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Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Marylebone, Stourbridge and Birmingham - Talent Pool (18/02/25)

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HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
276
Location
Wembley
I guess people who have to travel far for the training are going to be at a disadvantage compared with those who live near the training centre. (in terms of being tired and time to revise)... If you live an hour north of Birmingham Moor Street, that's over 3 hours to get to Marylebone for the training. If it's a 9am classroom start, 5am rise. Then over 3 hours home aswell.. It would seem some students are going to be very tired for the classroom work and some students not so much. ?
I don’t disagree with that. Some companies put you up in hotels. Chiltern do not offer this.
 
Last edited:

Unobrow

Member
Joined
19 Nov 2024
Messages
68
Location
Manchester
Not all. I know some people who have a 2hr commute each way for their training
That’s shocking, and very tight of the company not to board them. Got to love the irony that they want you to live within an hour of your depot, but your initial course is ok to be tired for!
 

jamespowell05

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2025
Messages
17
Location
Redditch
I’ve just been informed that I passed my OPC, which I completed last Thursday before the bank holiday. I was advised it would take 7–10 working days to hear back, so I was surprised (but very happy) to receive the result yesterday, right after the Easter break.

I’ve now been invited to attend the DMI with two date options, but I’m currently out of the country with very limited WiFi access. I’ve replied to the email explaining my situation but haven’t had a response yet.

Could anyone please advise how the DMI process works in this case and whether there’s any flexibility with the interview dates?
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
276
Location
Wembley
I’ve just been informed that I passed my OPC, which I completed last Thursday before the bank holiday. I was advised it would take 7–10 working days to hear back, so I was surprised (but very happy) to receive the result yesterday, right after the Easter break.

I’ve now been invited to attend the DMI with two date options, but I’m currently out of the country with very limited WiFi access. I’ve replied to the email explaining my situation but haven’t had a response yet.

Could anyone please advise how the DMI process works in this case and whether there’s any flexibility with the interview dates?
I’ve just been informed that I passed my OPC, which I completed last Thursday before the bank holiday. I was advised it would take 7–10 working days to hear back, so I was surprised (but very happy) to receive the result yesterday, right after the Easter break.

I’ve now been invited to attend the DMI with two date options, but I’m currently out of the country with very limited WiFi access. I’ve replied to the email explaining my situation but haven’t had a response yet.

Could anyone please advise how the DMI process works in this case and whether there’s any flexibility with the interview dates?
Congratulations. Which depot?

Best thing to do is explain your situation in full.

Something might be able to be worked out here. But the earlier you mention your limitations the better.

They probably won’t entertain an interview online, so will need to be in person.
 

jamespowell05

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2025
Messages
17
Location
Redditch
Congratulations. Which depot?

Best thing to do is explain your situation in full.

Something might be able to be worked out here. But the earlier you mention your limitations the better.

They probably won’t entertain an interview online, so will need to be in person.

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Thank you for your reply! I’m so happy that I have managed to get this far, it was a fantastic experience.

It’s for Stourbridge depot. Thankfully, I’ve had chance to reply, explaining my situation and informing them that I have limited access to WiFi. However, given my current time difference, I’m five hours behind. So, I guess I just need to give them chance to respond. Fingers crossed they are able to accommodate me.
 

Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
81
Location
Birmingham
Thank you for your reply! I’m so happy that I have managed to get this far, it was a fantastic experience.

It’s for Stourbridge depot. Thankfully, I’ve had chance to reply, explaining my situation and informing them that I have limited access to WiFi. However, given my current time difference, I’m five hours behind. So, I guess I just need to give them chance to respond. Fingers crossed they are able to accommodate me.
They were pretty good with me as similar position and couldn’t make this weeks assessment dates so they have updated my file to include me on the next batch but also added me into Birmingham option
 

Rohmeric

Member
Joined
6 Jan 2025
Messages
17
Location
Lewisham
I’ve just been informed that I passed my OPC, which I completed last Thursday before the bank holiday. I was advised it would take 7–10 working days to hear back, so I was surprised (but very happy) to receive the result yesterday, right after the Easter break.

I’ve now been invited to attend the DMI with two date options, but I’m currently out of the country with very limited WiFi access. I’ve replied to the email explaining my situation but haven’t had a response yet.

Could anyone please advise how the DMI process works in this case and whether there’s any flexibility with the interview dates?
Was there any SJT or SJE in your assessment?
 

Sparrow

Member
Joined
3 May 2017
Messages
66
Failed on the last test the joysticks.

Didn’t know if was about speed thought just accurate. Arghhh

Anyway, they said I couldn’t reapply for 12 months. I thought it was 6?
 

jamespowell05

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2025
Messages
17
Location
Redditch
I’ve just had confirmation from Chiltern that their June course is now full, but they’ll be running another one in the future.

Did anyone here manage to secure a spot on the June course?
 

TobyAleAsp

Member
Joined
28 Jan 2025
Messages
5
Location
West Midlands
Well done to all that passed the assessment centre, have DMI’s coming up and those who made the June course.

Could I please ask, other than verbal confirmation on the day, should I receive an email from the OPC or Chiltern to detail the assessments that I passed? - it’s been a couple of weeks now. I passed all apart from the WAFV.
 

walterNolen

New Member
Joined
6 May 2025
Messages
2
Location
birmingham
Hi All,

I just an email with my VSE assessment. I know its been covered already but I cant seem to understand the practice paper with the shapes etc. it dont make sense unless its something else that appears on the actual assessment. Also states that I am 1.2 on my application. Not sure what to expect but if anyone can give me a pointer I’d appreciate it
 

MJT

Member
Joined
3 Feb 2025
Messages
12
Location
West Midlands
Hi All,

I just an email with my VSE assessment. I know its been covered already but I cant seem to understand the practice paper with the shapes etc. it dont make sense unless its something else that appears on the actual assessment. Also states that I am 1.2 on my application. Not sure what to expect but if anyone can give me a pointer I’d appreciate it
Think of it like reading a book. Working left to right across the page, top to bottom. The sequence from the last square on the right hand side of row 1 continues on to the first square on the left of row 2, just as words in a book do.

You need to follow the dots around each square, they should move clockwise around the square. Top left, top right, bottom right, bottom left then back to top left etc.

Whenever a dot goes out of sequence, you have to cross through that square, then carry on the sequence as if you started again from the incorrect entry you just crossed through.

So for example, if it goes, top left, top right, then bottom left, you strike through the bottom left as it has gone out of sequence by skipping bottom right. Then you start the pattern again from the incorrect bottom left, so the next correct entry should be top left, if it is carry on, if not strike through that one too, and so on...

Hope that makes sense & helps? I cant think of another way to describe it
 

walsh1990

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2025
Messages
29
Location
London
I know it’s been discussed before but it was unclear. The people who attended the OPC for Chiltern, did you have an SJE or an SJT? Or both?
 

walterNolen

New Member
Joined
6 May 2025
Messages
2
Location
birmingham
Think of it like reading a book. Working left to right across the page, top to bottom. The sequence from the last square on the right hand side of row 1 continues on to the first square on the left of row 2, just as words in a book do.

You need to follow the dots around each square, they should move clockwise around the square. Top left, top right, bottom right, bottom left then back to top left etc.

Whenever a dot goes out of sequence, you have to cross through that square, then carry on the sequence as if you started again from the incorrect entry you just crossed through.

So for example, if it goes, top left, top right, then bottom left, you strike through the bottom left as it has gone out of sequence by skipping bottom right. Then you start the pattern again from the incorrect bottom left, so the next correct entry should be top left, if it is carry on, if not strike through that one too, and so on...

Hope that makes sense & helps? I cant think of another way to describe it
Hi,

Thanks alot i appreciate it.
 

Domo

Member
Joined
20 Feb 2025
Messages
5
Location
Staines
Just got the email for my stage 1 assessment day for this, both excited and nervous.

Ill be studying all the materials they sent me of course but does anyone have any other tips I should keep in mind?

Also its a mad trek from the closest train station which is a bit annoying but workable lol
 

Neatro

Member
Joined
30 May 2018
Messages
497
Location
Birmingham
Just got the email for my stage 1 assessment day for this, both excited and nervous.

Ill be studying all the materials they sent me of course but does anyone have any other tips I should keep in mind?

Also its a mad trek from the closest train station which is a bit annoying but workable lol
I just used the practice material, and I think there's a dots app on this forum you can print the pages off and use too.

Something to keep in mind is it's mostly accuracy over speed, so prioritise accuracy but don't be too slow on stuff
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
276
Location
Wembley
Just got the email for my stage 1 assessment day for this, both excited and nervous.

Ill be studying all the materials they sent me of course but does anyone have any other tips I should keep in mind?

Also its a mad trek from the closest train station which is a bit annoying but workable lol
Watford high street is closer than Watford junction. Trains run every 15 minutes on london overground. But by the time you’ve changed from junction you could have walked half way there.

Small price to pay for lots on the line. the walk might settle the nerves a little. Get some music on :)

Good luck
 

walsh1990

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2025
Messages
29
Location
London
Just got the email for my stage 1 assessment day for this, both excited and nervous.

Ill be studying all the materials they sent me of course but does anyone have any other tips I should keep in mind?

Also its a mad trek from the closest train station which is a bit annoying but workable lol
Congratulations and good luck! Which depot?
 

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