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DB Cargo Talent Pool

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1867Blue

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4 Jun 2021
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181
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Sheffield
Hi everyone.

new to the forum so go easy on me please.

I have successfully passed my assessment and interview and have been placed in a talent pool. I wondered if anybody had been on a talent pool before and how long they was waiting for a start date?

also be interested to hear from people that’s started as a junior driver at DB Cargo and if they could give me a little more information on how things go with training and stuff.

thanks in advance
 
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steve_wills

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1 Jun 2021
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Birmingham
Hi everyone.

new to the forum so go easy on me please.

I have successfully passed my assessment and interview and have been placed in a talent pool. I wondered if anybody had been on a talent pool before and how long they was waiting for a start date?

also be interested to hear from people that’s started as a junior driver at DB Cargo and if they could give me a little more information on how things go with training and stuff.

thanks in advance
How long is a piece of string. Sorry mate Good luck
 

BigChip90

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Joined
19 May 2021
Messages
34
Location
Nottingham
Could be months or it could be over a year by the sounds of most of the railway recruitment drives.

Which drive was this from as I know they have advertised for more trainees/talent pool opportunities last month.
 

Atishyou

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Joined
1 Jan 2012
Messages
485
Location
North West
Hi everyone.

new to the forum so go easy on me please.

I have successfully passed my assessment and interview and have been placed in a talent pool. I wondered if anybody had been on a talent pool before and how long they was waiting for a start date?

also be interested to hear from people that’s started as a junior driver at DB Cargo and if they could give me a little more information on how things go with training and stuff.

thanks in advance
Some people have been a matter of weeks, some over a year and still waiting.

Training, once you get a job is usually depending on if you're mainline or junior.

It's usually PTS and traction, a week at home depot at some point, followed by rules.

Then it's back to home depot for handling, followed by route learning when you've passed out.

Simulator is usually included somewhere in the latter stages.
 

Tug 62

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Joined
9 Dec 2018
Messages
19
You won't be in a talent pool for long with DB recruiting 200+ drivers. I've just trained up a junior driver to mainline driver, i've now got a trainee with me who was straight off the street and there are two more awaiting mentors. Our Contracts Delivery Manager is interviewing for trainee drivers again next week. New contracts on the horizon and a requirement to backfill Mobile Train Drivers who will moving over to HS2 work in the near future.
 

1867Blue

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4 Jun 2021
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181
Location
Sheffield
Could be months or it could be over a year by the sounds of most of the railway recruitment drives.

Which drive was this from as I know they have advertised for more trainees/talent pool opportunities last month.
I applied for the position in November 2020, I found out I was in the talent pool at the end of May 2021

You won't be in a talent pool for long with DB recruiting 200+ drivers. I've just trained up a junior driver to mainline driver, i've now got a trainee with me who was straight off the street and there are two more awaiting mentors. Our Contracts Delivery Manager is interviewing for trainee drivers again next week. New contracts on the horizon and a requirement to backfill Mobile Train Drivers who will moving over to HS2 work in the near future.
Hi Tug,

do you work for DB then? Sounds like they’re trying to recruit a lot of people as I’ve seen lots of advertisements for other stations. I think I will be a junior driver. Would you be able to advise the difference between junior and trainee driver? Would they train me up to mainline driver eventually you think?
 

Tug 62

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9 Dec 2018
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I applied for the position in November 2020, I found out I was in the talent pool at the end of May 2021


Hi Tug,

do you work for DB then? Sounds like they’re trying to recruit a lot of people as I’ve seen lots of advertisements for other stations. I think I will be a junior driver. Would you be able to advise the difference between junior and trainee driver? Would they train me up to mainline driver eventually you think?

The only difference i am aware of between a junior and trainee driver is the number of hours train handling you do, i think junior driver is 50 hrs (it might be 75 hrs) and a trainee driver is 150 hrs. The qualified junior driver i have just trained up to mainline driver has had to do another 150 hrs train handling, the same as a driver off the street. A junior driver works in yards doing slow speed driving/shunting, a trainee driver passes out to mainline standards, at my depot we don't have junior drivers (no yard work) only trainee drivers. All junior drivers would be offered mainline courses as positions become available.
 

1867Blue

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4 Jun 2021
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181
Location
Sheffield
The only difference i am aware of between a junior and trainee driver is the number of hours train handling you do, i think junior driver is 50 hrs (it might be 75 hrs) and a trainee driver is 150 hrs. The qualified junior driver i have just trained up to mainline driver has had to do another 150 hrs train handling, the same as a driver off the street. A junior driver works in yards doing slow speed driving/shunting, a trainee driver passes out to mainline standards, at my depot we don't have junior drivers (no yard work) only trainee drivers. All junior drivers would be offered mainline courses as positions become available.
Thank you, mate.
In previous positions I’ve had to get 1000+ training hours in.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
 

Tug 62

Member
Joined
9 Dec 2018
Messages
19
Thank you, mate.
In previous positions I’ve had to get 1000+ training hours in.
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
When we talk of train handling we normally refer to wheels turned, in an average week it's normally around 15 hrs, so for someone off the street around 10 weeks, but that doesn't include two weeks on a simulator and 25/50/75 etc assessments. And the 150 hours is a minimum, the trainee may feel that they need more hours to get up to speed or the Mentor may feel that the trainee needs more shunting/light engine moves or more day/night hours, nothing is set in stone.
 

Atishyou

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Joined
1 Jan 2012
Messages
485
Location
North West
The only difference i am aware of between a junior and trainee driver is the number of hours train handling you do, i think junior driver is 50 hrs (it might be 75 hrs) and a trainee driver is 150 hrs. The qualified junior driver i have just trained up to mainline driver has had to do another 150 hrs train handling, the same as a driver off the street. A junior driver works in yards doing slow speed driving/shunting, a trainee driver passes out to mainline standards, at my depot we don't have junior drivers (no yard work) only trainee drivers. All junior drivers would be offered mainline courses as positions become available.
Think it was 40 hours for those that didn't cross the mainline and now 75 for those that do.

Driving hours are wheels turning as Tug 62 says, so if you're on a 9 hour shift, depending on the job, you could get an hour, or you could get 5 for example. SIM hours 'top up' the total to 220 I think, although that's more to pick up on things you may not see, as you obviously don't get the feel of the train on gradients etc.
 

Tug 62

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9 Dec 2018
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It's still the best job ever :) 100 times better than passenger work:D:D:D Last night i booked on at 1759 job cancelled, spent an hour talking to the fitter, 2 hours later i was sat outside the pub having a pint. That never ever happened in the thirteen years i was driving pass trains for Northern:lol:

Think it was 40 hours for those that didn't cross the mainline and now 75 for those that do.

Driving hours are wheels turning as Tug 62 says, so if you're on a 9 hour shift, depending on the job, you could get an hour, or you could get 5 for example. SIM hours 'top up' the total to 220 I think, although that's more to pick up on things you may not see, as you obviously don't get the feel of the train on gradients etc.
You soon get a a feel for gradients at Peak Forest :)
 
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Tug 62

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9 Dec 2018
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I know a mentor driver at Peak.
We both joined DB from TOCs in 2015, is it you I wonder.
Steve, yes it's me :lol: hope you are as well as can be expected :lol: keep that XR4I on your trailer :D
 
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Atishyou

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Joined
1 Jan 2012
Messages
485
Location
North West
It's still the best job ever :) 100 times better than passenger work:D:D:D Last night i booked on at 1759 job cancelled, spent an hour talking to the fitter, 2 hours later i was sat outside the pub having a pint. That never ever happened in the thirteen years i was driving pass trains for Northern:lol:


You soon get a a feel for gradients at Peak Forest :)
Yeah I bet. Not quite as severe as my hub, but you get to use them for your benefit when you shut off and enjoy the silence!
 

Tug 62

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Yeah I bet. Not quite as severe as my hub, but you get to use them for your benefit when you shut off and enjoy the silence!
Your hub can't be Crewe or Warrington then, i've lost track of the number of times i've had to dig you're train out of long sidings then :lol:
 

1867Blue

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4 Jun 2021
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Sheffield
Steve, yes it's me :lol: hope you are as well as can be expected :lol: keep that XR4I on your trailer :D
Hi Tug

it’s Peak forest where I am in the talent pool. Maybe you will be teaching me in the near future.
Fingers crossed I’m not waiting too long.
 

Tug 62

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9 Dec 2018
Messages
19
Hi Tug

it’s Peak forest where I am in the talent pool. Maybe you will be teaching me in the near future.
Fingers crossed I’m not waiting too long.
PM me your name and i will have a chat with PJ (CDM) next week, and i will try and find out where we are up to :D
 
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NorthernTech

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12 Apr 2021
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642
Location
Uk
You won't be in a talent pool for long with DB recruiting 200+ drivers. I've just trained up a junior driver to mainline driver, i've now got a trainee with me who was straight off the street and there are two more awaiting mentors. Our Contracts Delivery Manager is interviewing for trainee drivers again next week. New contracts on the horizon and a requirement to backfill Mobile Train Drivers who will moving over to HS2 work in the near future.
Evening. Do you know if the interviews being conducted are from this campaign? Or are they internals who have been waiting a while to move onto Driving? Are they really after 200+? Seems a huge amount. Thanks.
 

jonge88

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21 Apr 2021
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31
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I've been in a talent pool since July 2019 for DB for a groundstaff position, can be in it for up to 5 years then you come back out.

For a few weeks every time my phone rang I was rushing to get it thinking "is this it?" but after a while that excitement wears off and you just get on with life..
 

Tug 62

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9 Dec 2018
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19
Evening. Do you know if the interviews being conducted are from this campaign? Or are they internals who have been waiting a while to move onto Driving? Are they really after 200+? Seems a huge amount. Thanks.
Interviews are still being conducted from the last campaign, i do know a qualified driver who should have started recently but was leapfrogged by an internal candidate from another depot (he has been kept informed) , it's pretty fluid at the moment so people shouldn't give up hope. Lots of new work for all the freight companies and plenty of retirements in the coming months.
 

Tz55uk

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Joined
17 Nov 2017
Messages
77
Hi all, watched this and read it ,I was on assessment 2018 and then interview 2019 all brilliant and passed for East and West Midlands, but unfortunately covid kicked in and stopped everything, but I'm interested in any one who was on the same assessments at that time if they have heard anything with going forward and possibly getting start dates etc, any help be great cheers all
 

1867Blue

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4 Jun 2021
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181
Location
Sheffield
Hi all, watched this and read it ,I was on assessment 2018 and then interview 2019 all brilliant and passed for East and West Midlands, but unfortunately covid kicked in and stopped everything, but I'm interested in any one who was on the same assessments at that time if they have heard anything with going forward and possibly getting start dates etc, any help be great cheers all
Hi Tz55uk.

I applied for November 20 and got put in a talent pool at the end of May 21
 

1867Blue

Member
Joined
4 Jun 2021
Messages
181
Location
Sheffield
Hi all, watched this and read it ,I was on assessment 2018 and then interview 2019 all brilliant and passed for East and West Midlands, but unfortunately covid kicked in and stopped everything, but I'm interested in any one who was on the same assessments at that time if they have heard anything with going forward and possibly getting start dates etc, any help be great cheers all
I’ve been invited for a medical. Hoping that means things are progressing and a start date is closer.
 

iwasyoungonce

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15 Dec 2019
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Location
uk
I believe there are a few that have got medicals this month and a course starting end of July as well, things are looking up for Freight.
 

Eddie77

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18 Jun 2021
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Glasgow
Hi all, watched this and read it ,I was on assessment 2018 and then interview 2019 all brilliant and passed for East and West Midlands, but unfortunately covid kicked in and stopped everything, but I'm interested in any one who was on the same assessments at that time if they have heard anything with going forward and possibly getting start dates etc, any help be great cheers all
Not quite the same, I passed my assessments in November 2019 and was put into the Talent Pool for Mossend in December 2019. Still waiting for a position and haven't heard anything from them. Keep waiting with my fingers crossed I guess
 

1867Blue

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4 Jun 2021
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181
Location
Sheffield
I had my medical this week, but no start date just yet. Anyone from the November 2020 or even the 2021 recruitment drive in a similar position?
 
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