TransPennine Trains - Trainee Driver Recruitment Discussion

[iwasyoungonce]

TPE Careers

www.tpexpresscareers.co.uk

 

[transportphoto]

For wider reference, to save you the need to click the link, here’s the summary of today’s vacancy:

Trainee Train Driver – Manchester Piccadilly

• Salary during training: £27,585pa
• Salary increasing to (after 8 weeks of completed training) is: £66,664pa
• Hours: Around the clock shift work including weekends
• Location: Manchester Piccadilly
• Course Start Date: Autumn 2025

I’ve tweaked the thread title to cover any future TPE trainee driver recruitment

 

[MH117]

Does anybody know where TPE tend to do their classroom training?

 

[dodecahedron67]

Does anybody know where TPE tend to do their classroom training?

Huddersfield - if the depot you apply for is over 1h30 away (i.e Glasgow, Scarborough, Newcastle, Cleethorpes - maybe Preston) you'll get a hotel provided M-F for the training

 

[ayaz2001]

its crazy that theyre using AI to sift thru the applications

 

[NorthernTech]

its crazy that theyre using AI to sift thru the applications

They always use some form of computer sift for the initial applications when it’s a popular job, there is no way a small hr dept, often of 1 person, can sift through thousands of applications! That’s why your application needs to reflect that you are the right candidate for the job. Then you may get sent some online testing to do, this sifts a few more. Then those who place high in this will either get an interview or psychometric testing, whichever way round they do this, company depending. This will then land you in a talent pool of applicants, those with higher scores are likely to progress first.

 

[Sorcerer]

Since no other post has mentioned it so far, the current positions for Trainee Train Drivers at TransPenine Express at the time of this post are at Manchester Piccadilly, Newcastle, Preston, Scarborough, and York. Closing dates are all 7 July 2025, but as is common practice in the industry these vacancies can be closed early due to the number of applications the TOC can receive. Best of luck to everyone who applies!

TPE Careers

www.tpexpresscareers.co.uk

 

[Geordie123]

I’ve just applied and been invited to do the online assessments which they state should take around 30 minutes.

What is involved in the tests at this stage, will it be a mini SCAAT, or SJT or something else?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[NorthernTech]

A quick search in the Assessments Thread or use of the search bar at the top will probably take you to previous TPE application and some answers

 

[ayaz2001]

its standard interview questions. u talk to an ai chat bot who acts like an interviewer.
questions like tell a time when u stayed calm during a high pressure situation. its 5 questions. a bit different from when i did this two years ago

 

[gary1234]

Hey everyone - I’m just on with the application now. Where it asks for your job role and it’s 5,000 word count did you go into a lot of detail how your job matches a train driver?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2025 ==

its standard interview questions. u talk to an ai chat bot who acts like an interviewer.
questions like tell a time when u stayed calm during a high pressure situation. its 5 questions. a bit different from when i did this two years ago

Hey did you apply?

 

[ZackCulross]

Hey everyone - I’m just on with the application now. Where it asks for your job role and it’s 5,000 word count did you go into a lot of detail how your job matches a train driver?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2025 ==


Hey did you apply?

You sure it's not 5000 character limit, and not word as 5000 word limit is 10 pages to describe how your job matches a train driver, seems excessive.

 

[Manda2194]

I’ve just applied and been invited to do the online assessments which they state should take around 30 minutes.

What is involved in the tests at this stage, will it be a mini SCAAT, or SJT or something else?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

I have applied for this before and the process is completely different so I don’t imagine anyone will really know

 

[ayaz2001]

Hey did you apply?

Yeah i did. I applied in 2023 aswell and got thru to the computer stage. i only failed the hand to eye coordination .

 

[fabs]

its crazy that theyre using AI to sift thru the applications

AI won’t be exclusively sifting.

 

[Manda2194]

AI won’t be exclusively sifting.

From what I can tell it’s more looking by for personality traits

 

[TTD31]

Crazy salary jump after only 8 weeks training.

 

[Jordan1991]

Does anyone know whether you have to wait until the advert closes before we get the results of the AI interview?

 

[MH117]

Does anyone know whether you have to wait until the advert closes before we get the results of the AI interview?

Unsure, 2 years ago the results for the initial online sift were very quick and I received mine before the advert closed but this time round it’s different tests so who knows.

 

[Jordan1991]

Ok thank you. I’ll keep an eye on my emails

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2025 ==

Unsure, 2 years ago the results for the initial online sift were very quick and I received mine before the advert closed but this time round it’s different tests so who knows.

How far did you get 2 years ago mate? Did you make it to the talent bank?

Also, does you know how long TPE accept psychometrics for? I’m in the talent bank for Avanti but it’s been over 2 years now. My test are valid for 5 but unsure if this Toc accepts that

 

[dodecahedron67]

TPE is 3y psychometrics

 

[ayaz2001]

i think its two years that theyre valid for, for tpe. theyd tell you on the day if u need to redo it.

 

[Jordan1991]

i think its two years that theyre valid for, for tpe. theyd tell you on the day if u need to redo it.

Ah right hopefully it’s 3 years as someone said! Do they tell you that before sitting the MMI because I wouldn’t want to jeopardise my space in the talent bank now by doing an MMI if I needed to re do the psychometrics anyway..

 

[ayaz2001]

i didnt get to the mmi, we were split into two groups, one did the mmi and the other did the tests. then switched after lunch.
they do ask if uve done the tests before and search everyones ni number on the database when u are there

 

[Jordan1991]

i didnt get to the mmi, we were split into two groups, one did the mmi and the other did the tests. then switched after lunch.
they do ask if uve done the tests before and search everyones ni number on the database when u are there

Right ok thanks. Will have to see how far I get and see if I can get it clarified.

Thanks

 

[mattybed21]

Which depot have people applied for?. Also I passed my enhance psychometrics in Manchester when I worked with GB rail freight, but on the application TPE require to psychometrics what does that mean?

 

[Jordan1991]

Which depot have people applied for?. Also I passed my enhance psychometrics in Manchester when I worked with GB rail freight, but on the application TPE require to psychometrics what does that mean?

I’ve applied to Manchester. Do you mean “two” psychometrics? If so then I think one of them refers to the interview and one refers to the tests. Or it could just be the tests split into 2 different sections? I could be wrong

 

[mattybed21]

I’ve applied to Manchester. Do you mean “two” psychometrics? If so then I think one of them refers to the interview and one refers to the tests. Or it could just be the tests split into 2 different sections? I could be wrong

So when I did my enhanced psychometrics test in Manchester, it was multiple test one after the other. I was just curious to know why it says two psychometrics on the application form.

 

[chalkijr]

So when I did my enhanced psychometrics test in Manchester, it was multiple test one after the other. I was just curious to know why it says two psychometrics on the application form.

You have a stage 1 and then there is stage 2 on a different day providing you pass stage 1 psychometrics.

I have heard some people have done them all in one day before, but usual process is to do them on different days.

Stage 1 is all written tests and stage 2 is computer testing with an MMI (providing you pass the computer tests)

 

[mattybed21]

so will I have to do my psychometrics again like, think I still have 3 years left