If you value safety, look elsewhere
Pros
Great pay, hours, travel, discount. Fantastic pension keeps staff working there without raising issues. Great team mates
Cons
I joined GTR when Southern was independant and I really enjoyed it. Within our team, we won a company 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 became more outright in speaking 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 following 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, unbelievably, 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 responsibility to listen and act over safety concerns? Lets hope so.
