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dB apprenticeship trainee drivers

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MA8141

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23 Jun 2019
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92
I had my medical 3 weeks ago and still awaiting a start date, it’s soul destroying, I won’t lie !
 
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C001

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30 Aug 2019
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148
I’m exactly the same position as well! Hopefully we’ll find out very soon.


Have you both tried contacting them to find out ? Well my medical is tomorrow so we might be on same course . If they are waiting more candidates.
 

MA8141

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23 Jun 2019
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92
I have, and the response is that the business is as keen to get us on to a course as we are, it’s just a waiting game to get that slot ! I’m pretty sure the job is secure now so I’m happy to wait a touch longer !
 

C001

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What depots are you in for .. I know likes of kingmoor they are desperate for starts as they are 5 drivers short .. maybe done depending where the need is greater first .. let us know when you get a date .
 

JAC1991

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2 Oct 2019
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Location
South Wales
What depots are you in for .. I know likes of kingmoor they are desperate for starts as they are 5 drivers short .. maybe done depending where the need is greater first .. let us know when you get a date .


Do you know what the situation at Port Talbot (Margam) is like, are they short of drivers at the moment?
 

C001

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Na no idea .. don’t know anyone down that way .. hopefully someone else here can give you a idea.. just had my medical today and passed so waiting game now for me. Can’t see training course being available now till 2020.
 

C001

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Medical was easy,

eye sight with and without glasses.. don’t worry without I could only see the big E and that’s fine lol .. need to take your eyesight prescription if you wear glasses. Height/weight and blood pressure ... pee in a pot and check for diabetes or any infections then it gets sent away for drug and alcohol.. o you get breathalyser first thing as well. ECG and 6 cables attached to you and they run tests. Loads of stretches.. stand on tip toes and walk squatting down lol .. hearing test .. which I thought was harder than most I done but it was fine .. I do have really good hearing they said .
I’ve passed pending urine sample which I know I will of passed since I done use drugs or drink much .
 

MA8141

Member
Joined
23 Jun 2019
Messages
92
Medical was easy,

eye sight with and without glasses.. don’t worry without I could only see the big E and that’s fine lol .. need to take your eyesight prescription if you wear glasses. Height/weight and blood pressure ... pee in a pot and check for diabetes or any infections then it gets sent away for drug and alcohol.. o you get breathalyser first thing as well. ECG and 6 cables attached to you and they run tests. Loads of stretches.. stand on tip toes and walk squatting down lol .. hearing test .. which I thought was harder than most I done but it was fine .. I do have really good hearing they said .
I’ve passed pending urine sample which I know I will of passed since I done use drugs or drink much .
The wait begins now, I’ve been waiting 4 weeks this Tuesday since my medical for a start date, it feels like a lifetime.
 

C001

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148
I don’t think it will be long for us tbh ... maybe even on the same course, I know up here they are struggling for staff.. 6 vacancies on the roster, also there has been a change on the job I’ve applied for, kingmoor is not allowed junior drivers... so I heard that I’ve to go in as a junior driver mainline sound the same but I’m allowed to pass the signals in the yard, At the start till I can go on roster even though there is space already.. I’ve also have to do 75 hours handling on the mainline on normal shifts.. plus Learn the yard ... then eventually do the remaining 75hours handling and be a mainline driver.. sounds a long way to go about it but that’s what I’ve been told from inside .
 

Heaps92

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Joined
3 Sep 2018
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129
Does anyone know the realistic timeframe it will take to be qualified and driving mainline from this junior driver/apprenticeship role?
I understand it's only for a place in a talent pool, but just curious for more info on where it will take you...
I was set on as a junior driver in january and now have just finished the mainline drivers course last week. So I did about 4 months in yards then got up skilled
 

Carl95

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Joined
29 Aug 2019
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Location
Cambridgeshire
I had my medical on the 4th September and they Gave me my pencilled in start date on the 23rd September. The wait felt like it took forever but once you are told you're fit for duties the weight gets lifted off your chest big time. Hopefully won't be long for you guys now
 

MA8141

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23 Jun 2019
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92
Good effort mate ! My medical was 17th so hopefully something comes up soon enough !
 

C001

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30 Aug 2019
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148
Not 4 months about 6 months actually

see I’ve been tol
I had my medical on the 4th September and they Gave me my pencilled in start date on the 23rd September. The wait felt like it took forever but once you are told you're fit for duties the weight gets lifted off your chest big time. Hopefully won't be long for you guys now

wow that wasn’t much notice to start your course ... Im currently in the railway now and need to give 4 weeks notice to my current employer but I do have a lot of outstanding leave to take aswell but hoping I just take it at the end or they said I can cash it in ... did you phone up to get your date that you had been pencilled in for ? Where is your course as I heard that is one going on at didcot and Toton at the minute .
 

cal3533

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12 Oct 2019
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Location
Cumbria
I don’t think it will be long for us tbh ... maybe even on the same course, I know up here they are struggling for staff.. 6 vacancies on the roster, also there has been a change on the job I’ve applied for, kingmoor is not allowed junior drivers... so I heard that I’ve to go in as a junior driver mainline sound the same but I’m allowed to pass the signals in the yard, At the start till I can go on roster even though there is space already.. I’ve also have to do 75 hours handling on the mainline on normal shifts.. plus Learn the yard ... then eventually do the remaining 75hours handling and be a mainline driver.. sounds a long way to go about it but that’s what I’ve been told from inside .


Weird you say they're struggling - I've applied for this and heard very little from them regarding - I mustn't meet their criteria.
 

C001

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30 Aug 2019
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148
Weird you say they're struggling - I've applied for this and heard very little from them regarding - I mustn't meet their criteria.


Ah I thought you had said you’d started the job . I originally applied for trainee driver but then they changed it to junior driver now the union got involved and changed it to junior mainline driver because the lay out of the yard . I’ve had my medical now just waiting on start date .

And I think it’s down to what depot you applied for .. the depot I applied for there are 5 vacancies and another 1 coming up as well .
 

cal3533

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12 Oct 2019
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Location
Cumbria
Ah I thought you had said you’d started the job . I originally applied for trainee driver but then they changed it to junior driver now the union got involved and changed it to junior mainline driver because the lay out of the yard . I’ve had my medical now just waiting on start date .

And I think it’s down to what depot you applied for .. the depot I applied for there are 5 vacancies and another 1 coming up as well .


Congrats! It would be a totally different career move for me. I'm in Telecommunications at the mo. I applied for the kingmoor role too, got a response maybe 2/3 weeks after I applied to confirm some information and then nothing since. Might see if i can get an update

Hope the job goes well :)
 

C001

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Congrats! It would be a totally different career move for me. I'm in Telecommunications at the mo. I applied for the kingmoor role too, got a response maybe 2/3 weeks after I applied to confirm some information and then nothing since. Might see if i can get an update

Hope the job goes well :)

If your close to kingmoor I’d maybe put in for mossend too, some people can’t but after I passed the test I got offered a job in Southampton to start on September the 9th and was only 3 weeks notice .. so took a gamble and held off for dB . I’d go anywhere to be a freight driver tbh and get out of passenger work.
 

Carl95

Member
Joined
29 Aug 2019
Messages
11
Location
Cambridgeshire
wow that wasn’t much notice to start your course ... Im currently in the railway now and need to give 4 weeks notice to my current employer but I do have a lot of outstanding leave to take aswell but hoping I just take it at the end or they said I can cash it in ... did you phone up to get your date that you had been pencilled in for ? Where is your course as I heard that is one going on at didcot and Toton at the minute .

Sorry, I probably could have typed that better, I didn't start on the 23rd, that was the date they told me they had received the results of my medical and gave a 'pencilled in' start date. My start date is set for November
 

C001

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30 Aug 2019
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148
Sorry, I probably could have typed that better, I didn't start on the 23rd, that was the date they told me they had received the results of my medical and gave a 'pencilled in' start date. My start date is set for November


So what job have you actually got then lol ? Sorry been miss understanding lol
 

cal3533

New Member
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12 Oct 2019
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3
Location
Cumbria
If your close to kingmoor I’d maybe put in for mossend too, some people can’t but after I passed the test I got offered a job in Southampton to start on September the 9th and was only 3 weeks notice .. so took a gamble and held off for dB . I’d go anywhere to be a freight driver tbh and get out of passenger work.


Yeah have done - Thanks for the info - Will see what happens!
 

C001

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No worries lol, trainee train driver Apprentice.

Where is that based at ?

Ah **** I’ve been getting you and cal mixed up lol I didn’t realise a cal and a Carl were posting at the same time ffs

glad this wernt part of the test
 

C001

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148
There's also a calmo xD

don’t make things worse lol ah well good luck on your course, hopefully won’t be far behind you ! Do you do the full 10 weeks in the school as well, I’ve been told I’ve to do the full 10 weeks plus 75hours mainline work then finish off the other 75once they are ready to let me .
 
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