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SWR Trainee Driver Weymouth

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Bromley boy

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Sounds like that one went quickly!

Out of interest, can anyone give an idea of the routes/traction/roster patterns/establishment etc. for this depot?
 

Numbnuts846

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Sounds like that one went quickly!

Out of interest, can anyone give an idea of the routes/traction/roster patterns/establishment etc. for this depot?
Traction is 444,450
Routes is weymouth to Waterloo but no diversions.
And it has a long list of PTR moves before any trainee's get a look in .
 

Bromley boy

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Traction is 444,450
Routes is weymouth to Waterloo but no diversions.
And it has a long list of PTR moves before any trainee's get a look in .

Ta.

Any idea why they’ve needed to recruit externally for trainees? I would have thought that would put a few noses out of joint if people are waiting for transfers...
 

Stigy

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Was this actually for trainees? Looking at our internal vacancy list it just says 'train driver'.
 

Bromley boy

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Was this actually for trainees? Looking at our internal vacancy list it just says 'train driver'.

I suppose advertising it externally as a trainee vacancy might have been an HR error?
 

Stigy

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I suppose advertising it externally as a trainee vacancy might have been an HR error?
It is a trainee vacancy, I’ve been reliably informed ;).

Weymouth is one of those really small depots which doesn’t often have vacancies. I guess there’s the usually natural turnover to think of with retirements etc.
 

UPS1550

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I applied for this last night and completed the SJT straightaway, the email said there would be a second assessment sent shortly after completing first but ive not received anything, has anyone had a second assessment? Sent recruitment an email but no reply and phone number doesn't work either if anyone has one which works please?
 

Adsy125

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Traction is 444,450
Routes is weymouth to Waterloo but no diversions.
And it has a long list of PTR moves before any trainee's get a look in .
Why does Weymouth have so little diversity in routes, how does it compare to Poole (Bournemouth?) crew?
 

godfreycomplex

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Why does Weymouth have so little diversity in routes, how does it compare to Poole (Bournemouth?) crew?
Weymouth is a small depot (SWR’s smallest in fact, I believe they have around 24 drivers and about the same of guards, compare to Bournemouth which is approaching triple figures of each grade), that combined with diverting both ways via Portsmouth or Chertsey can easily add two hours to potentially what’s already an eight or nine hour diagram (too long, in other words).
Add to all of that the fact that there’s Bournemouth and the equally large Fratton depots who sign the Direct/Bournemouth, and various permutations of Waterloo and other inner area crews that sign Chertsey (and, indeed, down to Bournemouth in some cases), and also that Weymouth and Bournemouth are the only SWR crews (RHTT and a few at Salisbury notwithstanding) that sign west of Sterte Road Junction (a good number of Weymouth crew’s jobs involve essentially shuttling up and down between Bournemouth and Weymouth, relatively few make it to London, less than half I think) and you start to build a picture
Please excuse the ramble, and take the above with a hefty dose of salt, as most of it was gleaned from one or two conversations
 

Adsy125

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Weymouth is a small depot (SWR’s smallest in fact, I believe they have around 24 drivers and about the same of guards, compare to Bournemouth which is approaching triple figures of each grade), that combined with diverting both ways via Portsmouth or Chertsey can easily add two hours to potentially what’s already an eight or nine hour diagram (too long, in other words).
Add to all of that the fact that there’s Bournemouth and the equally large Fratton depots who sign the Direct/Bournemouth, and various permutations of Waterloo and other inner area crews that sign Chertsey (and, indeed, down to Bournemouth in some cases), and also that Weymouth and Bournemouth are the only SWR crews (RHTT and a few at Salisbury notwithstanding) that sign west of Sterte Road Junction (a good number of Weymouth crew’s jobs involve essentially shuttling up and down between Bournemouth and Weymouth, relatively few make it to London, less than half I think) and you start to build a picture
Please excuse the ramble, and take the above with a hefty dose of salt, as most of it was gleaned from one or two conversations
No, it's very interesting thanks. I assume Sterte Road junction is the sidings west of Poole?
 

1494

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I managed to apply for this just in time before they took it down. Done the SWR SJT today. Phoned HR and this is for a talent pool. Limited to 40 applications.
 

Numbnuts846

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It's still advertised on the internal vacancy list , I assume it will get filled from the the inside first ?
 

Stigy

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It's still advertised on the internal vacancy list , I assume it will get filled from the the inside first ?
Not necessarily, although internals may get a degree of priority. They’ll usually keep vacancies on the internal list until their closing date. There actually doesn’t need to be a vacancy to apply internally for driving jobs at SWR. They’ll allow you to fill out the forms and will assess you etc, then if suitable, will hold your details until a vacancy arises.

With externals, the will have a set number of applications to allow before they close.
 

UPS1550

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So just got the "unfortunately " Email, it says I'd have to wait another 6 months before applying for the same role , so does that mean I could still apply to GWR or hull trains for example, or 6 months before I can reapply for trainee driver anywhere in first group? :'(
 

Stigy

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So just got the "unfortunately " Email, it says I'd have to wait another 6 months before applying for the same role , so does that mean I could still apply to GWR or hull trains for example, or 6 months before I can reapply for trainee driver anywhere in first group? :'(
Sorry to hear. Don’t give up with it!

Double check with recruitment but you’ll probably find it’s across the FirstGroup unfortunately as they use the same recruitment portal.
 

UPS1550

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Sorry to hear. Don’t give up with it!

Double check with recruitment but you’ll probably find it’s across the FirstGroup unfortunately as they use the same recruitment portal.
Yeah that's what I thought, will check anyway to be sure, would be good if the recruitment teams would tell you what they were looking for so you could hopefully pass a second time
 

UPS1550

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So apparently I wasn't successful on the SJT?? advised me to think about the role your applying for when answering:| seems little bit of a joke, answered based on safety first but that puts customer service lower, example removing the broken wheelchair ramp but then you delay your train...surely safety has to be priority?
 

Stigy

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So apparently I wasn't successful on the SJT?? advised me to think about the role your applying for when answering:| seems little bit of a joke, answered based on safety first but that puts customer service lower, example removing the broken wheelchair ramp but then you delay your train...surely safety has to be priority?
It's a balancing act. I can't recall the format of the SJT, but if it's putting actions in order of importance rather than what your most likely action would be, and what the least likely would be, it really isn't easy. I failed three times on SWR/SWT previous SJT they did. I got to the point where I was baffled as I was almost putting items down which just didn't seem like the right choice. The newer process is easier, but does catch people out.

Safety and customer service are the two most important priorities to base answers around, but safety should trump customer service. Most of the options in these tests are all very feasible, which makes it even more difficult.
 

UPS1550

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It's a balancing act. I can't recall the format of the SJT, but if it's putting actions in order of importance rather than what your most likely action would be, and what the least likely would be, it really isn't easy. I failed three times on SWR/SWT previous SJT they did. I got to the point where I was baffled as I was almost putting items down which just didn't seem like the right choice. The newer process is easier, but does catch people out.

Safety and customer service are the two most important priorities to base answers around, but safety should trump customer service. Most of the options in these tests are all very feasible, which makes it even more difficult.
Well this is what I thought:| 6 months before being able to reapply though is pretty gutting, can't see what use it serves other than trying to keep numbers applying down
 

Stigy

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Well this is what I thought:| 6 months before being able to reapply though is pretty gutting, can't see what use it serves other than trying to keep numbers applying down
It’s scored using the averages so the better the calibre of candidates, the higher you naturally have to score. It’s all done by computer too so I doubt there’s any human input at this stage.
 

1494

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I haven’t heard anything yet so I’m guessing no news is good news.

Anyone else on the forum here applied for this vacancy?

Tom
 

Peeler

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I haven’t heard anything yet so I’m guessing no news is good news.

Anyone else on the forum here applied for this vacancy?

Tom

Not this one but another Depot and yes generally with SWR it seems no news is good news. I heard something back within 2 weeks of doing SJT saying successful.
 

Liam00086

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This job still shows on the internal portal along with Waterloo and strawberry hill
 

1494

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I have a stage 1 assessment with GWR on 13th June, I wonder if SWR will wait until my results or if this will speed up the process for SWR if I pass?
 

Stigy

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I have a stage 1 assessment with GWR on 13th June, I wonder if SWR will wait until my results or if this will speed up the process for SWR if I pass?
They may look favourably at this, but bear in mind if you fail any of these assessments you’ll not be able to take them again for 6-months.
 
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