The GTR talent pool.

You say that and think that. But last time I didn't get an email and some did. They got the call and start dates. Who knows what will happen.

Got to start moving soon surley

Bobbybox said:

Got to start moving soon surley

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Err... no

Everyone is concerned with their start date (understandably so) but no one seems to have looked a little further into the future, or, to see it from the position it is in now, to have turned back the clocks a little....

So you have on average 8-10 trainees per intake, PTS followed by a 5 weeks introduction to rules, then you do three weeks of front end turns, followed by the actual rules which is 4 or 5 weeks, then 3 weeks of Traction, then you start at your designated depot learning the routes and the actual driving of the train, and putting into practice all the things you've learnt up to that point.


So here's the thing......

How many DRIVER TRAINERS do you guys think there are?

On average, 4 - 6 months are needed for EACH trainee to be out with a Trainer Driver, and each trainee must complete 300 hours of driving, with what I believe is 80 hours of dark driving but I am pretty sure that has gone up now..... with the days getting longer, that's something that will now be harder to accomplish. Also because you might work a turn that's 9 hours, that's not 9 hours of driving, you only accumulate actual time in the seat, so if you have a job that for instance involves you passing from one place to the next, or means you have a 30 min wait to take a train out, that's not driving time, on average you get no more than 5 hrs. driving a day, and you will be working a 4 day week, so it doesn't take a genius to work out on average 20 hours a week, 80 a month... and you need at LEAST 300

The routes is the hardest thing, Thameslink/GTR do not do the routes like Southern, you have to learn and know ALL the routes in one hit over the training period, all the diversionary routes all the Depots and Sidings and you have to do a specified number of trips over each one of those routes so although 300 hours must be completed, it often means you could be up to 400 hours plus before your considered ready. Southern do it one part at a time, you learn it, sign it off, and your a fully qualified driver (As far as I understand it) and you then start driving that every day adding other parts of the routes they drive as you go, its much much harder to do it the way its done at Thameslink/GTR (I use those as although GTR is now the Umbrella encompassing both they are still very much separate in a lot of ways)

Already there are trainees doing more front end turns because there are not enough Driver Trainers to cover the trainees already in the system

Sooner or later with the amount of recruitment that's taken place in the last 12 - 18 months it was always going to bottleneck somewhere and the company are not going to employ you (which means they have to pay you) if your not going to be doing very much for 12 months

I honestly cannot tell you how long you might have to wait, but wait you will, until they have the resources to cover the training

Sorry guys, your all waiting for something to happen, and I know how that feels I really do, but you have to look objectively at it, and be prepared to wait. A phone call every now and again doesn't hurt, but I would strongly advise against calling every week.... they do notice... and not in a good way

Pepperami said:

How many DRIVER TRAINERS do you guys think there is? are ?

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Other than that, I agree.

Has the "Bedford situation" been resolved yet ? I can't remember if you ended up at GTR or not.

Grammar never was my forte
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Bedford I have no idea mate what's going on

Pepperami said:

Err... no

Everyone is concerned with their start date (understandably so) but no one seems to have looked a little further into the future, or, to see it from the position it is in now, to have turned back the clocks a little....

So you have on average 8-10 trainees per intake, PTS followed by a 5 weeks introduction to rules, then you do three weeks of front end turns, followed by the actual rules, then 3 weeks of Traction, then you start at your designated depot

So here's the thing......

How many DRIVER TRAINERS do you guys think there is?

On average, 4 - 6 months is needed for EACH trainee to be out with a Trainer Driver, and each trainee must complete 300 hours of driving, with what I believe is 80 hours of dark driving but I am pretty sure that has gone up now..... with the days getting longer, that's something that will now be harder to accomplish. Also because you might work a turn that's 9 hours, that's not 9 hours of driving, you only accumulate actual time in the seat, so if you have a job that for instance involves you passing from one place to the next, or means you have a 30 min wait to take a train out, that's not driving time, on average you get no more than 5 hrs. driving a day, and you will be working a 4 day week, so it doesn't take a genius to work out on average 20 hours a week, 80 a month... and you need at LEAST 300

Already there are trainees doing more front end turns because there are not enough Driver Trainers to cover the trainees already in the system

Sooner or later with the amount of recruitment that's taken place in the last 12 - 18 months it was always going to bottleneck somewhere and the company are not going to employ you (which means they have to pay you) if your not going to be doing very much for 12 months

I honestly cannot tell you how long you might have to wait, but wait you will, until they have the resources to cover the training

Sorry guys, your all waiting for something to happen, and I know how that feels I really do, but you have to look objectively at it, and be prepared to wait. A phone call every now and again doesn't hurt, but I would strongly advise against calling every week.... they do notice... and not in a good way

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Very sobering
Thanks for the update pepperami it's good finally to hear what's really going on

Well I know its not what people want to hear, but everyone is hoping they are going to get a call, an email, or a letter, to say what is going on and when they will be starting and its hard to make plans with current employment when its all up in the air like it is now.

It will happen, its just a case of when

I've also added to my post above as there is some more information about the learning time as I forgot to list a few parts

rhysa85 said:

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum. I have passed my assessments, dmi and MMI and am now waiting for a medical. Hoping for Hitchin depot, has anyone heard if any courses might be starting there any time soon?

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Hitchin is full. Don't think there's a chance of a course there as they put two people in last year for it. Lots of internals move there from Peterborough, Cross and Cambridge. Might be some jobs coming up at Cambridge but other than that it's Cross and Blackfriars (and Bedford).

Pepperami said:

Well I know its not what people want to hear, but everyone is hoping they are going to get a call, an email, or a letter, to say what is going on and when they will be starting and its hard to make plans with current employment when its all up in the air like it is now.

It will happen, its just a case of when

I've also added to my post above as there is some more information about the learning time as I forgot to list a few parts

Click to expand...

My issue is I have a young family and after missing out last year waiting for a course that didn't arrive my wife is pushing to take the kids away this year, I can't commit to anything and I just wish there was a way I could find out (roughly) realistically when they plan to start me. Its a massive restriction on any forward planning both professionally and personally

WDS2015 said:

My issue is I have a young family and after missing out last year waiting for a course that didn't arrive my wife is pushing to take the kids away this year, I can't commit to anything and I just wish there was a way I could find out (roughly) realistically when they plan to start me. Its a massive restriction on any forward planning both professionally and personally

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Exactly this.

Its easy for posters to come on here saying about patience and what do we expect, but the actual waiting time for the job ISNT the issue, its the being on hold / in limbo / no information that is difficult to deal with.

Would you spend a couple of grand on a family holiday for July or August, not knowing whether the phone may or may not ring before then?

I've had to do just that Bucko I've had no option but to chance it can't keep waiting around and not having a life on the slim chance they will give me a call before I go away.

Hi All,
I applied for the trainee driver position back in Dec, I have only just got the email advising me off an assessment day! Issue is, I have already passed the assessments all the way up to the DMI which I still have to do.
I have been trying to find a email or phone number for the recruitment line for GTR I originally applied for the London depots (thamesLink) does anyone have any contact details for them?
I would hugely appreciate the help.
Thanks guys
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi All,
I applied for the trainee driver position back in Dec, I have only just got the email advising me off an assessment day! Issue is, I have already passed the assessments all the way up to the DMI which I still have to do.
I have been trying to find a email or phone number for the recruitment line for GTR I originally applied for the London depots (thamesLink) does anyone have any contact details for them?
I would hugely appreciate the help.
Thanks guys

ChampsRacing said:

I've had to do just that Bucko I've had no option but to chance it can't keep waiting around and not having a life on the slim chance they will give me a call before I go away.

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Your a brave man Champs they already told me they expect people to cancel any holiday they have if they are called

465fan said:

Hitchin is full. Don't think there's a chance of a course there as they put two people in last year for it. Lots of internals move there from Peterborough, Cross and Cambridge. Might be some jobs coming up at Cambridge but other than that it's Cross and Blackfriars (and Bedford).

Click to expand...

My actual application was for King's Lynn, during my DMI one of the managers was actually from that depot and told me it was more than likely i'd end up with Cambridge, which is fine. I spoke to the recruitment team for a rough estimate of course dates, as no-one had actually given me an inclination throughout the process, and she said I wouldn't likely get a course for Cambridge this year. She also said that if I considered Hitchin that i'd have a better chance of getting a course - even though I don't live within an hour!!

So basically, I am now confused and none the wiser. The excitement I had when going through the assessments/interviews is beginning to wane.

Ok I appreciate the whole not knowing part, but there are people who were with me when I joined up that had waited Three YEARS before they got the definitive "yes your starting" and got a date

What are your families going to do when you join? No bookable holiday at all for at least a year your expected to take weeks off that your trainers will also have off so you don't lose any training time, are your families prepared for the hours and shifts you'll be working? I don't wish that to sound harsh either, I had talked this through completely with my other half, but you get 6 months into it and it's "I don't see you very much" or you'll get "well your here but you have your head stuck in a book most of the time" or the classic "thanks for waking me up at 2:30am this morning"

This job is one that requires far more of your time than some people realise I think and that's not a slur on anyone who's applied it's often your nearest and dearest that didn't actually realise the sacrifices that have to be made.

No, I wouldn't spend any money on a holiday, because part of the assessments and MMI ask
You whether you have any holiday planned now or in the future. I knew from the beginning it wouldn't be possible to have a holiday so I didn't book one, and if you've booked one and are now hoping you can take it, you'll be expected to cancel it if you get a start date or you risk losing the position or going back to the bottom of the pile

I didn't come on here and post about just patients I posted about the actual problems that are now occurring because I thought it might give you guys a little insight as to how things actually are. Your not so much worried about the wait, but are unhappy about the lack of communication and responses? What are they going to tell you if they themselves don't know when it will be likely that your going to get a place? Did you not get told that as soon as a position becomes available they would contact you?

Pepperami said:

Ok I appreciate the whole not knowing part, but there are people who were with me when I joined up that had waited Three YEARS before they got the definitive "yes your starting" and got a date

What are your families going to do when you join? No bookable holiday at all for at least a year your expected to take weeks off that your trainers will also have off so you don't lose any training time, are your families prepared for the hours and shifts you'll be working? I don't wish that to sound harsh either, I had talked this through completely with my other half, but you get 6 months into it and it's "I don't see you very much" or you'll get "well your here but you have your head stuck in a book most of the time" or the classic "thanks for waking me up at 2:30am this morning"

This job is one that requires far more of your time than some people realise I think and that's not a slur on anyone who's applied it's often your nearest and dearest that didn't actually realise the sacrifices that have to be made.

No, I wouldn't spend any money on a holiday, because part of the assessments and MMI ask
You whether you have any holiday planned now or in the future. I knew from the beginning it wouldn't be possible to have a holiday so I didn't book one, and if you've booked one and are now hoping you can take it, you'll be expected to cancel it if you get a start date or you risk losing the position or going back to the bottom of the pile

I didn't come on here and post about just patients I posted about the actual problems that are now occurring because I thought it might give you guys a little insight as to how things actually are. Your not so much worried about the wait, but are unhappy about the lack of communication and responses? What are they going to tell you if they themselves don't know when it will be likely that your going to get a place? Did you not get told that as soon as a position becomes available they would contact you?

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Well that's the problem Pepperami I was told last year in May I'd like start in July 15 which then changed to August 15 then October 15 then March 16 now July 16 a year later.

I'm fully prepared for giving up everything else once on board but while in limbo it's very difficult as I could get a call tomorrow or the same time next year it's really just a massive guessing game.

As someone who has worked every single minute of a 24 hr clock, 7 day week, does shifts, huge amounts of overtime and who regularly finished work in the early hours of the morning, I'm fully aware, as are my family, that there are many jobs out there, not just this one, that can be harsh to your body clock and difficult to live a life around.

To suggest that people have not considered all of the aspects of the role before applying is a touch irritating tbh.

WDS2015 said:

Well that's the problem Pepperami I was told last year in May I'd like start in July 15 which then changed to August 15 then October 15 then March 16 now July 16 a year later.

I'm fully prepared for giving up everything else once on board but while in limbo it's very difficult as I could get a call tomorrow or the same time next year it's really just a massive guessing game.

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Yeah and I can't sympathise enough mate it's a real pain in the rear

I had a wait but not as long as some on here I was lucky it was a year from when I first applied to getting into the actual job so I consider myself lucky and yes like you the whole of your life seems to be on hold. I hated my old job but I'd been there nearly 10 years, and I just kept hoping and hoping I would hear something and it went on like that until I got the call

The trouble is it really is backed up now everywhere in the TL system with more trainees than you could shake a stick at and not enough people to train them, the actual course tutors that I had are still there but I heard a rumour the company has already taken on external trainers to try and get the trainees through so hopefully it won't be a long wait, but there aren't any guarantees I couldn't believe people had been waiting for a couple of years

Bucko said:

To suggest that people have not considered all of the aspects of the role before applying is a touch irritating tbh.

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Was I suggesting this??

I re-read my post, I think I suggested that people have considered all the aspects of the role, and there are those cases where 6 months down the line it may cause problems

As you seem to be a little upset by my posts

Bucko said:

To suggest that people have not considered all of the aspects of the role before applying is a touch irritating tbh.

Click to expand...

Bucko said:

Its easy for posters to come on here saying about patience and what do we expect, but the actual waiting time for the job ISNT the issue, its the being on hold / in limbo / no information that is difficult to deal with.

Would you spend a couple of grand on a family holiday for July or August, not knowing whether the phone may or may not ring before then?

Click to expand...

I will now cease to post on this thread and leave you be, I thought I might actually be trying to help you understand WHY you have not been contacted yet, but you obviously don't need my help or any information, as a "Thank you for the heads up" would have been appreciated rather than you telling me your a "touch irritated"

Good luck

Bucko said:

To suggest that people have not considered all of the aspects of the role before applying is a touch irritating tbh.

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Not half as irritating as keep reading, "Happy Friday", "hope we hear something soon" etc.
TBH Pepperami hasn't said anything that hasn't already been said (except with some qualifying detail added), so I fail to see why certain people on this thread seem unable to grasp the fact that GTR will call you when they have something to tell you. If they don't... well they don't. Just cos they asked a few people to jump through a few hoops doesn't mean they owe you anything.
Get on with your lives, look after your family... go on holiday... study that course... If they call you with an offer, then it's a decision you will have to make at the time and a loss will have to be accepted. Unfortunately, that's life.
I too am done with this thread. Got a life to lead and I think if ever I get an offer, the first I know about it will be from GTR... not via conjecture, speculation, hearsay or rumour from an internet site.

Some of us appreciate your input. Thank you.

Are there any Southern applicants on this thread?

chaffy75 said:

Are there any Southern applicants on this thread?

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Yeah me, I'm still waiting for DMI.
I have passed assessments with another TOC, I applied for 3bridges in August, and London depots in Dec'. Got an email from GTR last Thursday saying thanks for my patients, they are still processing the thousands of applicants and they will be in touch.

Twedds, what depot have you put in for?

I first applied over 2 years ago, had my assessment day last November, my DMI and MMI in December and medical in January. I now have a start date for next month.

I have no idea if Southern and Thameslink are both inundated with trainees but as they are both under GTR then I'm guessing it's quite possible. In the 18 months after first applying up until I got through to the assessment day, I was getting emails periodically saying I had been placed in a talent pool and that due to the volumes of applicants I would have to be patient. It is extremely hard to be patient when you really don't know exactly how long that wait will be. Especially as we all have lives to live and want to be able to plan ahead, booking holidays, arranging events, birthdays etc.

I do wish you all the best of luck and I hope the ball starts rolling soon.....

Did any of you guys- especially those waiting on Bedford - apply for Trainee TD with London Midland out of Bletchley ?

Bucko said:

Did any of you guys- especially those waiting on Bedford - apply for Trainee TD with London Midland out of Bletchley ?

Click to expand...

No but starting to wish I had

WDS2015 said:

No but starting to wish I had

Click to expand...

I'll PM you

Bucko said:

Did any of you guys- especially those waiting on Bedford - apply for Trainee TD with London Midland out of Bletchley ?

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I have applied as I'm not too far away but I can't see myself being offered a DMI for a while as obviously MMI assessments and interviews have to take place for new applicants before a DMI would even take place.

Trudy informed there are around 50 guys waiting for Bedford and two courses are confirmed for this year - July and November although there could be others.

She also went onto say Geographical location, length of notice required, date of application and length of wait are all factors for when we are placed. Having applied in December (although not being assessed till July) I'm hoping of placement in the July school but as we all know it's anyone's guess.

I am pleased I was told yesterday that I have a start date for Bedford in May, a little too short notice in all honesty.
I applied in april last year and had my DMI in August 15 i havent had my medical yet. I live an hour away in Corby.

HAPPYTRAINDGTR said:

I am pleased I was told yesterday that I have a start date for Bedford in May, a little too short notice in all honesty.
I applied in april last year and had my DMI in August 15 i havent had my medical yet. I live an hour away in Corby.

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Congrats mate although it kinda suggests what I was told isn't quite 100% right, perhaps there are other factors? as others applied before then and had there DMIs prior to Aug 15th.

That's not a great deal of notice is it!

HAPPYTRAINDGTR said:

I am pleased I was told yesterday that I have a start date for Bedford in May, a little too short notice in all honesty.
I applied in april last year and had my DMI in August 15 i havent had my medical yet. I live an hour away in Corby.

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There goes the nearest first rule so people living far out should see this as a positive