I think initial hopes were summer 2018 for the rollout, but this has been pushed back to December. Interestingly, if the Twitter team are correct with their info, the full rollout will take 3 years as I noticed someone asked the question a few days ago.
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Trainee Train Driver - Virgin Trains East Coast
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I think initial hopes were summer 2018 for the rollout, but this has been pushed back to December. Interestingly, if the Twitter team are correct with their info, the full rollout will take 3 years as I noticed someone asked the question a few days ago.
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RailUK Forums
Yeah I thought I’d heard it somewhere aha. I’m currently trying to get the right balance between keeping my head in the sand until we hear anymore, and following every single bit of information about VTEC and Hitachi possible...
Looks like VTEC are looking for a National Driver Training Development Manager. It doesn't seem related to us as such, but the job spec is quite interesting nonetheless.
https://recruitment.virgintrainseas...2.main?p=cbldnZocggefgn3oG@YU@WErHnaodbldjfcn
https://recruitment.virgintrainseas...2.main?p=cbldnZocggefgn3oG@YU@WErHnaodbldjfcn
Ffcsteve14
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Thanks for the info! Are they reliable? I just ask!
Hi,
The one that said no more courses this year is very much so!
Heard the 2020 second hand but believe it came from internal candidate that has been hanging on as long as you guys
MarTrainDriver
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So if this is the case and has been for a few months why haven't we been told yet? Surely if they are keeping us hanging this long they wouldn't just say bye we are not needed. They must be trying to or actually creating a plan for the next 2 years? Does anyone else think this too or is my head in the clouds?
MostlyHarmless
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Maybe they are creating a talent pool of potential drivers ready for when they need them? This seems to be a fairly common occurrence looking at the threads on here, but if that is the case then they should let applicants know.
We were told back in October it was due to lack of trainers. I’m not sure I believe this as they’d have known how many they needed long before when they put out the advertisements
I believe the first trainee course finishes in May so in that respect that essentially frees up a trainer to take a new course surely? I think there is perhaps more to what we have actually been told and the lack of firm information over the last 6-8 months has been very dissapointing
I believe the first trainee course finishes in May so in that respect that essentially frees up a trainer to take a new course surely? I think there is perhaps more to what we have actually been told and the lack of firm information over the last 6-8 months has been very dissapointing
Ffcsteve14
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Great point
You may want to check your emails (those waiting) it's confirmed what we long suspected though, not able to offer us a role. No talent pool either that will now close. Tests valid for 3 years and they'll keep in touch should anything change but at same time encourage us to look elsewhere.
MarTrainDriver
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Unbelievable
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MarTrainDriver
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So other people have waited in a talent pool at other TOCs for up to 3 years and weve waited a year on them and now they've just given up on us
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Very easy to feel angry but really what’s the point. I think some of the language used by VTEC earlier in the process was unwise, particularly in relation to offering people positions. That being said, things change and perhaps this was unforeseeable. Either way, good luck to all of you!
I completely agree... In my phone call with DG (if it ever comes) I will certainly be highlighting lessons they could learn from this whole exercise.
Just read my email. Absolutely gutted and feel completely let down. What a complete waste of my time. I've turned down roles due to the positive language used by Virgin and just feel that I've put time and effort in since October 16 for nothing. Thanks Virgin
Any tips on where and how to look for positions with other TOCS? Any advice welcome and sorry to the 43 of us that were let down.
Any tips on where and how to look for positions with other TOCS? Any advice welcome and sorry to the 43 of us that were let down.
Dynamonic
Member
After following this thread for quite some time whilst going through my own recruitment process with another TOC, I am absolutely devastated to read what has happened here.
Whilst it's not the news you wanted to hear, at least you now have closure, and you're finally free to use your knowledge (and OPC Assessment passes) to hopefully land another driver role shortly.
Good luck to you all, and remember that this is not a wasted experience, so don't give up!
Whilst it's not the news you wanted to hear, at least you now have closure, and you're finally free to use your knowledge (and OPC Assessment passes) to hopefully land another driver role shortly.
Good luck to you all, and remember that this is not a wasted experience, so don't give up!
Blanka
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Disgraceful. Not only is this company adept at destroying employee morale, they are now destroying the morale of potential employees.
Having re-read the letter from Warwick Dent, it states that out psychs are valid for 3 years and that they will have many diver vacancies arising in the next 18-24 months, presumably to coincide with the delayed roll-out of the Azumas. He also states that we will be made aware of these vacancies before they are widely advertised.
What he seems to be offering with one hand, he takes away with the other as despite him staying that we will be made aware of these positions before they're widely advertised, he also states that our psych results will be valid with them for 3 years. Basically, this 3 years will more than likely have expired by the time these vacancies arise, given we all did them 12-18 months ago meaning we're all back to square one.
I read today also that Grayling has advised that Stagecoach will not be excluded from re-tendering for the franchise - the day before we get the heave-ho. Coincidence? The cynical and currently very angry part of my brain reckons this is a hard reset of VTEC and that this whole exercise is now to be forgotten.
What he seems to be offering with one hand, he takes away with the other as despite him staying that we will be made aware of these positions before they're widely advertised, he also states that our psych results will be valid with them for 3 years. Basically, this 3 years will more than likely have expired by the time these vacancies arise, given we all did them 12-18 months ago meaning we're all back to square one.
I read today also that Grayling has advised that Stagecoach will not be excluded from re-tendering for the franchise - the day before we get the heave-ho. Coincidence? The cynical and currently very angry part of my brain reckons this is a hard reset of VTEC and that this whole exercise is now to be forgotten.
I don't think I can add to what's already been said! Gutted and frustrated is an understatement. After 12 months and now this....
I'm even more frustrated as I passed up an opportunity at my current TOC last year when we were assured we had positions.
We were all offered positions subject to medical, but then the attached letter mentions us being in a talent pool? Now correct me if I'm wrong but we were never in a pool and this term was never mentioned in any communication.
I'm even more frustrated as I passed up an opportunity at my current TOC last year when we were assured we had positions.
We were all offered positions subject to medical, but then the attached letter mentions us being in a talent pool? Now correct me if I'm wrong but we were never in a pool and this term was never mentioned in any communication.
MarTrainDriver
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I wouldn't say that I am upset, but like many on here I am frustrated and disgraced with the way this whole situation has been dealt. I have also passed up multiple job opportunities based on the fact that we would all definitely have jobs and we just had to wait for start dates. We have been patient and put our trust in virgin and then they have treated us like this!
The point you have made about the letter saying we were in a talent pool... this is news to me, I too cannot remember at any point where we were in a talent pool. As far as I'm aware we were solely just waiting for start dates, not waiting to see whether we would potentially have a job or not. In my opinion some of the language and information in the email today absolutely contradicts what we have been told through the recruitment process.
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Like everybody else I'm disappointed, however there is a part of me that is relieved this whole thing is over now and I can forget about it. I do feel very misled by virgin but if I'm honest i have been questioning for a while whether this is a company i want to work for because of how we have been treated, at least now i don't have to make that decision
choochoochoo
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Like everybody else I'm disappointed, however there is a part of me that is relieved this whole thing is over now and I can forget about it. I do feel very misled by virgin but if I'm honest i have been questioning for a while whether this is a company i want to work for because of how we have been treated, at least now i don't have to make that decision
Sorry to hear you guys got treated so badly.
Not surprised though. Poor communications and terrible organisation masked by fluffy marketing bear all the hallmarks of the Virgin brand.
When recruitment team were too busy tweeting photographs of how they decorated the office for Halloween rather than working their way through the 15000 applications, it already gives some clue about how this was going to end.
Good luck to all of you. Hope there are other TOC recruitment drives you can get on to soon.
Like everybody else I'm disappointed, however there is a part of me that is relieved this whole thing is over now and I can forget about it. I do feel very misled by virgin but if I'm honest i have been questioning for a while whether this is a company i want to work for because of how we have been treated, at least now i don't have to make that decision
The change from job offer to a talent pool, the “still remain 100% committed” email just in February, the fact that on the day of my psychometric testing we were sent to the wrong address in York, at the right address nobody was expecting us, the lack of replies by the talent team to emails! I kind of agree and have had similar thoughts, is this really a place to commit your future too?
The mess over the franchise and back tracking on how they’ve overbid for it to an outsider like me mirrors the whole process here, a huge campaign and fanfare over making 78 new driver positions only to callously discard 43 people 18 months later and claim slow driver attrition is the problem. At least be honest, they got their sums wrong again. It’s not difffcult to see why the east coast franchise is in the mess it is. I hope you all move on from this and wish you all the best, good luck
Blanka
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