First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

455driver · 20 Dec 2013

SkinnyDave said:
There is so much going on with this franchise just now

Which no-one will answer either.

I was looking at FGW for a move but the uncertainty about CrossRail (and transferring the staff over to it) put me off so I am staying put for the time being.

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Daveg72 · 20 Dec 2013

455driver said:
Across the West and Thames depots, not the pointy nose depots.

When you say West, do you mean Bristol?

455driver · 20 Dec 2013

Yes Bristol and all depots West of there, Exeter, Par and Penzance.

Daveg72 · 20 Dec 2013

455driver said:
Yes Bristol and all depots West of there, Exeter, Par and Penzance.

Cheers, that's good to know.

james956 · 20 Dec 2013

Kyle0115 said:
james956 said:

to be honest mate, i actually found the dm interview more intense than my grilling/structured interview at db schenker. it was quite intense and by his reaction it was hard to judge how i did. His reaction was as if i seemed quite young and not much life experience. So i think someone older with more life experience will have a lot more ideas and possible answers to their questions. yes i'm over the moon, was absolutely shocked when i got the phone call, did not expect to be offered a conditional offer espeicially so quick, i thought i would become a back up if they ran out of people, so its nice that they've contacted me so quick. hopefully you've done well and good luck for stage 2 mate. see you at oxford soon (Y)

Click to expand...

We'll they certainly didn't waste any time! Maybe the limp actually done you a favour?! Lol. I'm glad you made it anyway, I bet it's the best Xmas present you've had. Will let you know if I pass or not.

Johncleesefan · 20 Dec 2013

I have just ordered the how to become a train driver BOOK. Not the dvd, I know I won't get my monies worth out the dvd. I was sceptical in buying in to aid me in the dm interview but hey it can't hurt right, and Ive managed to catch some right bargains over christmas so had some extra cash. I will report back with my findings on the book lol

SkinnyDave · 21 Dec 2013

455driver said:
Which no-one will answer either.

I was looking at FGW for a move but the uncertainty about CrossRail (and transferring the staff over to it) put me off so I am staying put for the time being.

I think that's fair comment with LTV side.. There are rumblings they are going to have a go at Harmonisation between the three over next 2 years.

455driver · 21 Dec 2013

SkinnyDave said:
There are rumblings they are going to have a go at Harmonisation between the three over next 2 years.

Which will go the same way as all the other attempts, why they cant just leave it alone I dont know although I did hear that the London based pointy nose lot were not happy that some LTV drivers have learned the HST/180s which the pointy nose lot feel is their work, and rightly so.

Kyle0115 · 21 Dec 2013

ultra4 said:
Is that information from reliable source?

i hope so, thats what they told me in my dm interview when i asked them, because they anticipate some drivers may leave during the IEP so they want a good compliment of drivers to cover all eventualities.

Kyle0115 said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by james956 View Post

to be honest mate, i actually found the dm interview more intense than my grilling/structured interview at db schenker. it was quite intense and by his reaction it was hard to judge how i did. His reaction was as if i seemed quite young and not much life experience. So i think someone older with more life experience will have a lot more ideas and possible answers to their questions. yes i'm over the moon, was absolutely shocked when i got the phone call, did not expect to be offered a conditional offer espeicially so quick, i thought i would become a back up if they ran out of people, so its nice that they've contacted me so quick. hopefully you've done well and good luck for stage 2 mate. see you at oxford soon (Y)
We'll they certainly didn't waste any time! Maybe the limp actually done you a favour?! Lol. I'm glad you made it anyway, I bet it's the best Xmas present you've had. Will let you know if I pass or not.

Yes definitely mate, let me know how you get on. I'm sure you'll do fine and hopefully on the same course.

Daveg72 · 22 Dec 2013

Does anyone know if you are able to take any holiday during the driver training?

SkinnyDave · 22 Dec 2013

Daveg72 said:
Does anyone know if you are able to take any holiday during the driver training?

During the classroom based stuff it will be booked in for you, once you are doing your hours then you can apply for leave..
They will give you dates that you can't be off ie for exams

Daveg72 · 22 Dec 2013

SkinnyDave said:
During the classroom based stuff it will be booked in for you, once you are doing your hours then you can apply for leave..
They will give you dates that you can't be off ie for exams

Ok thanks. How long is the classroom training? I have 2 weeks holiday at the beginning of august so I am wondering if that will effect any potential start date they may give me.

SkinnyDave · 22 Dec 2013

Daveg72 said:
Ok thanks. How long is the classroom training? I have 2 weeks holiday at the beginning of august so I am wondering if that will effect any potential start date they may give me.

Class room will take around 3-4months but please do bear in mind that they can't guarantee leave.
I've had to postpone a trip to New York but it's a small price to pay for this career

Daveg72 · 22 Dec 2013

SkinnyDave said:
Class room will take around 3-4months but please do bear in mind that they can't guarantee leave.
I've had to postpone a trip to New York but it's a small price to pay for this career

Cheers mate. They did ask at my DM interview if I had any holidays booked so they are already aware of the dates but you are right, if it comes down to it, I will sacrifice the holiday for the career opportunity!

455driver · 22 Dec 2013

Daveg72 said:
Cheers mate. They did ask at my DM interview if I had any holidays booked so they are already aware of the dates but you are right, if it comes down to it, I will sacrifice the holiday for the career opportunity!

If they are aware of the booked holiday then they should (emphasising should) ensure that you can complete the necessary sections of the training before the holiday or defer your start date until after the holiday.
As the holiday isnt until August it shouldnt be a problem and you will be well into your hours by then.

Daveg72 · 22 Dec 2013

455driver said:
If they are aware of the booked holiday then they should (emphasising should) ensure that you can complete the necessary sections of the training before the holiday or defer your start date until after the holiday.
As the holiday isnt until August it shouldnt be a problem and you will be well into your hours by then.

Thanks. I am hoping that because I haven't heard anything for nearly 2 weeks after my dm interview that it's good news and that im just awaiting a training course to be slotted into. Fingers crossed.

theageofthetra · 23 Dec 2013

Just heard today that I passed Stage 2, only sat it on Fri at Watford so am amazed to get the good news so quick. Good luck to anyone else still awaiting results & a merry Christmas.

ultra4 · 23 Dec 2013

theageofthetra said:
Just heard today that I passed Stage 2, only sat it on Fri at Watford so am amazed to get the good news so quick. Good luck to anyone else still awaiting results & a merry Christmas.

I can't believe that...
I have been waiting exactly 4 weeks for my stage 2 results.
Anyway congratulations to you buddy.

Jarnsaxa · 24 Dec 2013

I have my start date of the 3rd of February for Oxford and am concentrating on finding somewhere to live now. (I live near Manchester now!) Do you folks reckon it's sensible to find somewhere temporary to live during my training in Reading, seeing as that's where most of it is. Does anyone know where exactly the Reading training centre is?

-Rob · 25 Dec 2013

Signed the contract to start in Gloucester on the 6th January, it's been a good Christmas and a New Year come true for me, thank you for all those who have helped me with the vital information on this website!

Looking for somewhere to live is a different story though..

Merry Christmas all and good luck to all those who are still in the process of recruitment!

Rob.

Casey Jones125 · 25 Dec 2013

-Rob said:
Signed the contract to start in Gloucester on the 6th January, it's been a good Christmas and a New Year come true for me, thank you for all those who have helped me with the vital information on this website!

Looking for somewhere to live is a different story though..

Merry Christmas all and good luck to all those who are still in the process of recruitment!

Rob.

Well done Rob. When did you do your stage 1 tests for the Gloucester Depot?

SkinnyDave · 25 Dec 2013

-Rob said:
Signed the contract to start in Gloucester on the 6th January, it's been a good Christmas and a New Year come true for me, thank you for all those who have helped me with the vital information on this website!

Looking for somewhere to live is a different story though..

Merry Christmas all and good luck to all those who are still in the process of recruitment!

Rob.

Hi Rob,

Well done

I've already started at Gloucester..

Look forward to working with you

-Rob · 26 Dec 2013

Casey Jones125 said:
Well done Rob. When did you do your stage 1 tests for the Gloucester Depot?

It must have been 10th September from what I re-call.. Quite a short process by all accounts! I've seen people wait months between assessments, every job vacancy is different in that respect.

SkinnyDave said:
Hi Rob,

Well done

I've already started at Gloucester..

Look forward to working with you

Thank you Dave, how are you finding it? Is the course good?
I look forward to working with you as well, I'll look forward to meeting

Johncleesefan · 29 Dec 2013

Hey everyone! To the guys who have sat DM interviews, I am reseaching the first company. Would it be more advantageous to research more into FGW as opposed to first group as a whole or the other way round or 50/50. Cheers again.

Kyle0115 · 30 Dec 2013

Johncleesefan said:
Hey everyone! To the guys who have sat DM interviews, I am reseaching the first company. Would it be more advantageous to research more into FGW as opposed to first group as a whole or the other way round or 50/50. Cheers again.

Morning,

When I had my dm interview I made sure I knew just as much about fgw as I did about first group themselves so I would say 50/50 other people might have different opinions but from my experience that paid off for me.

Regards
Kyle

james956 · 30 Dec 2013

Just had an e-mail to say I passed my stage 1 assessment on the 17th December

Has anyone else had the good news yet?

Tfemark · 30 Dec 2013

james956 said:
Just had an e-mail to say I passed my stage 1 assessment on the 17th December Has anyone else had the good news yet?

Excellent news, took mine on the 18th and just had the same email

Johncleesefan · 30 Dec 2013

Nice one kyle. Cheers for that.
So far im pulling info to study off first and fgw websites into history of company and relating why I want to work for them. Figures and statistics. Crossing job description with person specific requirements and thinking how I can apply myaelf to it all. On traindriver org too pulling info on the job des and history. Going through tests and mock interview style practice with my old man (signal engineer) and meeting a mate whose a train driver to basically empty his knowledge onto me lol. Got me suit preased and shoea polished. Getting my interciew head on. How I want to come across and being calm and talkative with intros.

All I need is for them to send my date through now. Haha

Twoonthebuzzer · 30 Dec 2013

Just had my medical and passed. Although I was over on the BMI, as I expected, the consultant made it clear it didn't affect my mobility or capability to perform the role and passed me out despite that.

Look forward to the official confirmation from FGW in the new year and signing on the dotted line now. Happy days!

Septus · 30 Dec 2013

Tfemark said:
Excellent news, took mine on the 18th and just had the same email

Same!

I honestly thought I had flunked it:
GB - second sheet I marked one wrong...crossed it as wrong and it threw my concentration, did about 2 lines less on that sheet than the others.

TEA Occ - Totally messed up the last 2/3 counts of the tones on the first part...or so I thought.

So to say I was expecting a fail, I am over the moon with the pass!

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