Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

[SkinnyDave]

No, I'm an external candidate.

Perth

there are 2 links at moment Link 1 is main link, Link 2 is starter link.
Link 2 will sign Glasgow QS-Aberdeen, Edinburgh to Aberdeen and the Fife Circle and of course Perth to Edinburgh via Ladybank
Link 1 you will add Perth to Inverness, Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh, Glasgow QS to Falkirk Grahamston and then Edinburgh to Dunblane to your license.
Traction 170, 158
The managers up there do like you to know a bit about the TOC and if you can find out the current safety record.. Cat A SPADs Scotrail have had. Over 90 drivers and growing.

 

[kickin aff]

No, I'm an external candidate.

Muchty boy, well done on getting thus far. For me unfortunately I can hear the fat lady preparing her vocal cords!!!

 

[Dunc1876]

As can I - she's just tuning up

 

[Junk_girl]

Not looking good anymore......

 

[RM37]

Has anyone been for the medical and been offered a position yet? How long after the DMI did it take for you to hear back?
Everything seems to have quietened down on here so not sure if everyone is now waiting or if they've left as they have the job! Ha!

 

[lambretra]

There was interviewing yesterday and there was quite a few there in the short time I was in.

 

[gazza8]

Has anyone been for the medical and been offered a position yet? How long after the DMI did it take for you to hear back?
Everything seems to have quietened down on here so not sure if everyone is now waiting or if they've left as they have the job! Ha!

it seems that the rumors are indeed true...that due to the failure by abellio and company council to agree a deal to include sunday as part of the working week...75% of the new drivers will not be needed and the company will continue as is untill 2018 at least. The 25% will be taken on to cover natural wastage etc

makes you wonder if the whole recruitment drive was a PR stunt...

 

[mw1967]

it seems that the rumors are indeed true...that due to the failure by abellio and company council to agree a deal to include sunday as part of the working week...75% of the new drivers will not be needed and the company will continue as is untill 2018 at least. The 25% will be taken on to cover natural wastage etc

makes you wonder if the whole recruitment drive was a PR stunt...

Has this been reported as fact? Sources?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Has anyone been for the medical and been offered a position yet? How long after the DMI did it take for you to hear back?
Everything seems to have quietened down on here so not sure if everyone is now waiting or if they've left as they have the job! Ha!

I was told after the DMI interview to expect to wait a couple of weeks at least. They expected to be interviewing for another 2 weeks. I thought the next step was reaction test then SJI/MMI, before any offers would be dished out.

 

[paepo]

A couple of internals have been offered positions subject to medical. Not heard anything other than that and not heard of any external job offers but I imagine they'll come in the next few weeks or early January.

 

[mw1967]

A couple of internals have been offered positions subject to medical. Not heard anything other than that and not heard of any external job offers but I imagine they'll come in the next few weeks or early January.

I find that quite surprising. Interviews including internals are ongoing for another couple of weeks. I wouldn't have thought anybody would be past the next computerised tests and interviews with so many potential candidates still 'in the game'.

 

[SkinnyDave]

I find that quite surprising. Interviews including internals are ongoing for another couple of weeks. I wouldn't have thought anybody would be past the next computerised tests and interviews with so many potential candidates still 'in the game'.

There are courses starting in Jan

 

[paepo]

There are courses starting in Jan

Yep, DM's stating courses to start in Jan if all goes to plan. Different people are at different stages due to their depot, it's hardly surprising that they're not waiting to announce that 100+ drivers have been appointed on the same day as they can't start them all at the same day. What would actually be surprising is if they kept everyone waiting until all candidates are completed all stages! It makes no difference who passes an interview for an Aberdeen job to the Ayr depot or how a Motherwell candidate does to the Waverley depot! Each depot will announce successful candidates depending on how far through the recruitment process they are.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Is Traction Training done at the Trainees depot or are training school responsible for it?

 

[RM37]

it seems that the rumors are indeed true...that due to the failure by abellio and company council to agree a deal to include sunday as part of the working week...75% of the new drivers will not be needed and the company will continue as is untill 2018 at least. The 25% will be taken on to cover natural wastage etc

makes you wonder if the whole recruitment drive was a PR stunt...

Can you cite your sources for this info?

I spoke to Scotrail recruitment TODAY and was assured that the current recruitment drive is continuing as planned in the original Jan/Feb start date. Where did you get your info from as mine was direct from HR. If you can give a source I'll take it on board, otherwise I'll assume it to be the usual factless bothy rumours that causes panic/anxiety to hopeful applicants.
I sincerely hope you're wrong for the single reason that it's unfair to have made applicants believe there are positions available when there aren't. I can't see how Abellio were ever thinking that Sunday working would be voted in by Aslef members as everyone I know hates working their Sundays and tries to get rid of them to the OT hungry guys that have an unmanageable mortgage! Ha!

 

[gazza8]

Can you cite your sources for this info?

I spoke to Scotrail recruitment TODAY and was assured that the current recruitment drive is continuing as planned in the original Jan/Feb start date. Where did you get your info from as mine was direct from HR. If you can give a source I'll take it on board, otherwise I'll assume it to be the usual factless bothy rumours that causes panic/anxiety to hopeful applicants.
I sincerely hope you're wrong for the single reason that it's unfair to have made applicants believe there are positions available when there aren't. I can't see how Abellio were ever thinking that Sunday working would be voted in by Aslef members as everyone I know hates working their Sundays and tries to get rid of them to the OT hungry guys that have an unmanageable mortgage! Ha!

Company council and local level council both rmt and aslef

i know for fact one internal from Dumfries...whos course was starting in January..has now had to relocate to Motherwell as the Dumfries vacancys were withdrawn

i dont have the official email reguarding this but im aure someone will

i dont mean to cause anyone anxiety...i am giving external candidates information they may not get from anywhere else.

I dont think abellio have came out and said this yet which is why HR will give the company line...in my opinion

 

[josecc]

Any info or gossip on the jobs at the Helensburgh depot?

 

[897johnc]

Just wondering if anyone has their 2nd stage assessment booked/completed yet ?

 

[PinOnTheRight]

If that's the assessment after the Driver Manager interview, then yea I have recently.

 

[897johnc]

Well done and fingers crossed for you, have you had any news and can you share any tips?

 

[PinOnTheRight]

Just read the material they've sent you and be well rested, no other way to prepare really.

Do some research on here about the MMI that follows if you pass the computer testing in the morning.

 

[387star]

Deleted

 

[ER158715]

I thought cust service is important for drivers but heard from someone who had an interview with them when they answered the about the train driver job question and said cust service the interviewer said cust service not at all important as a train driver is paid to be up front in the cab and not deal with customers..

They were talking rubbish then. Customer service is core in ALL posts within Scotrail especially during disruption. It is covered during induction week.

 

[paepo]

I thought cust service is important for drivers but heard from someone who had an interview with them when they answered the about the train driver job question and said cust service the interviewer said cust service not at all important as a train driver is paid to be up front in the cab and not deal with customers..

Could this be a case of trying to see what the candidates response would be and that's why they said this?
I agree that customer service is deemed important for the job.
I can only imagine an interviewer would say such a thing to deliberately provoke a reaction as a drivers primary role is to get the train and customers to their destination safely and on time, if they don't then customers won't be happy and stop using the service which means a drop a profits.

 

[Jydo]

To be honest I wouldnt personally use customer service as an answer to that particular question, I would use a more solid "hands on" example if I had one.

 

[PinOnTheRight]

Any external candidates had their medical yet?

 

[paepo]

Has anyone failed or heard of anyone failing the DMI so far?
Only heard on here of people that have had 2nd stage assessments & MMI or job offers subject to medical but not heard of anyone failing to pass assessments or interview. Surely some people have?

 

[MarkTwain]

I am external candidate, with no previous rail or application history.

23/09/2015 applied for positions in North (Inverness, Perth or Stirling) and East (Edinburgh or Bathgate) depots.

10/11/2015 received an email and invited to the 1st stage assessment.

24/11/2015 sat the 1st stage assessment and received an email that afternoon advising I had been successful and I would be contacted shortly to advise of the date and details of my DTM interview (on the day in question it was believed that the timescale would be 2-3 weeks).

I am currently trying to study for the interview and following the guidance of the recruitment team I have not made any attempt to contact DTM's or pester staff at depots. In addition to trying to prepare example and scenario based answers I am trying to source information about home depots, however I am finding it a little difficult as on 24/11/2015 the recruitment team couldn't advise which depot I would be interviewing for...

I was wondering if anyone from my assessment day, or any other recent assessment day had heard anything?

Thanks.

 

[Jydo]

I am external candidate, with no previous rail or application history.

23/09/2015 applied for positions in North (Inverness, Perth or Stirling) and East (Edinburgh or Bathgate) depots.

10/11/2015 received an email and invited to the 1st stage assessment.

24/11/2015 sat the 1st stage assessment and received an email that afternoon advising I had been successful and I would be contacted shortly to advise of the date and details of my DTM interview (on the day in question it was believed that the timescale would be 2-3 weeks).

I am currently trying to study for the interview and following the guidance of the recruitment team I have not made any attempt to contact DTM's or pester staff at depots. In addition to trying to prepare example and scenario based answers I am trying to source information about home depots, however I am finding it a little difficult as on 24/11/2015 the recruitment team couldn't advise which depot I would be interviewing for...

I was wondering if anyone from my assessment day, or any other recent assessment day had heard anything?

Thanks.

If I was you I would do some research into your local depot aswell as a bit on Perth or Edinburgh. Some people have been asked about depots in their interviews whereas others havent so its a bit of a lottery but I would prepare for that anyway. There is no harm in "pestering" a station as you put it, maybe even a wee quick 5min call would be better, just get a few bits of relevant info and thats you. I have passed this stage and depots were discussed at my interview.

The best bit of advice anyone can get is to be relaxed & calm and obv to have done a bit of homework on the Train Driver role. Focus less on specific examples from your own background and more on the actual job itself and what u can bring to the table.

 

[MarkTwain]

Jydo,

Thanks for the response and the advice.

I will work more on those areas of research and when I have a date for an interview I will telephone the depot for a quick chat.

 

[Dunc1876]

When are they going to come out and tell us that the rest of us were unsuccessful in our applications ?