How long was you waiting before you started GTR training?

[Jimmy Jams!]

Morning all, Im wondering how long you had to wait after before you started your training under GTR? I passed my DMI & MMI last year November and am now waiting for a call for my medical date and a training start date. I’m reading that people are waiting 2 years or more for this training. Is this true? Thanks in advance for your reply?

 

[ESONEULB]

I'll be a year at the end of April

 

[Inamberclad]

I have seen a lot of posts that GTR training isn't happening in 2019 for many depots (I was waiting for Ashford and have been told it's not happening this year). Which depot are you waiting for?

 

[Niek88]

Currently waiting on a start date for Orpington/Cricklewood. October will be 1 year since i passed all of the process.

 

[Need2]

I have seen a lot of posts that GTR training isn't happening in 2019 for many depots (I was waiting for Ashford and have been told it's not happening this year). Which depot are you waiting for?

Ashford won't be "fully functional" until at least December this year. And the way it has been going I wouldn't hold out much hope for this date either!

 

[Need2]

Currently waiting on a start date for Orpington/Cricklewood. October will be 1 year since i passed all of the process.

At Orpington there are curreently about 20 trainees already, all at various stages of training. The well recorded lack of driving instructors being the main reason.
Unfortunately it could be a long and frustrating wait!

 

[Niek88]

At Orpington there are curreently about 20 trainees already, all at various stages of training. The well recorded lack of driving instructors being the main reason.
Unfortunately it could be a long and frustrating wait!

Hopefully something comes up for 2020. Thanks for the update.

 

[DM92]

Yeh been waiting 3 years now with GTR thameslink

 

[Craig Stephens]

Yeh been waiting 3 years now with GTR thameslink

3 years of waiting to begin training? That’s crazy!!! Is this a one off or a typical occurrence?

Why once accepted would they keep you waiting for such a long period of time?

Apologies if this is the norm but I’m new here.

 

[Niek88]

Doesn't seem logical to have a recruitment drive then to have successful applicant's waiting excessively. I wonder if the drawn out southeastern tendering process has something to do with the delays.

 

[ComUtoR]

Doesn't seem logical to have a recruitment drive then to have successful applicant's waiting excessively. I wonder if the drawn out southeastern tendering process has something to do with the delays.

Why would Southeastern's delay affect Thameslink training ? It's Southeastern who are doing a lot of the training for Thameslink and still are :/ The excessive delay is due to many many many internal issues.

 

[Niek88]

Oh, i see. I was just speculating. What happens to the trainees/talent pools if Govia was to lose the franchise?

 

[ComUtoR]

Nothing happens. Change of franchise has little impact on recruitment. Generally things just tick onwards as normal. There will always be some small pause as the new franchise may want to change some things that may impact long term or depot establishments change etc but that always happens and is par for the course. TOC recruitment is generally down to themselves. SE are helping out GTR because they run the same routes and traction. There has been a working arrangement in place since First Capital Connect days.

All my TOCs courses are set out for an entire year in advance. Any talent pool they have just swims along and any change of franchise holder keeps everyone swimming.

 

[Niek88]

Thanks for the info. I can't wait to get started to gain more more knowledge about the railway.

 

[bionic]

SE are helping out GTR because they run the same routes and traction. There has been a working arrangement in place since First Capital Connect days.

It goes back further than that. What are now Southeastern depots were working 319s to Bedford back in BR days. Big changes afoot now though. It'll be interesting to see what metro work SE have left after Thameslink, Crossrail and TFL have all taken the bits they want.

I really feel sorry for the people being strung along in these "talent pools" for trainee jobs that may well never materialise. It's not fair to string people along like that. But I guess after 3 years plus of being in the "talent pool" they'll be under no illusions as to what kind of firm they are joining if and when they do finally get a start.

 

[ComUtoR]

It goes back further than that. What are now Southeastern depots were working 319s to Bedford back in BR days.

Took 319s off my route card just over a month ago

Big changes afoot now though. It'll be interesting to see what metro work SE have left after Thameslink, Crossrail and TFL have all taken the bits they want.

According to one of the Ops Managers there will be an increase in work. Victoria depot has seen a huge jump in establishment.

 

[bionic]

I'm sure there'll be the same or more work. Whether or not it's under the SE banner (or equivalent) is the question. I imagine things will be changing big style soon though. If the Tories have their way the Williams report will spell the end of the current franchising model and if Labour get elected they'll renationalise the lot.

It's insane that somewhere like Orpington can have two depots where one depot signs both SE and Thameslink routes and traction for less money and the other signs just one traction and just the one Thameslink route for more pay! I mean its utter insanity. The GTR depot is the equivalent (work-wise) of a bottom link but they take home considerably more than the drivers who sign everything!

 

[king_walnut]

2 and a half years. Someone on my course was waiting 4 years!

 

[387star]

3 years of waiting to begin training? That’s crazy!!! Is this a one off or a typical occurrence?

Why once accepted would they keep you waiting for such a long period of time?

Apologies if this is the norm but I’m new here.

Training has been known to take two years

3 years of waiting to begin training? That’s crazy!!! Is this a one off or a typical occurrence?

Why once accepted would they keep you waiting for such a long period of time?

Apologies if this is the norm but I’m new here.

Some are then trainees for over two years a long process for sure. All down to luck