Avanti - Trainee Train Drivers - Multiple Locations (28/02/23)

[Harvinder]

Thank you for getting back to me.

I’m guessing the priority depots are being sorted first then they’ll move onto the ones that aren’t so desperate for staff.

I really struggled with that question also, especially due to it being an optional question.

I want to move away from my TOC and start afresh somewhere else driving different trains.

I hope all goes well for you!

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Are you doing it on paper rather than online.

10-11 lines is great and the errors are also really low. I remember thinking when I did mine how much easier their group bourdon was as it was so much clearer and really easy to spot the groups of 4, I think I remember there being 3 patterns of 4 and I just looked for them.

thank you, good to know! I am just printing them and doing it, no point doing it on the computer as it will not reflect the real test! I am aiming for 0 errors

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No one knows really.

Is that a practise run or the real test?

Practice

 

[Driver_Nik]

thank you, good to know! I am just printing them and doing it, no point doing it on the computer as it will not reflect the real test! I am aiming for 0 errors

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Practice

Yes I was going to suggest printing. A guy on the assessment day with me practiced on the computer and failed on Dots.

Good luck!

 

[Harvinder]

Yes I was going to suggest printing. A guy on the assessment day with me practiced on the computer and failed on Dots.

Good luck!

Thank you sir

 

[nolypops83]

Hi, as far as I'm aware nobody who applied to Manchester, at least on this forum got further than the initial 5 assessments, which I find interesting.

That said, I'm guessing that forum members only make up a small percentage of the overall Manc applicants so who knows?!

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I've been mulling over the whole application process and I actually think, and I'm being genuinely serious here by the way, that the toughest question to answer was why you want to work for Avanti.

Of course I made up some guff as I felt that "err no idea, because you're piss poor in literally every area aside from salary and traction" would have been frowned upon and I'm also pretty certain that " I want to drive 390's" wouldn't have cut the mustard either.

I personally would struggle if I was at interview stage and I had to sit there in front of the DTM's spouting a load of untruths, knowing that they are perfectly aware that I am indeed spouting untruths

Virgin would have been a different story as there were multiple reasons anyone would want to work for them. Not being embarrassed to wear the uniform for a start...

I get you. I think for most people looking to become a trainee driver it's the job we're after rather than the specific TOC. Some trainees are limited geographically as to who they can apply for, I'm lucky as I have a few options in the North West area.

I wrote roughly 1000 words prior to the application opening then had to whittle it down to 950 characters which was tough. I picked one of the sections off the prospectus or the job advert that resonated with me. For me that was their commitment to increasing the numbers of women drivers, but I could have also talked about their representation of the LGBTQ+ community, commitment to reducing carbon emissions, improving their services for disabled passengers. Chose to focus on the positives without mentioning their recent performance levels, which have been shocking but seem to be improving.

 

[TK.]

Any Manchester applicants had anything back yet after initial 5 tests?

Congratulations to all so far who have progressed.

Does anybody know how old the psychometrics can be for avanti. Mine are 2.5 years old passed at advanced level. I don’t mind redoing them but I’d rather not (I understand I’ll have to re-do the interview).

Also, has anybody from Manchester managed to get passed the first stage?

Manchester applicant here... I had the 28day email last week. But nothing else..
Wishing I'd applied for Liverpool now as I may of heard sooner.
It seems the Manchester process isn't moving as quickly, maybe due to lack of vacancies I'm guessing? ...

 

[Driver_Nik]

Any Manchester applicants had anything back yet after initial 5 tests?

Manchester applicant here... I had the 28day email last week. But nothing else..
Wishing I'd applied for Liverpool now as I may of heard sooner.
It seems the Manchester process isn't moving as quickly, maybe due to lack of vacancies I'm guessing? ...

Yes I had the 28 email and nothing since either. A friend of mine was rejected the same day I got the 28 day email so figured it was a positive.

I did think about Liverpool also but i didn’t fancy the motorway drives in rush hour traffic to get there, or early hours of the morning after a long shift.

Hopefully Manchester is next

 

[ThePeakNed]

Do we know the official stance if failing the SJE means you’ve lost a life or…?

 

[TK.]

Yes I had the 28 email and nothing since either. A friend of mine was rejected the same day I got the 28 day email so figured it was a positive.

I did think about Liverpool also but i didn’t fancy the motorway drives in rush hour traffic to get there, or early hours of the morning after a long shift.

Hopefully Manchester is next

Yeah I'm kinda hoping the same really, that maybe silence is a positive thing. Keeping everything crossed!!

I'm actually closer to Liverpool but I had Manchester in my head for some reason, I'm pretty much located in between both.

Thinking positive .. hopefully we'll find out soon

 

[Spincity]

Do we know the official stance if failing the SJE means you’ve lost a life or…?

the SJE is part of the assessment process so as Avanti website states…..For the trainee driver process, individuals have 2-lifetime attempts. If they fail any stage more than twice, they are not able to reapply. These lifetime attempts extend to all attempts across any train operator. The only exception is that Avanti and several other train operators use enhanced standards on assessments whereas others operate what is called 'national standard', which is the minimum set by the Rail Standards Board. Individuals can sometimes pass to the national standard but not Avanti Standard. On these occasions, if they pass to National Standard but not Avanti, they use up a lifetime attempt for Avanti but not others that operate national standard.

 

[MDS72]

Had am email saying I passed the vse but failed the sjt, so I'm out...... would this effect another try with another toc should any come come up within the next 6 months? Sorry if this question has been asked previously.

 

[JohnL93]

Any Manchester applicants had anything back yet after initial 5 tests?

Manchester applicant here... I had the 28day email last week. But nothing else..
Wishing I'd applied for Liverpool now as I may of heard sooner.
It seems the Manchester process isn't moving as quickly, maybe due to lack of vacancies I'm guessing? ...

Or it could be the fact that the HS2 line to Manchester has been delayed until 2043. Who knows

 

[User7]

Passed the VSE and SJT. Got to travel to Watford on 13th April. Wolverhampton applicant.

 

[Thunderpantz]

Just received my email for the Assessment Day. Wolves applicant, although the assessment is in Watford

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Passed the VSE and SJT. Got to travel to Watford on 13th April. Wolverhampton applicant.

You and me both mate, I’ll see you there

 

[User7]

Just received my email for the Assessment Day. Wolves applicant, although the assessment is in Watford

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You and me both mate, I’ll see you there

A couple of days after i get back from Benidorm lol! See you there

 

[y4d344]

Passed the VSE and SJT. Got to travel to Watford on 13th April. Wolverhampton applicant.

Congratulations! When did you complete them ?

 

[User7]

Congratulations! When did you complete them ?

I completed mine on 18th.

 

[Bd27]

Still no word for Polmadie as it edged closer and closer to the Easter holidays. Sod’s Law I will hear when we’re away in Spain with no laptop or much WiFi

 

[voyager2023]

I completed mine on 18th.

Passed the VSE and SJT. Got to travel to Watford on 13th April. Wolverhampton applicant.

congratulations! Did you get practice material with email?

 

[User7]

Thank You! I did not, I’ve just replied to the email confirming my attendance and asking for the practise material.

 

[kajojek3232]

Thank You! I did not, I’ve just replied to the email confirming my attendance and asking for the practise material.

Was the practise material not at the bottom of the email as a pdf file?

 

[User7]

Was the practise material not at the bottom of the email as a pdf file?

No, it’s literally just been sent out separately!

 

[Dk1992]

Still no word for Polmadie as it edged closer and closer to the Easter holidays. Sod’s Law I will hear when we’re away in Spain with no laptop or much WiFi

Hi mate, I’m still waiting to hear back for polmadie. I received 28 day email on 22nd of March, did you get this too?

 

[Harvinder]

Any practice material apart from the email about rules and regulations part 2, the dials part?

 

[FlyinScotsman.]

Seems to have gone a bit quiet, did anyone receive invites to the next stage today?

 

[IW22]

Seems to have gone a bit quiet, did anyone receive invites to the next stage today?

No buddy ,had my test on 22nd with a deadline of 24th and heard nowt for liverpool

 

[y4d344]

No buddy ,had my test on 22nd with a deadline of 24th and heard nowt for liverpool

Same position, completed VSE & SJT on 21st with a deadline of 23rd. Still no correspondence. Euston applicant. Hopefully news next week!

 

[jdwmfc]

There are still people waiting for all stages of the process.

I know that people say it takes a long time in the rail industry but this seems crazy to have people waiting at every stage of the process.

It makes me want to get a job in recruitment just to try and understand their thinking is.

I've had three 28 day emails since the initial five tests and nothing else. Another week to wait, unless of course they mean business days in which case it's a few more weeks

 

[Sparrowman]

There are still people waiting for all stages of the process.

I know that people say it takes a long time in the rail industry but this seems crazy to have people waiting at every stage of the process.

It makes me want to get a job in recruitment just to try and understand their thinking is.

I've had three 28 day emails since the initial five tests and nothing else. Another week to wait, unless of course they mean business days in which case it's a few more weeks

There are still some of us who have not heard anything at all (no 28 day email) since the initial tests.

Again, I appreciate that there will be a lot of work to process all the applications but it can't be beyond the wit of man to provide better updates.

 

[Funkyfairy]

There are still some of us who have not heard anything at all (no 28 day email) since the initial tests.

Again, I appreciate that there will be a lot of work to process all the applications but it can't be beyond the wit of man to provide better updates.

Totally agree. I’m still waiting to hear from my initial 5 assessments (no 28 day email either)

 

[Harvinder]

There are still people waiting for all stages of the process.

I know that people say it takes a long time in the rail industry but this seems crazy to have people waiting at every stage of the process.

It makes me want to get a job in recruitment just to try and understand their thinking is.

I've had three 28 day emails since the initial five tests and nothing else. Another week to wait, unless of course they mean business days in which case it's a few more weeks

I have been waiting for more than three months for the trainee tram driver position in Croydon! I have done just the first stage, absolutely no communication whatsoever after this! Had to chase them up numerous times with the same generic reply that it is with the hiring manager for review! This company is speedier than them!