Northern BLACKBURN trainee drivers

Shrimper · 15 Sep 2016

Dave1980 said:
Guess the real work begins on 3rd October, be strange being a newbie after being in the Police for 9yrs in the same role. So any drivers or driver trainers out there I apologise in advance for any daft questions and being totally new!

Wouldn't worry, the trainers have mostly heard all the stupid questions! And you'll find plenty of ex-Police around the training academy too.

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sennaf15 · 15 Sep 2016

Finally got the call today from HR. My medical is on Tuesday next week in York and my course date is Nov 28th. Needless to say that I'm a tad excited hehe!

maccalad · 15 Sep 2016

Can anyone guide me on what format the interviews take, and any sample questions?

Thanks in advance.

Louby · 16 Sep 2016

maccalad said:
Can anyone guide me on what format the interviews take, and any sample questions?

Thanks in advance.

Just use the star technique. As for sample questions ? Use the application questions but depends on the day and who you get , can't answer them for you I'm afraid !

Waddins1 · 16 Sep 2016

Anyone currently going through the classroom training at Boulton House? I am told this is 9-5, is that to the minute or do you get early finishes?

Due to start 3rd October.

Thanks

Louby · 16 Sep 2016

It's 9-4 and yes you tend to get early finishes

Dave1980 · 16 Sep 2016

Hoya maccalad think you asked me about the cops? If you are in too the questions are very similar as in competency based. Such as give a time you made a decision, about a time you showed leadership, innovation, analyse information. Use the STAR technique it does work.
Shrimper, so I've heard think there is a lad from Preston starting soon and a few others I've heard of. Can't blame them for making the switch.
Louby, I'll try not to ask too many but I can come up with some crackers! ??????
Waddins and Bean123, I'll see you in a couple weeks then!
Congrats Sennaf15 really glad you got the call pal!

Bert and Ernie · 17 Sep 2016

Got the call today, starting October 3rd!

Louby · 17 Sep 2016

Bert and Ernie said:
Got the call today, starting October 3rd!

Thought you were already driving ?!

Dave1980 · 20 Sep 2016

Welcome to the 3rd October gang Bert and Ernie!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well my contract arrived today, had a quick read through. Going to take a bit of a hit on my wages this month due to leave entitlement so will be a long wait until the first pay day!

wozzle · 20 Sep 2016

Hi All, I also start the 3rd October. I too got my contract today. Quite a bit to peruse. Wonder if we receive a temporary travel pass if our proper passes haven't arrived by then. I'll be commuting from Preston. Looking forward to it.

Dave1980 · 21 Sep 2016

Wozzle a friend of mine who is about 4 months into her course has suggested photocopying the letter of appointment that came with the contract and using that if the pass doesn't come in time, should work in theory!

Louby · 21 Sep 2016

Dave1980 said:
Wozzle a friend of mine who is about 4 months into her course has suggested photocopying the letter of appointment that came with the contract and using that if the pass doesn't come in time, should work in theory!

Also once you receive your uniform that is a pass in its self

wozzle · 21 Sep 2016

Cheers Dave & Louby. Two good points there. Although getting kicked off the train at Chorley for fare dodging wouldn't be a good look..

I'm not overly bothered if I have to pay in the meantime, it just sounds less hassle with a pass. I'm sure after that first day, any questions of that type will probably have been answered.

Louby · 21 Sep 2016

wozzle said:
Cheers Dave & Louby. Two good points there. Although getting kicked off the train at Chorley for fare dodging wouldn't be a good look.. I'm not overly bothered if I have to pay in the meantime, it just sounds less hassle with a pass. I'm sure after that first day, any questions of that type will probably have been answered.

Your a northern employee , it's part of the perks , take your start letter , I used it to get to York and didn't have any issues , you will be fine , it can take weeks for your pass to arrive

Waddins1 · 21 Sep 2016

Dave, I too have had a hit this month as I have used more leave pro rata! I read the contract as in we get paid 4 weeks in arrears.... Any idea what day pay day will be this month?!

Louby · 21 Sep 2016

Waddins1 said:
Dave, I too have had a hit this month as I have used more leave pro rata! I read the contract as in we get paid 4 weeks in arrears.... Any idea what day pay day will be this month?!

Next payday is 7th October , you guys will be Nov

Shrimper · 21 Sep 2016

wozzle said:
Hi All, I also start the 3rd October. I too got my contract today. Quite a bit to peruse. Wonder if we receive a temporary travel pass if our proper passes haven't arrived by then. I'll be commuting from Preston. Looking forward to it.

For my course, everyone's staff travel passes arrived the Friday and Saturday before the course started. Associated family passes were a while longer.

wozzle · 21 Sep 2016

Louby said:
Your a northern employee , it's part of the perks , take your start letter , I used it to get to York and didn't have any issues , you will be fine , it can take weeks for your pass to arrive

Yeah I'll take the letter along with me. Cheers Louby.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Shrimper said:
For my course, everyone's staff travel passes arrived the Friday and Saturday before the course started. Associated family passes were a while longer.

I suppose there is time to get them back to us before we start.. Now where's that photo booth

.. I should be sending all the forms off to HR tomorrow. Cheers.

Louby · 21 Sep 2016

wozzle said:
Yeah I'll take the letter along with me. Cheers Louby.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I suppose there is time to get them back to us before we start.. Now where's that photo booth .. I should be sending all the forms off to HR tomorrow. Cheers.

I had mine back before I started but some of the lads waited a few weeks , think they have a team set up now specially to deal with it

Bav · 26 Sep 2016

Hi all, well done to all those who have been successful. My application went in for Blackpool originally back in May and was diverted to Blackburn as a result of being on the margins of the travel time. I am really pleased to have made it to an interview next week, but was a bit surprised seeing some had already been through the process and started their training for Blackburn. Any new trainees got any idea how many positions are remaining and is anyone else on here attending interviews next week? Cheers

Dave1980 · 29 Sep 2016

Bav I officially start training on Monday, at a guess I would say they will have kept some applications in reserve just in case people didn't make the grade at assessment but also it could just be that they are that busy at training school, it may be the case that they wanted to start a few courses then fill up some more basically doing it in stages.
There is a lad on here starting a course at the end of Nov if I remember rightly. Not sure how many they have taken on so far but I think there are around 14-16 per course but it's a mixture of Blackpool and Blackburn drivers I think.

wozzle · 29 Sep 2016

I was told by HR that there are due be 16 starting on the 3rd Oct. 4 Blackburn, 2 or 3 Blackpool & the rest Man Pic & Man Vic. Wonder where we'll be based after 16 weeks in the classroom...not having a Blackburn depot to go to as such?

Louby · 29 Sep 2016

wozzle said:
I was told by HR that there are due be 16 starting on the 3rd Oct. 4 Blackburn, 2 or 3 Blackpool & the rest Man Pic & Man Vic. Wonder where we'll be based after 16 weeks in the classroom...not having a Blackburn depot to go to as such?

Being trained at the man depots

Dave1980 · 30 Sep 2016

Yeah that was what I heard 16 of us, would imagine Louby is right that we will work and train around Manchester until Blackburn is ready for us!

Sox · 30 Sep 2016

I remember the old King Street coal depot as a kid, amazing to see the site brought into re-use for railway purposes:

BLACKBURN is to get a new multi-million pound train depot as the latest stage of East Lancashire’s rail revolution.

The scheme is expected bring up to 40 new jobs with the depot being built on the derelict site of disused coal sidings at ‘The Wrangling’ between the existing track, Sumner Street, Duckworth Street,and Brunswick Street.
The stabling, maintenance and cleaning centre will include an office block and new connection to the existing Bolton junction where the tracks to Preston and Darwen divide.

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14654592.Multi_million_pound_train_depot_set_for_Blackburn/

sennaf15 · 30 Sep 2016

My mate had is train taken off him by a trainee and instructor yesterday at Blackpool. Needless to say he was more than happy to accommodate as he spent the rest of his shift watching TV haha!

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Dave1980 · 2 Oct 2016

Look forward to meeting some of you tomorrow!

wozzle · 2 Oct 2016

Dave1980 said:
Look forward to meeting some of you tomorrow!

Yeah me too. I'm on the 7.05 from Preston to Man Pic. Now get some sleep..lol.

Bav · 7 Oct 2016

Thanks for the information Dave, yes it looks like training courses are at capacity so it's a matter of working through the candidates at the same rate as they can allocate a place. I've already heard back from the interview so the pace seems to quicken after that. Hope the training is going well.

Northern BLACKBURN trainee drivers

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