First Group Trainee Train Drivers

[tiptoptaff]

Everyone else is guessing how long it will be before they start their courses so nothing wrong with that!

Except I don't need to guess.

 

[Indy3995]

Except I don't need to guess.

#willywaving again

 

[Tommy222256]

Except I don't need to guess.

Yep well done you!

 

[Stigy]

#willywaving again

 

[Devon156]

Has anyone received feedback from their DMI interview?

 

[Ebee]

So in the past 10 days I've had 3 reminders about my DMI interview this coming Monday. Is this normal? Don't get me wrong I'm flattered they keep reminding me, makes me feel very wanted haha

 

[Des587]

So in the past 10 days I've had 3 reminders about my DMI interview this coming Monday. Is this normal? Don't get me wrong I'm flattered they keep reminding me, makes me feel very wanted haha

Yeah perfectly normal

 

[Stigy]

So in the past 10 days I've had 3 reminders about my DMI interview this coming Monday. Is this normal? Don't get me wrong I'm flattered they keep reminding me, makes me feel very wanted haha

Yes, they'll remind you every other day until the interview date

 

[Jaytrains]

Sorry to ask this question again im sure its been asked a 1000 times now, i
Just wanted to know what is the order of the first assessment sorry?? Group bourdon? Atavt test? Memory test?? I’ve got mine coming up soon

Thanks

 

[1494]

I had an assessment centre booked for 19th May but unfortunately couldn’t make it. I now have another booked for 13th June.

I’m guessing they are still working their way through the applicants despite having a number of people already in the pool?

I applied for Exeter.

Tom

 

[Daydr3am3r]

I had an assessment centre booked for 19th May but unfortunately couldn’t make it. I now have another booked for 13th June.

I’m guessing they are still working their way through the applicants despite having a number of people already in the pool?

I applied for Exeter.

Tom

Hi Tom

Yes I think that is the plan to continue filling courses for this year and the start of next year.
I would be interested to know how many vacancies there are for Exeter, as a course was running when I had my DMI, a couple are starting June and July and there are 6 of us starting in August.

 

[Driver068]

DELETED - ERROR

 

[1494]

Hi Tom

Yes I think that is the plan to continue filling courses for this year and the start of next year.
I would be interested to know how many vacancies there are for Exeter, as a course was running when I had my DMI, a couple are starting June and July and there are 6 of us starting in August.

Thanks for the info. This must be an on-going investment for GWR as opposed to people leaving / retiring etc? Seems a lot of trainees to put through, but good news for us that want to apply.

Whilst I appreciate I have a long way to go in the process yet, I do have a couple of questions that I am hoping anyone on here can answer about GWR, either existing drivers or those of you who have got through and are now in the know? My missus is currently getting quite anxious about my potential change of career if I get through for a couple of reasons.

1 - I would need to take a £10k pay cut initially I think to change over to GWR from my current employer. (Assuming I've got the starting training salary right?) Whilst I know it would be only for around a year until qualified, we would need to manage our finances accordingly. Does anyone know what the starting salary is, and when this changes and starts creeping up, and at what intervals / increments? Whilst money is not a factor for my career change, we have to be able to manage.

2 - Secondly, and most importantly as this is what the missus is worried about the most. We moved from Kent to Weymouth in Dorset 2 1/2 years ago. I know you have to live within an hour of the depot, and Weymouth is 1 hour and 20 minutes. I know this is unlikely to be acceptable for GWR for commuting, so I know we will probably have to move house again.

I am more than happy to commute from Dorset down into Exeter, but my missus wants to stay living as close to where we are now as possible. Looking at the map this looks like a move from Weymouth to Bridport roughly, then I would have to commute from Bridport.

How do they work out this 1 hour distance? Is it as per google maps? Is there any flexibility? Is it based on shift commuting times?
Can I continue living in Weymouth during 'training' and then move house when I am qualified, or do they expect you to be living within the 1 hour distance upon starting employment with GWR?

If there is anything at all that is likely to hamper my progress it will be my missus not wanting to give up her new life she has made in Weymouth.

Any info would be appreciated, so I can continuing sowing the seed.

Tom

 

[Stigy]

Thanks for the info. This must be an on-going investment for GWR as opposed to people leaving / retiring etc? Seems a lot of trainees to put through, but good news for us that want to apply.

Whilst I appreciate I have a long way to go in the process yet, I do have a couple of questions that I am hoping anyone on here can answer about GWR, either existing drivers or those of you who have got through and are now in the know? My missus is currently getting quite anxious about my potential change of career if I get through for a couple of reasons.

1 - I would need to take a £10k pay cut initially I think to change over to GWR from my current employer. (Assuming I've got the starting training salary right?) Whilst I know it would be only for around a year until qualified, we would need to manage our finances accordingly. Does anyone know what the starting salary is, and when this changes and starts creeping up, and at what intervals / increments? Whilst money is not a factor for my career change, we have to be able to manage.

2 - Secondly, and most importantly as this is what the missus is worried about the most. We moved from Kent to Weymouth in Dorset 2 1/2 years ago. I know you have to live within an hour of the depot, and Weymouth is 1 hour and 20 minutes. I know this is unlikely to be acceptable for GWR for commuting, so I know we will probably have to move house again.

I am more than happy to commute from Dorset down into Exeter, but my missus wants to stay living as close to where we are now as possible. Looking at the map this looks like a move from Weymouth to Bridport roughly, then I would have to commute from Bridport.

How do they work out this 1 hour distance? Is it as per google maps? Is there any flexibility? Is it based on shift commuting times?
Can I continue living in Weymouth during 'training' and then move house when I am qualified, or do they expect you to be living within the 1 hour distance upon starting employment with GWR?

If there is anything at all that is likely to hamper my progress it will be my missus not wanting to give up her new life she has made in Weymouth.

Any info would be appreciated, so I can continuing sowing the seed.

Tom

Hi Tom,

I can answer your first question. The training salary is £27,578 which is quite a bit more than some other TOCs/FOCs, however, you’ll be on that for sometime, whereas other companies seem to raise there’s at regular intervals. After initial training (It’s unclear what this means, but I’ve been reliably informed that this means once you completed your training as a whole including driving hours) you go up to 80% of the full salary, then a year after that you go up to 90%, then a further year down the line (no pun intended), you’re on 100%.

So I guess you should factor in being on £27k for 18-months and then if it increases before that, that’s a bonus. That’s what I’m doing anyway

Good luck to you with your application, it’s a long and stressful road.

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Thanks for the info. This must be an on-going investment for GWR as opposed to people leaving / retiring etc? Seems a lot of trainees to put through, but good news for us that want to apply.

Whilst I appreciate I have a long way to go in the process yet, I do have a couple of questions that I am hoping anyone on here can answer about GWR, either existing drivers or those of you who have got through and are now in the know? My missus is currently getting quite anxious about my potential change of career if I get through for a couple of reasons.

1 - I would need to take a £10k pay cut initially I think to change over to GWR from my current employer. (Assuming I've got the starting training salary right?) Whilst I know it would be only for around a year until qualified, we would need to manage our finances accordingly. Does anyone know what the starting salary is, and when this changes and starts creeping up, and at what intervals / increments? Whilst money is not a factor for my career change, we have to be able to manage.

2 - Secondly, and most importantly as this is what the missus is worried about the most. We moved from Kent to Weymouth in Dorset 2 1/2 years ago. I know you have to live within an hour of the depot, and Weymouth is 1 hour and 20 minutes. I know this is unlikely to be acceptable for GWR for commuting, so I know we will probably have to move house again.

I am more than happy to commute from Dorset down into Exeter, but my missus wants to stay living as close to where we are now as possible. Looking at the map this looks like a move from Weymouth to Bridport roughly, then I would have to commute from Bridport.

How do they work out this 1 hour distance? Is it as per google maps? Is there any flexibility? Is it based on shift commuting times?
Can I continue living in Weymouth during 'training' and then move house when I am qualified, or do they expect you to be living within the 1 hour distance upon starting employment with GWR?

If there is anything at all that is likely to hamper my progress it will be my missus not wanting to give up her new life she has made in Weymouth.

Any info would be appreciated, so I can continuing sowing the seed.

Tom

In relation to your location I expect that GWR would want you within an hour’s commute when you join but I may be wrong.
You have to factor in that the maximum distance is there for safety purposes.
May be worth emailing recruitment to get a definitive answer so you know where you stand.

 

[387star]

Hi Tom,

I can answer your first question. The training salary is £27,578 which is quite a bit more than some other TOCs/FOCs, however, you’ll be on that for sometime, whereas other companies seem to raise there’s at regular intervals. After initial training (It’s unclear what this means, but I’ve been reliably informed that this means once you completed your training as a whole including driving hours) you go up to 80% of the full salary, then a year after that you go up to 90%, then a further year down the line (no pun intended), you’re on 100%.

So I guess you should factor in being on £27k for 18-months and then if it increases before that, that’s a bonus. That’s what I’m doing anyway

Good luck to you with your application, it’s a long and stressful road.

Qualifieds joining are also on 90%

 

[Jaytrains]

Hi Tom,

I can answer your first question. The training salary is £27,578 which is quite a bit more than some other TOCs/FOCs, however, you’ll be on that for sometime, whereas other companies seem to raise there’s at regular intervals. After initial training (It’s unclear what this means, but I’ve been reliably informed that this means once you completed your training as a whole including driving hours) you go up to 80% of the full salary, then a year after that you go up to 90%, then a further year down the line (no pun intended), you’re on 100%.

So I guess you should factor in being on £27k for 18-months and then if it increases before that, that’s a bonus. That’s what I’m doing anyway

Good luck to you with your application, it’s a long and stressful road.

I heard it goes up to around £36k after 6months during training

 

[Stigy]

I heard it goes up to around £36k after 6months during training

Doesn’t say this in my contract. Bear in mind it has recently(ish) changed I’m lead to believe.

 

[Daydr3am3r]

I heard it goes up to around £36k after 6months during training

I think you have to complete all of your hours with your DI and be signed off prior to any salary increase.

 

[Stigy]

I think you have to complete all of your hours with your DI and be signed off prior to any salary increase.

That would equate to about the amount of 80% (a bit less....I worked 80% out as about £40k Give or take) which reinforces what I was saying I guess?

 

[Daydr3am3r]

That would equate to about the amount of 80% (a bit less....I worked 80% out as about £40k Give or take) which reinforces what I was saying I guess?

Yeah I think you’re right, although depending on when you join up with the harmonisation 80% may be a bit more than 40k.

 

[Stigy]

Yeah I think you’re right, although depending on when you join up with the harmonisation 80% may be a bit more than 40k.

Yeah, the £40k at 80% is based on £50k salary (hence the give or take as I know it varies between regions slightly).

 

[EBlackadder]

From May 2020 the base salary for a full qualified will be around £62k, plus Sundays. So 80% is roughly £50k and 90% roughly £55k, not forgetting to add Sundays on top.

The 62k figure isn't a secret and has appeared on recruitment adverts in the public domain.

Those of us joining now should expect that £50k figure on pass out, which is pleasant.

 

[Stigy]

From May 2020 the base salary for a full qualified will be around £62k, plus Sundays. So 80% is roughly £50k and 90% roughly £55k, not forgetting to add Sundays on top.

The 62k figure isn't a secret and has appeared on recruitment adverts in the public domain.

Those of us joining now should expect that £50k figure on pass out, which is pleasant.

This is pleasant indeed.

Thanks for clarifying, I knew about the increase, but wasn’t aware it was that imminent.

 

[tiptoptaff]

There are no increases between Day1 and the "handshake" with the Regional Driver Manager where they 'give you your key' (although you'll have keys ready for your handling)
As Captain Slackbladder says, the 80% will be of 62k, so approx 50. For an ex-West driver, that's above the 100% salary from pre-harmonisation.

The time it takes depends on availability of instructors. Some get through in 10months, others up to 18.

 

[Val3ntine]

Are sundays still going to be outside the working week with this new deal?

 

[EBlackadder]

Yeah still outside, but with a contractual commitment to work around 17 a year. It means the pay is roughly £3k - £5k a year more than advertised but is non-pensionable.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Looks likely that in the next paydeal (2021) that Sundays will be taken inside

 

[1494]

Thanks for everyone's help and responses.

I guessed the 1 hour commute would be pretty strict which is no surprise. I will contact HR after my assessment centre to clarify what the rules are and how they work it out. Then I will have to sit down and break the news to the missus.

The salary is slightly less than I was expecting upon starting and that will make things more than tight, so I will need to come up with a solution for that also. Just good news that it is more than the other TOC's. I will just have to hope and pray that I can get through the training process and do any driving hours quicker. Not too bothered about a huge salary, just need enough to survive the training period.

Anyway for now I'm busy practising for the assessment centre.

Tom

 

[tiptoptaff]

I don't know what you were expecting salary wise, but GWR is fairly high in terms of trainee salary