All about the profession subway driver

Residents of large cities can fully appreciate how much their lives depend on the metro driver. Every day you trust this stranger with your daily routine, city route, travel comfort and many important plans. In our article we will talk more about what is the responsibility of the subway driver, what are the requirements for a candidate for this position, and what responsibility does this specialist bear.

The train driver is the person who controls the locomotive of the electric train and is responsible for the transportation of passengers on land and underground metro lines in megacities. We can say that this is a driver of railway transport.

The first metro appeared in 1863 in England. Initially, the trains in it moved using steam traction, and since 1890, it was already electric. In the Soviet Union, the very first metro line was launched in 1935 in Moscow.

The compositions are managed by professionals who undergo specialized training. In Russia, the metro currently operates in only a few large cities - St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kazan, as well as N. Novgorod, Novosibirsk and Samara. In addition, there is a metrotram in Volgograd.

A man who wants to become a subway driver, must not only possess all the technical skills and competencies, he must also be psychologically prepared for a long time to work underground in a confined space, so all applicants must undergo preliminary testing. As a rule, the metro driver works in shifts. For example, in Moscow there are day, evening, and also night shifts, while the night shift, in turn, is divided into several shifts: the work starts in the evening, then there is a little rest and the morning part.

By the nature of its activity, the metro driver can be involved in solving such problems as:

• the movement of passengers on a specific route sheet;
• maneuver of trains at finishing stations;
• stay in reserve;
• Replacing an absent colleague.

This specialist should observe safety precautions, if necessary be able provide first aidas well as timely to respond to all kinds of emergency situations.

The duties of a subway driver include the following functions:

• Compliance with established safety rules, as well as approved driving instructions for electric vehicles;
• daily compulsory medical examination before the start of the shift;
• organization of acceptance of the composition and its delivery;
• checking the functionality of the brake system;
• implementation of measures for the carriage of passengers in accordance with the established schedule of movement without admission to the cabin of unauthorized persons;
• the use of rational and energy-saving modes of driving electric vehicles;
• timely response to any information received through the emergency communication system from passengers;
• monitoring the technical condition of cars, as well as driver’s cabs;
• informing the subway manager of any malfunctions.

In accordance with the current Unified Tariff and Qualification Guide, only a healthy, physically strong man aged 18-40 years old, who has necessarily completed military service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and has an education not lower than secondary, can be appointed as an electric train driver. Work on this position of female representatives is not provided by law.

And today the metro driver is pretty demanded profession. As a rule, a lot of vacancies are always open for this position and new employees are being trained continuously. However, the requirements for applicants are the most stringent. Each candidate for a job as a subway driver must undergo psychological testing to determine the characteristics of his psychotype. As a result of such a study, the applicant reveals the ability to concentrate, memorize large amounts of information, as well as the ability to switch from one maneuver to another.

Of great importance for approval in the position of train driver is physical condition of a person. These workers must be in good health and not have serious chronic illnesses. They must be physically able to tolerate high loads caused by work in the dark. Persons with pathologies of the vestibular apparatus are not allowed to work, since any movement of the electric train is accompanied by pronounced vibration. The subway driver must have good visual acuity and perfect color sensation at 100%. This person must undergo an indispensable examination by a narcologist, since a successful candidate for this position cannot have any harmful and harmful habits.

Before the start of a shift, the driver must undergo a medical examination - the employee measures the parameters of the heartbeat and pressure, as well as conduct an alcohol test and detect the presence or absence of prohibited substances in the blood.

The electric train driver is fully responsible for the correct operation and maintenance of the staff entrusted to him in working condition, as well as the culture of passenger service and the safety of their movement. In addition, this person is responsible for the actions of his assistant.

The law establishes the liability of the driver and his assistant for the following reasons:

• the correct maintenance of the electric rolling stock entrusted to the driver, as well as the inventory, working tools and sectional repair books from the moment of their acceptance to delivery;
• ensuring the safety of passengers and train traffic;
• providing a service culture;
• compliance with the standards of technical operation of subways established by special orders valid throughout the country;
• compliance with instructions for the movement of different trains and vehicles, labor protection instructions, fire safety standards;
• compliance with all the rules governing the work of locomotive crews;
• passing a periodic medical examination, as well as pre-trip and post-trip examination;
• informing the train dispatcher or driver-instructor about the occurrence of malfunctions in the cars, maintaining the normal functioning of the vehicle and its individual elements;
• ensuring mutual control over observance of labor duties.

And metro driver may be responsible in the event that his technical knowledge and practical skills in overcoming situations of rolling stock malfunction are recognized as unsatisfactory. This specialist does not have the right to unauthorizedly seal and disconnect operating devices, as well as safety devices, cannot disconnect faulty safety devices without notifying the train dispatcher about this.

In order to work as a subway engineer, it is best get a professional education in the field of “locomotive driver”. It is possible to enter secondary secondary education both on the basis of the 9th and after the 11th grade - this determines only the duration of training. In addition, the metro driver will have to additionally study directly at the enterprise. However, this will require less time and effort than acquiring knowledge from scratch, although this practice places fairly stringent requirements on applicants.

From the very first day of the program, they should be extremely disciplined and punctual, not being late for classes even for one minute - any violation of this requirement immediately falls into the personal file. It is not recommended to take time off from classes on personal matters. In fact, from the first day of training, all student affairs can only be associated with the subway.

During the performance of their duties the driver is not allowed use a mobile phone, tablet and, in general, be distracted from the performance of their job descriptions - respectively, and during classes, these actions are also prohibited for future metro drivers.

From the 2nd to the 5th month, training is conducted in the specialty "Electric Train Engineer". During this time, students study the structure of rolling stock, get acquainted with the established norms and rules for the technical operation of the car, find out the possible causes of breakdowns and malfunctions of the car and methods for their elimination as soon as possible. The course ends with a one-month internship at the depot. In fact, at this point, the staff is already being executed and the labor contract is concluded, and the size of the salary is also being established. But the work is carried out under the supervision of a mentor who has permission to train subway drivers.

At the end of the internship, you must pass the exams:

• pneumatic equipment;
• mechanical equipment;
• electrical equipment;
• train control.

However, successful study and passing the final tests does not at all provide an instant promotion and occupation of the position of “subway engineer”. Applicants will have to to work on the position of assistant driver for another 3 months. During this period, in addition to fulfilling his immediate duties, the candidate for engine drivers will have to attend emergency games, training trips, as well as participate in meetings and other public events.

After a 3-month period, all acts should be signed with instructors and mentors, as well as operation deputies and pass internal exams. Only after their successful completion can a candidate take the vacancy of an electric train driver without a category.

Representatives of this profession work in the subways. As already mentioned, the scope of labor is limited to several major cities.

In our country, this is a sought-after profession, and its pay is quite high. It fully depends on a number of parameters.

• Qualification employee group and work experience in the specialty. So, subway drivers of the 1st category, whose experience exceeds 10 years, can receive up to 100 thousand rubles per month. However, there are quite few workers with such an impressive experience, because the profession has a strict age limit.
• The amount of wages is affected time worked. In accordance with the current standards, the subway driver is required to work 6 hours a day, and 36 hours a week. Unfortunately, due to the lack of competent specialists, today the length of the day often increases to 8-hour daily output. This significantly increases the level of wages, but also affects the health of an employee in the most negative way.
• Work in the evening as well as at night is paid 20% higher than in the daytime. The rate for a night shift exceeds the day shift by 40%, and electric train drivers, whose shift is divided into several periods per day, receive 30% more.

There are differences between the salaries of subway drivers in different cities of our country. In addition to a good salary, the hard work of workers in this profession allows them to rely on certain social benefits. These include:

• free travel in the subway at any time and in any direction;
• annual, fully paid vacation in the amount of 42 days starting from the 3rd year of work in the depot, it increases to 44 days;
• any specialist has the right to count on a place in the recreation area of ​​depot workers;
• every year, employees of this service are provided with free train tickets to travel to the place of rest, as well as back;
• quarterly and annual awards.