Pros
This is a unionised environment, the Rail Maritime Trades Union (RMT) is the signaller's trades union and 99+% of signallers are in the union. Because of this terms and conditions are excellent. A signaller's base salary is good and opportunities for optional overtime are excellent. Training is long (6 months typically) and ongoing signaller competence assessment and management is taken seriously. Signaller roles are graded (1-9) by workload and complexity. A top grade RESIDENT signaller (grade 9 (Think London Termini and Major Cities)) - with PREDICTABLE SHIFTS plus overtime can make £60,000 to £90,000. A top grade RELIEF signaller (grade 9) - with UNPREDICTABLE SHIFTS and overtime can make well over £90,000. (Though this does mean basically living at work). Signaller grades 1-8 have lower base salaries and overtime opportunities pro-rata. The work culture is fair (mostly - depending on local management interpretation of national policies), Safety is paramount. Signaller errors are mostly treated as opportunities to improve processes and procedures.
Cons
The work is highly responsible, very structured and often drearily routine. This requires conscious self-management of your attention levels. Sometimes days pass with nothing but steady routine events and are low stress. Other days may require fast emergency responses in potentially life and death situations, complex rules knowledge and are high stress. Days like these are not for the faint hearted. Signallers have, very rarely, been charged with manslaughter, where their actions have been wilfully or very seriously negligent. So this job is not for lazy and irresponsible people. Responsibility, assertive communication, a logical approach, self management - maturity and a sense of duty are needed to succeed in this role.