today than 4 decades ago.

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JayAlexanderBee t1_itsd4ty wrote

You need to start as a bus operator. It will take two to three years to transfer over. I started out as a bus operator in 2019 and in nine months I became a train mechanic. Your best bet to get your foot in the door and become a member of 689 is to become a bus operator. WMATA is a great place to work with good benefits and pay. They will pay you during training and also do your CDL certification.

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jj3449 t1_itsdfsc wrote

Replying to Midnight_Morning (#226,324)

They most likely won’t. Them hiring off the street was a one time agreement for the Silver Line staffing. There’s no rule that you have to be a bus driver first it just functionally works that way because they have to hire internally first and there’s always enough bus drivers that want to make the switch.

1

ChuChuMan202 t1_itso8jc wrote

There was a recent one-time posting for people to apply for being a train operator to get people in place for the opening of the Silver Line Phase 2. However, historically and currently, the only way to become a WMATA train operator is to start as a bus operator. Bus operators then bid for open operator positions on the rail and are awarded them based on seniority.

5

Wonderful-Speaker-32 t1_itss7ik wrote

Replying to moonbunnychan (#228,031)

The crash wasn't because of ATO:

"WMATA disabled ATO on June 23, 2009 in a knee-jerk reaction after a Red Line train crashed into the back of another, killing eight riders and a train operator. ATO wasn’t at fault, but the underlying system that controls train locations and keeps them separated was." from https://ggwash.org/view/69545/metro-reasons-good-news-for-riders-computer-driven-trains-are-coming-back#:~:text=Metro%20had%20computer%2Ddriven%20trains,and%20keeps%20them%20separated%20was.

That crash likely would've happened regardless, since the drivers didn't have line of sight until it was too late, and the train operator behind wouldn't have been able to see that there was a train ahead of it any other way (because the problem had to do with the train location system).

These days, they'd likely have to put in GPS based tracking together with track-based tracking to ensure everything's going smoothly.

3

Midnight_Morning t1_itsx3ag wrote

Replying to jj3449 (#228,505)

Damn, my coworker basically won the lottery out here. This is one of those "I'm kicking myself" moments. And metro is one of the last spots that has a defined benefit pension too.

2

docdc t1_itt2est wrote

WMATA must choo choo chose you.

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Ypsilantine t1_itu8i9k wrote

According to a Metro train operator I just spoke to (he's a regular at my shop), you don't have to be a bus driver in order to become a train operator. I asked when that changed and he said this year.

Hope this helps.

2

ChuChuMan202 t1_iu3l5yn wrote

Replying to mriphonedude (#278,031)

ATO is just one subsystem of the Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) system. Automatic Train Protection (ATP) is what failed that led to the loss of life.

Even still, WMATA's ATO needs some work. It doesn't work like it is meant to when it is occasionally tested. Also, there have been some roadway worker protection procedure updates that make ATO unwieldy.

1