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GWR Train Driver talent pool

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Good news, i got the call today as well! :) Start training December 2nd subject to me passing the medical this month.

Thought i was in for a long wait but has really progressed fast over the last few weeks. Xmas has come early
 
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RailUK Forums

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5 Sep 2018
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Good news, i got the call today as well! :) Start December 2nd subject to me passing the medical this month.

Thought i was in for a long wait but has really progressed fast over the last few weeks. Xmas has come early
 

DJB

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Yeah i did it at reading. Think it was at 10am if I remember correctly. HEX how about yourself? Yes I believe it was mid February some time. I’m sure I was told the 23rd but that’s a Sunday so can’t be right. The phone call took me by surprise so it’s all a bit of a blur haha.
 

Liam00086

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11 Mar 2019
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Yeah i did it at reading. Think it was at 10am if I remember correctly. HEX how about yourself? Yes I believe it was mid February some time. I’m sure I was told the 23rd but that’s a Sunday so can’t be right. The phone call took me by surprise so it’s all a bit of a blur haha.

ah cool, I’m at fratton. It did me too, but a very good surprise indeed
 

Tommy222256

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28 Mar 2019
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Anyone had any feedback from the September Medicals? Doc passed me as fit for work so just wondered what the next phase would be. Uniform fitting was done the same time as the medical.
Good news, i got the call today as well! :) Start December 2nd subject to me passing the medical this month.

Thought i was in for a long wait but has really progressed fast over the last few weeks. Xmas has come early
they say where your course was being held?, I’m on the 2nd but for Oxford so not sure is two courses at the same time!
 

Daydr3am3r

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408
Good news, i got the call today as well! :) Start December 2nd subject to me passing the medical this month.

Thought i was in for a long wait but has really progressed fast over the last few weeks. Xmas has come early

Congratulations CC.

I’ll see you there :lol:
 

DJB

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they say where your course was being held?, I’m on the 2nd but for Oxford so not sure is two courses at the same time!

No idea where the course will be. The HR lady told me it will likely be varied locations based on what type of training.
 

Daydr3am3r

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7 Dec 2018
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They said the classroom part would be at Newton Abbot

Yes that’s what I’ve been told for us in the South West. I presume we would all be together for the first week or so, and then get farmed off to the local areas after that.
You external Cornish?
 

Stigy

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Yes that’s what I’ve been told for us in the South West. I presume we would all be together for the first week or so, and then get farmed off to the local areas after that.
You external Cornish?
Regarding the training; For the 19-weeks or so classroom training you'll be based at one training academy (Bristol, Reading, Plymouth (I believe?) or Newton Abbott). There will be a couple of weeks throughout this time that you'll be at your Home Depot from front end riding and maybe a week's leave, though. You'll have a couple of days for corporate welcome etc if you're external to GWR, plus some tablet training which will likely be in Swindon.

If your training academy (or any training such as welcome and tablet training) is more than 90-minutes from home you'll be supplied accommodation (as I am) Sunday to Thursday. There may be more than one course starting on the same date for different academies so you may find that not everybody here for the 2nd of December are all going to be on the same course. There was a Reading course which started on the same day as my Bristol one back in July. If that's the case, you'll be on the same corporate welcome, but will then go your separate ways.
 

Ebee

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12 Aug 2018
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Regarding the training; For the 19-weeks or so classroom training you'll be based at one training academy (Bristol, Reading, Plymouth (I believe?) or Newton Abbott). There will be a couple of weeks throughout this time that you'll be at your Home Depot from front end riding and maybe a week's leave, though. You'll have a couple of days for corporate welcome etc if you're external to GWR, plus some tablet training which will likely be in Swindon.

If your training academy (or any training such as welcome and tablet training) is more than 90-minutes from home you'll be supplied accommodation (as I am) Sunday to Thursday. There may be more than one course starting on the same date for different academies so you may find that not everybody here for the 2nd of December are all going to be on the same course. There was a Reading course which started on the same day as my Bristol one back in July. If that's the case, you'll be on the same corporate welcome, but will then go your separate ways.
More than an hour and 30 from home Depot I was told for accommodation. Luckily I'm only in Swindon for 3 days.
 

mud455

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9 Apr 2019
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Hi, anyone on here for the October intake? Anyone going to be based at Paddington?
 

Stigy

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More than an hour and 30 from home Depot I was told for accommodation. Luckily I'm only in Swindon for 3 days.
Yeah, my mistake, it is from your depot rather than home.
 

Dtrucker

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10 Jul 2019
Messages
32
Regarding the training; For the 19-weeks or so classroom training you'll be based at one training academy (Bristol, Reading, Plymouth (I believe?) or Newton Abbott). There will be a couple of weeks throughout this time that you'll be at your Home Depot from front end riding and maybe a week's leave, though. You'll have a couple of days for corporate welcome etc if you're external to GWR, plus some tablet training which will likely be in Swindon.

If your training academy (or any training such as welcome and tablet training) is more than 90-minutes from home you'll be supplied accommodation (as I am) Sunday to Thursday. There may be more than one course starting on the same date for different academies so you may find that not everybody here for the 2nd of December are all going to be on the same course. There was a Reading course which started on the same day as my Bristol one back in July. If that's the case, you'll be on the same corporate welcome, but will then go your separate ways.
How difficult is the training?
 

RobG

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9 Apr 2019
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Hello. Just found this thread. I applied for the Talent Pool for Bristol Temple Meads at the end of June 2019. Completed the online assessment the same day. Still showing as Submitted in my First Group Careers account. No idea how long until the next stage. Been told by HR I will be contacted.

Hey buddy, just seen your reply on the thread and that you’ve not had a reply. I’m in the same boat, having applied and passed all the online assessments at the end of June. Just like you, all my online profile says is “submitted”. I did email them a little while ago and all I got back was a generic response saying that they have my application, are working on it and will contact me in due course. Initially I was checking my online account and emails every day, but that started to taper off. Now I check occasionally and I’m just lurking on here every so often to see if anyone else that applied at the same time has heard anything to get an indication of wether to expect an email any time soon, but starting to think it won’t be this year. From reading posts from other users, the scenario we’re currently in doesn’t seem to be uncommon, so sadly it seems that we’ve just got to keep waiting.
 

Stigy

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4,879
How difficult is the training?
It’s not a walk in the park and you’ll have to apply yourself and keep on top of revision etc, but it’s okay as far as the classroom stuff goes. Can’t comment on the handling yet but I’m expecting plenty more challenges ahead.
 

Daydr3am3r

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7 Dec 2018
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408
Hello. Just found this thread. I applied for the Talent Pool for Bristol Temple Meads at the end of June 2019. Completed the online assessment the same day. Still showing as Submitted in my First Group Careers account. No idea how long until the next stage. Been told by HR I will be contacted.

It seems that Exeter depot was prioritised over BTM, however a couple of my friends have now seen movement in the last month for Bristol. They applied in Dec 18. Be patient and have a little faith, as it will come!
 

Tommy222256

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Joined
28 Mar 2019
Messages
150
Regarding the training; For the 19-weeks or so classroom training you'll be based at one training academy (Bristol, Reading, Plymouth (I believe?) or Newton Abbott). There will be a couple of weeks throughout this time that you'll be at your Home Depot from front end riding and maybe a week's leave, though. You'll have a couple of days for corporate welcome etc if you're external to GWR, plus some tablet training which will likely be in Swindon.

If your training academy (or any training such as welcome and tablet training) is more than 90-minutes from home you'll be supplied accommodation (as I am) Sunday to Thursday. There may be more than one course starting on the same date for different academies so you may find that not everybody here for the 2nd of December are all going to be on the same course. There was a Reading course which started on the same day as my Bristol one back in July. If that's the case, you'll be on the same corporate welcome, but will then go your separate ways.
I hope there is two courses running on the 2nd December unless it means some of us are going to have to travel a fair distance depending where training is at!
 

Daydr3am3r

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408
I’m certain there will be mate. Be good to catch up with you on the induction event at Swindon though.
 

Dtrucker

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32
It’s not a walk in the park and you’ll have to apply yourself and keep on top of revision etc, but it’s okay as far as the classroom stuff goes. Can’t comment on the handling yet but I’m expecting plenty more challenges ahead.
Thanks stigy. I got medical in Plymouth on the 21st and if all goes well il start the course in January. I can imagine it being challenging with lots of revision to be done
 

obrut165

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Joined
8 Jul 2010
Messages
47
Location
Yatton,Bristol
It’s not a walk in the park and you’ll have to apply yourself and keep on top of revision etc, but it’s okay as far as the classroom stuff goes. Can’t comment on the handling yet but I’m expecting plenty more challenges ahead.
Also been told that you need to keep your head down and not think you know it all? Rumours there has been a few problems in one group with disruptive behaviour!
 
Joined
5 Sep 2018
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36
Yes, I am external.

My situation might be different from some of you as I will be confined to train movements from Laria Depot to Plymouth Station and won't be mainline passengers for maybe 2 years. Apparently you get the same driver course and learn all traction but I won't get mainline route knowledge or carry passengers.

It wasn't the role I originally applied for but they offered me the position and its an excellent step in getting to mainline driving and the 2 years will fly by, so I am just as excited and I'm kind of in the grade, some of you will know more about it than I do, Let me know what I'm talking about lol.
 

Stigy

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Yes, I am external.

My situation might be different from some of you as I will be confined to train movements from Laria Depot to Plymouth Station and won't be mainline passengers for maybe 2 years. Apparently you get the same driver course and learn all traction but I won't get mainline route knowledge or carry passengers.

It wasn't the role I originally applied for but they offered me the position and its an excellent step in getting to mainline driving and the 2 years will fly by, so I am just as excited and I'm kind of in the grade, some of you will know more about it than I do, Let me know what I'm talking about lol.
You won’t do the same course as mainline, as far as I’m aware the majority of your training would be ‘on the job’ rather than classroom based?
 

Stigy

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4,879
Also been told that you need to keep your head down and not think you know it all? Rumours there has been a few problems in one group with disruptive behaviour!
Yes, that’s a good point too :E:E
 

tiptoptaff

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15 Feb 2013
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2,983
You won’t do the same course as mainline, as far as I’m aware the majority of your training would be ‘on the job’ rather than classroom based?
They'll have to do the full course to be allows to work between the station and Laira
 

Devon156

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3 Jan 2019
Messages
45
Yes, I am external.

My situation might be different from some of you as I will be confined to train movements from Laria Depot to Plymouth Station and won't be mainline passengers for maybe 2 years. Apparently you get the same driver course and learn all traction but I won't get mainline route knowledge or carry passengers.

It wasn't the role I originally applied for but they offered me the position and its an excellent step in getting to mainline driving and the 2 years will fly by, so I am just as excited and I'm kind of in the grade, some of you will know more about it than I do, Let me know what I'm talking about lol.
Which role did you apply for?
 
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