A career as a train driver

[Cyclist]

hey all i whant to
Becoming a train driver !! wher i found the link to apply thank you !!

You will have to improve your spelling and formatting if you want to get through the sift of any trainee driver job. Search the career websites of any company that operates near you.

 

[SMR]

You will have to improve your spelling and formatting if you want to get through the sift of any trainee driver job. Search the career websites of any company that operates near you.

Couldnt agree more with cyclist. From what I'm led to believe the sifting process takes consideration of grammer.

 

[SMR]

*grammar

 

[BrokenRailway]

I’m looking to become a trainee train driver how would I

 

[Cyclist]

I’m looking to become a trainee train driver how would I

Check the careers website of every company you are interested in.

 

[Drh78]

I have a question.

If you apply to become a train driver, but you live just outside the 60 minute timeframe for commuting to work, would it be a straight ‘No’? I’m talking just a few minutes outside the 60.

Also, if you tell them you are willing to relocate, how would that work if they were willing to offer you the job?
Would they expect you to move home before being offered the job? Concern there is if you did, what happens if they change their mind and no longer have a job to offer you?
Or would they take you on and expect you to move closer at some point?

Thanks for reading.

 

[387star]

I have a question.

If you apply to become a train driver, but you live just outside the 60 minute timeframe for commuting to work, would it be a straight ‘No’? I’m talking just a few minutes outside the 60.

Also, if you tell them you are willing to relocate, how would that work if they were willing to offer you the job?
Would they expect you to move home before being offered the job? Concern there is if you did, what happens if they change their mind and no longer have a job to offer you?
Or would they take you on and expect you to move closer at some point?

Thanks for reading.

I think it is becoming harder and harder to relocate or to apply outside a tight distance criteria

Not many TOCS even allow an hours commute

I think London is always an exception due to the better transport links and ludicrously expensive cost of living

 

[Cyclist]

Crossrail declined me and although they never state reasoning I believe it was because I ticked “no” when asked if I lived within 60 mins. Was probably done automatically by a computer tbh.

 

[BrokenRailway]

I want to work for Thameslink

 

[martin2345uk]

I want to work for Thameslink

Keep checking their careers site then. They’re currently recruiting for Cambridge if that’s any good...

 

[Drh78]

What would happen if a fully qualified driver decided to move house and it was just outside his/her TOC’s 60 minute commute policy?

 

[387star]

What would happen if a fully qualified driver decided to move house and it was just outside his/her TOC’s 60 minute commute policy?

If just outside probably not an issue anyway

An hour by by train is very different to an hour driving depends on depot shift times too and if you can do swaps to allow yourself to come in later if no train?

Driving home is far more exhausting

However some prefer to remove themselves from the work environment. On a crowded train you should give up your seat and may feel obliged to assist with any issues particularly on a DOO train

 

[xtradj]

You will have to improve your spelling and formatting if you want to get through the sift of any trainee driver job.

Hahaa

 

[Nicolae f]

Hi Guys,

I've just recently qualified as a driver for National Express East Coast at Leeds.

I was an internal applicant but I will pass on my experience.

First there was the interview. 300 applicants down to 30 to be interviewed. It is important on the application form as well as the interview to talk about professionalism, your reliability but even more importantly they want to hear about how importantly you take communication and safety. You must be able to show you have done some research. Tell them where their driver's depots are, their train depots, which routes they travel over.

There were 2 positions and they only sent us 2 for the pyschometric testing, whereas usually they send half a dozen because the pass rate is about 25%.

At the testing you will do a short term memory test. You get a passage of text to read for about 5 minutes and then have to answer as many multiple choice questions as you can in the time given. You can make notes whilst you read the text and I cant stress enough I much this will help you.

You will then have to do the concentration test, which is also known as the barden test. It is pages of groups shapes made up of 3, 4 or 5 dots. The idea is to put a mark through each of the 4 dot shapes and do as many as possible. This is difficult but photocopy loads and loads of pages before you go and just do them over and over again.

There is then the co-ordination test on a computer. There is a monitor with a special keyboard which has 4 coloured buttons on. You also have 2 foot pedals and ear phones on. Basically the idea is which ever colour flashes on to the screen you press the corresponding button. When ever you get a buzz in your left ear your press down the left foot pedal etc. This should be fine if you are used to using a playstation etc.

Then there is the mechanics test. This is basically a physics test. You'll get diagrams and questions like if pulley A is turned clockwise which way will pulley C turn. Buy Physics for dummies. This was a great help to me.

Anyway, pass all that and you are in! Then the hard work starts.

Hope this helps. I was thinking of operating some sort of seminar for people that are looking to get in to train driving and want to know what is involved. I'd provide examples used in the psychometric testing and interview techniques etc. Do you think anybody would be interested in attending such a thing?

Anyway, bye for now.

Mike

Yes I am very interested I really like this type of role

 

[Gidion]

Hi all, I've just posted this in another forum (atw trainee driver) was just wondering could any of you qualified drivers shed any light?

I've applied for the cardiff depot, I was just wondering what all your thoughts are on my chances? just in one field, as I've been a HGV driver for 14 years, and looking at the criteria for the job there's a lot of similarities.
Thanks all
Gidion.

 

[Rhia]

Hey this forum is very helpful. I have an assessment centre coming next week and was wondering if anybody would kindly shed any light into what to expect included at interviews it’s with south-eastern any help is appreciated as I’m really anxious to get through. thanks

 

[Themob]

Hi all, I've just posted this in another forum (atw trainee driver) was just wondering could any of you qualified drivers shed any light?

I've applied for the cardiff depot, I was just wondering what all your thoughts are on my chances? just in one field, as I've been a HGV driver for 14 years, and looking at the criteria for the job there's a lot of similarities.
Thanks all
Gidion.

Hiya, as for your chances, here's the statistic from my driving course with ATW a few years back.
8 people on the course from 3200 applications. So the chance for an application succeeding is 0.25%

 

[Stigy]

Hiya, as for your chances, here's the statistic from my driving course with ATW a few years back.
8 people on the course from 3200 applications. So the chance for an application succeeding is 0.25%

I’m assuming there was more than one single course of 8 though? This wouldn’t have made financial sense as they’d surely use the drivers they had rather than recruit a handful more? Usually TOCs runs several courses for trainees. I agree from application to appointment the odds are very much against you though as 3200 applicants is still a massive amount!

 

[Themob]

Hi Stigy.
It was just the one course of 8 trainees., Yes , 3200 is a high amount, though It would be prudent to consider many will fail the initial application through not meeting the prerequisites,- too young, beyond travel time etc.
Traincrew positions are at a premium and will naturally attract many.

I'd advise anyone not be put off by the number of applicants. To set the odds in my favour, I recognised the assessments are all based on natural aptitude; i.e. You can either circle clusters of 4 dots or you can't. So I concentrated on the interview competencies/company info.

 

[Stigy]

Hi Stigy.
It was just the one course of 8 trainees., Yes , 3200 is a high amount, though It would be prudent to consider many will fail the initial application through not meeting the prerequisites,- too young, beyond travel time etc.
Traincrew positions are at a premium and will naturally attract many.

I'd advise anyone not be put off by the number of applicants. To set the odds in my favour, I recognised the assessments are all based on natural aptitude; i.e. You can either circle clusters of 4 dots or you can't. So I concentrated on the interview competencies/company info.

I agree re the natural aptitude, it’s the interviews that obviously set you apart and give you the final opportunity to sell yourself. I’m at that stage now and mid-interview prep.

 

[NitroNick]

I agree re the natural aptitude, it’s the interviews that obviously set you apart and give you the final opportunity to sell yourself. I’m at that stage now and mid-interview prep.

I'm in the same position having recently passed Trainee Train Driver Assessment. Slowly but surely trying to learn as much as I can about the TOC I'm applying with. Found the assessments pretty easy but I have a technical and (despite what the wife says) logical brain. Only one I didn't enjoy was the photos flashing up on screen and having to identify what was on them. Actually found the flashing square test quite relaxing.

Big career path change for me if I get position!

 

[Rhia]

I’ve got some memory stuff if you have a Dropbox or similar account as they are quite big files , PM me and I’ll send em over

Hi would it possible for you to send me this revision.please. That would be much appreciated. I’m trying to do some last minute revision as my assessment centre is tomorrow.

 

[Rhia]

I'm in the same position having recently passed Trainee Train Driver Assessment. Slowly but surely trying to learn as much as I can about the TOC I'm applying with. Found the assessments pretty easy but I have a technical and (despite what the wife says) logical brain. Only one I didn't enjoy was the photos flashing up on screen and having to identify what was on them. Actually found the flashing square test quite relaxing.

Big career path change for me if I get position!

Hey what TOC did you pass with. If you don’t mind me asking please ?

 

[NitroNick]

Hey what TOC did you pass with. If you don’t mind me asking please ?

SWR however once passed my understanding is it is valid for three years on any TOC.

Was told you only get 2 attempts and if you fail first have to wait a minimum of 6 months before retrying.

 

[Andrew Higgins]

Hi Guys,

I've just recently qualified as a driver for National Express East Coast at Leeds.

I was an internal applicant but I will pass on my experience.

First there was the interview. 300 applicants down to 30 to be interviewed. It is important on the application form as well as the interview to talk about professionalism, your reliability but even more importantly they want to hear about how importantly you take communication and safety. You must be able to show you have done some research. Tell them where their driver's depots are, their train depots, which routes they travel over.

There were 2 positions and they only sent us 2 for the pyschometric testing, whereas usually they send half a dozen because the pass rate is about 25%.

At the testing you will do a short term memory test. You get a passage of text to read for about 5 minutes and then have to answer as many multiple choice questions as you can in the time given. You can make notes whilst you read the text and I cant stress enough I much this will help you.

You will then have to do the concentration test, which is also known as the barden test. It is pages of groups shapes made up of 3, 4 or 5 dots. The idea is to put a mark through each of the 4 dot shapes and do as many as possible. This is difficult but photocopy loads and loads of pages before you go and just do them over and over again.

There is then the co-ordination test on a computer. There is a monitor with a special keyboard which has 4 coloured buttons on. You also have 2 foot pedals and ear phones on. Basically the idea is which ever colour flashes on to the screen you press the corresponding button. When ever you get a buzz in your left ear your press down the left foot pedal etc. This should be fine if you are used to using a playstation etc.

Then there is the mechanics test. This is basically a physics test. You'll get diagrams and questions like if pulley A is turned clockwise which way will pulley C turn. Buy Physics for dummies. This was a great help to me.

Anyway, pass all that and you are in! Then the hard work starts.

Hope this helps. I was thinking of operating some sort of seminar for people that are looking to get in to train driving and want to know what is involved. I'd provide examples used in the psychometric testing and interview techniques etc. Do you think anybody would be interested in attending such a thing?

Anyway, bye for now.

Mike

Any tips on the competency based questions? I had feedback previously from an interview saying my examples lacked complexity. Please help

 

[martin2345uk]

That poster hasn't been back to this forum since 2008, I doubt he will reply but loads of knowledgeable people on here

 

[Andrew Higgins]

That poster hasn't been back to this forum since 2008, I doubt he will reply but loads of knowledgeable people on here

Do you have any advice regarding competencies?

 

[martin2345uk]

Do you have any advice regarding competencies?

Just search for the various threads on MMI on here, there are loads, they really helped me - I don't think the examples I gave were anything special but I made sure I said things like "safely", "rules", "calm", "professional" etc etc, really trying to spell out how I thought my examples related in some way to the qualities needed for being a train driver.

 

[Stigy]

Just search for the various threads on MMI on here, there are loads, they really helped me - I don't think the examples I gave were anything special but I made sure I said things like "safely", "rules", "calm", "professional" etc etc, really trying to spell out how I thought my examples related in some way to the qualities needed for being a train driver.

Same here. I think buzz words are very important in explaining your MMI selections, especially when asked how certain things made you feel (they ask this a lot).

 

[Gooner18]

Personally I was shocked how many hoops you have to jump through to even get a offer of trainee driver