Jobs at the TTC
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Knew someone that did this. One of the issues, unfortunately, is the number of suicides and suicide attempts that happen. A driver must deal with the guilt and emotions around these issues. I mean they're not daily occurrences , but they definitely are a fact of life for subway drivers.crocket said:
TTC does not often report suicide attempts, but when there are "unspecified" delays like "mechanical malfunctions" or "medical emergencies", you can bet some of them are suicide attempts.
Probably you and a heck of a lot of other TTC employees. That's why I doubt you'd be able to get the subway driver job anytime soon after joining the company. You'd have to work your way up. Bad news is there's a lot of people ahead of you in line. Good news is that many of them will be retiring soon.crocket said:
With all the light rail being proposed and potentially coming on line in the near future, I'd wager that would be a much easier job to get. And you'd be aboveground, out in the daylight!
It happens more frequently than you think. I read somewhere that on average there is one suicide per month from someone jumping onto the subway tracks.3Tees said:
There is a understanding between the TTC and media not to report the suicide jumpers as it has been proven to to increase the number of jumpers.
Newspapers made an exception when a mother who was a doctor suffering from post-natal depression jumped onto the subway tracks with her new born baby. She drove her BMW to the station entrance and left it there and jumped.
Already in the works. The next generation subway trains already ordered will be automated so that they will be more automated with electronic signal processing so trains can run closer together then if a human operator is at the controls. This was announced months ago. I never heard no mention though if they will do away with the driver altogether. some how I doubt it.Keebler Elf said:
When is last time you saw a young pretty streetcar or bus driver? Most of 'em look like overwieght dykes to me.fuji said:
That's fine. I guess they just want to make sure that people who drive a subway can handle seeing a victim's guts and innards splatter right in front of them, and hearing the thud-thud sound of dragging someone's dying body that is being torn to shreds under the subway.Frosty said:
Of course, being the driver and seeing all this, you may also be required to step out of the subway and render help to the jumper should they still be alive - who knows, you may even get to stare into the eyes of a dying person, or be the last person someone sees before they die - that's a thrilling part of the job. And there's no such thing as police investigations and coroner's inquests where you get to re-tell the situation over and over again, perhaps even to the victim's family.
I guess in the end though it's no different than "human road kill", eh - just knowing that in your job you occasionally decapitate people. It should make good cocktail party conversation - everyone wants to hear about stuff like that - no need to keep your emotions bottled up, eh? I guess the guy I knew who was a subway driver just sort of wimped-out of the job when he said there was naturally a very high rate of depression among people who do this.
And... I seriously wonder if your attitude would change if you were the driver who was in control of the subway when the mother and her baby jumped in front of your car, as pointed-out in joebear's post above.
Can't just go and apply like that anymore...MinnieApple said:
They have signs posted there that if you're not applying for one of the jobs currently posted, don't even bother filling out an application. They are no longer just taking applications from any/every one.
They have jobs posted in the office but it's the same exact ones on their website. They'll tell you to check the website.
Save your gas.
Half of Rosie's family works there, heck, Rosie worked their for awhile a few years ago. Rosie has a good record but can't even get in with the help of Rosie's family members. Long gone are those days.
I work for ttc and have had a jumper too. happens alot more then reported and sad that we have to deal with it when it happens but nothing you can do to stop the train on a dime.
keep applying every 6 months, I started at 21 with 3 years "g" licence into subway and have drove buses as well.
keep applying every 6 months, I started at 21 with 3 years "g" licence into subway and have drove buses as well.
I know of a friend who just got on with ttc.. first time he sent his application.. took 3-4 months to get a call back.. he went to his interview and was given a bus route to follow and talk to the driver..fill out a forms or two... got another interview and was on his way to driving a bus after training.... he makes good money has delt with some b.s. ..but he is better off driving a bus rather than chasing wrecks out of a tow truck or sitting at a desk appraising car wrecks at a dealership body shop.... shit i wonder what the f#ck i am doing at my job... i think i will be sending my resume in ...
Remote control.If they can do it with freight train locomotives they can do it with a subway car. I personally know 5 engineers who are out of work due to them. I used to watch them all the time in the yards when i was at work. Its weird seeing them go down the track and nobody is on the damn thing.
The technology for automated transit systems has existed for years, it would save millions of dollars and probably be safer, machines don't get drunk or fall asleep at the switch. Every time a city studies impleminting this type of system the unions freak out and threaten to shut down the whole system over lost jobs. It aint gonna happen in our lifetimes as long as there are unions.
