Recent content by Ptrains

I'd echo Reb'd comments, the vacant driver positions on the mainline side have been filled with around a dozen depot drivers who've moved up in the past year - and their positions have been filled with the last 2/3 courses. There's certainly no great numbers of depot drivers reluctant to go...

What types of trains they operate - 156, 158, 170, 180 (going soon) 222, 360 and the new 810 coming later this year / 2024

I can't recall the exact wording, but there were just 3 questions. One was around what I knew about EMR (think routes, traction, contracts etc), one was about how I would deal with working shifts - particularly nights, the other (I think) was how would I prepare for a shift as a driver.

The second stage is an EMR specific thing, so doesn't count towards your lives if you fail. When I did this it was a speed interview - think speed dating, a bell sounds and you sit at desk where you get asked a question have 2 minutes to answer before the bell sounds and you move to another...

Exactly as has been said - there's no answer to this. I got a place in the driver talent pool at the end of November 2019, finally started in September 2021. On my course some had been in the pool a little longer than me, others were as short as 2 months

Derby is larger and has more maintenance facilities. It houses the intercity 222 and 180 fleet, with a few regional 170 and 156/158 units. The trains are left by the mainline drivers either at the depot entry point or at the station. Depot drivers collect them and take them into onto the...

I've attached a copy of the shift pattern for Depot Drivers at Derby. You drop down one row each week, when you get to the bottom it starts again at the top.... Each box has the shift reference number, length (8hr 45min) and start time. Shifts with TA instead of the reference number are spare...

I thought the process was tough and excessively long - but fair. They cannot test you on anything specifically railway related - that would scupper those who are new to the industry, but they can grill on you the skills and characteristics that people who get paid a lot more than myself deemed...

I had exactly the same issue and was told that the ECG printout would be sent to the TOC's nominated cardiac specialist for an opinion - I panicked and booked in with my GP who sent me up to the local hospital for an ECG and chest x-ray. They found nothing out of the ordinary and I ended up...

Ex-job (20yrs as a PC), got my handshake as a qualified depot driver in the past month. If I can help I will...

Great news!!! I'm relieved to hear that there is some movement in the Derby based Trainee Depot Driver world. I'm a couple of months behind you - Stage 2 was in November 2019, so it's fingers crossed for the next course... When did they actually get in touch and was it asking for your...

What have you heard? It's been radio silence from EMR since May my end...

It'll be very close for me, with the talent pool being kept open for 2 years from sitting stage 2 I'm ok until November 2021. There seems to be a small group of around half of dozen of us who are at serious risk of coming out of what has been a long and time consuming process with absolutely...

Which depot did you choose with EMR? I've been in the pool for a depot driver's job based at Derby since Nov 2019 (initial application Sept 2018) and haven't heard anything since May when I got the don't worry we've not forgotten about you email. Well done though ;)

Application went in towards the end of 2018, stage 1 tests were in March 2019 followed by a few more in the middle and stage 2 was in November 2019...