Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

I e mailed HR this week regarding the positions at Yoker, Glasgow central etc. They said they hope to get back to applicants by the end of the month.

Well I got the thanks but no thanks for Edinburgh yesterday following DMI. I'm curious, anyone know if you can get feedback? I've emailed HR to ask...

Scuba2208 said:

Well I got the thanks but no thanks for Edinburgh yesterday following DMI. I'm curious, anyone know if you can get feedback? I've emailed HR to ask...

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Same here, I got my response the other day. I was disappointed but I didn't get a great feeling after the interview. To be honest it's probably the most unstructured interview I have ever done. Absolutely nothing to do with why I wanted to even be a train driver or anything else I researched and planned for. They were more interested in things that had nothing really to do with finding out how suitable I actually was for the job. Just silly little scenario questions about things I'd have thought would be more in the MMI or things you'd cover in your training anyway. I mean to not even be asked why you wanted to become a train driver was crazy in my mind. Probably a bit bitter at the moment not sure if ever try again in the future after that experience. I never bothered asking for feedback as I don't think you'd get it. Let me know if you get any. I just don't see how they're getting the best people for the job with their interviewing technique and questions..... I suspect maybe quite a lot of internal applicants tho and they have to advertise these positions so sometimes might be your luck at the time. Good luck

Mike003 said:

Same here, I got my response the other day. I was disappointed but I didn't get a great feeling after the interview. To be honest it's probably the most unstructured interview I have ever done. Absolutely nothing to do with why I wanted to even be a train driver or anything else I researched and planned for. They were more interested in things that had nothing really to do with finding out how suitable I actually was for the job. Just silly little scenario questions about things I'd have thought would be more in the MMI or things you'd cover in your training anyway. I mean to not even be asked why you wanted to become a train driver was crazy in my mind. Probably a bit bitter at the moment not sure if ever try again in the future after that experience. I never bothered asking for feedback as I don't think you'd get it. Let me know if you get any. I just don't see how they're getting the best people for the job with their interviewing technique and questions..... I suspect maybe quite a lot of internal applicants tho and they have to advertise these positions so sometimes might be your luck at the time. Good luck

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It’s interesting you say that. I work for Scotrail. I was talking to a few internal applicants about their interviews and a couple said the very same thing as you. Scenario based questions and nothing to do with why they actually applied for the role. Internal interviews are actually regarded as being ‘harder’ as we are meant to know a lot more and will be quizzed on it. But there was nothing of the sort in those interviews. Another person I was talking to had a completely different interview and was asked all sorts of operational questions and why they were applying etc. Needless to say the ones who received the same style of interview as yourself were unsuccessful. There are a few unhappy internal applicants at the moment.

Mike003 said:

Same here, I got my response the other day. I was disappointed but I didn't get a great feeling after the interview. To be honest it's probably the most unstructured interview I have ever done. Absolutely nothing to do with why I wanted to even be a train driver or anything else I researched and planned for. They were more interested in things that had nothing really to do with finding out how suitable I actually was for the job. Just silly little scenario questions about things I'd have thought would be more in the MMI or things you'd cover in your training anyway. I mean to not even be asked why you wanted to become a train driver was crazy in my mind. Probably a bit bitter at the moment not sure if ever try again in the future after that experience. I never bothered asking for feedback as I don't think you'd get it. Let me know if you get any. I just don't see how they're getting the best people for the job with their interviewing technique and questions..... I suspect maybe quite a lot of internal applicants tho and they have to advertise these positions so sometimes might be your luck at the time. Good luck

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Hi,
Having been involved in the recruitment process in the past perhaps I can shed some light on this. Firstly the "why do you want to be a train driver" has become somewhat irrelevant. Yes, there are some people to whom this is their dream job, but for the majority it is the salary. The single most important part of a train drivers role is dealing with dangerous/out of course situations and incidents which could endanger life. Therefore the "silly" situational questions are actually utterly relevant. How you deal with an out of course incident is probably the most important part of the job and is what you are regular assessed on at the simulator and rules days. In a nutshell the interview is designed to assess if you have a "safety critical" mindset and how you would deal with safety critical incidents. Why you want to become a train driver isn't that important. The whole railway culture is based around safety and that's literally the main thing you need to focus on at an interview. Not why you want the job. Hope this helps.....

My wife is a recruitment professional and told me that ScotRails application and testing process was one of the most thorough and intelligent she had come across in 30 years. A manager also told me that it’s very easy to get people to apply, but very, very few are actually good enough to meet all the criteria and get all the way through the process to become a driver.
Basically, the reason for questions that seem unrelated is that anything can (and often does) happen on and around the railway. Believe me - there is very little to enjoy in a really early book on time or 140 station stops in 10 hours. As a previous poster said - it’s if they think you can deal with these weird incidents that come at you from nowhere and remain composed enough to safely drive... and do it every day for 30 years.

AS1990 said:

It’s interesting you say that. I work for Scotrail. I was talking to a few internal applicants about their interviews and a couple said the very same thing as you. Scenario based questions and nothing to do with why they actually applied for the role. Internal interviews are actually regarded as being ‘harder’ as we are meant to know a lot more and will be quizzed on it. But there was nothing of the sort in those interviews. Another person I was talking to had a completely different interview and was asked all sorts of operational questions and why they were applying etc. Needless to say the ones who received the same style of interview as yourself were unsuccessful. There are a few unhappy internal applicants at the moment.

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Mine were scenario questions also. Had a medical last week. Thought it would be more knowledge on the company and operational questions so I was pleasantly surprised to be asked questions similar to those that would be asked in an MMI.

scotraildriver said:

Hi,
Having been involved in the recruitment process in the past perhaps I can shed some light on this. Firstly the "why do you want to be a train driver" has become somewhat irrelevant. Yes, there are some people to whom this is their dream job, but for the majority it is the salary. The single most important part of a train drivers role is dealing with dangerous/out of course situations and incidents which could endanger life. Therefore the "silly" situational questions are actually utterly relevant. How you deal with an out of course incident is probably the most important part of the job and is what you are regular assessed on at the simulator and rules days. In a nutshell the interview is designed to assess if you have a "safety critical" mindset and how you would deal with safety critical incidents. Why you want to become a train driver isn't that important. The whole railway culture is based around safety and that's literally the main thing you need to focus on at an interview. Not why you want the job. Hope this helps.....

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Well I agree that the role is very much about safety. But to be asked how you would deal with a drunk person banging on the train did not really seem that relevant to safety or an emergency situation as once you've had your training you'd follow procedures that you were taught to deal with that type of situation. I didn't get asked anything to do with any scenario that would be an emergency situation. My career has involved constantly working in extremely dangerous environments, and probably much more dangerous than anything I'd ever have to deal with as a train driver. I didn't get the chance to get that across during the interview which is why I didn't like the way it was structured as they didn't seem interested in what you'd actually done in your career which is what I'd say an interview is usually about to find out what you've done in your life in detail. It was all based on what I knew about the company in quite deep depth. And as far as everyone only applying for the salary I'd say possibly for a lot of people but not for myself at all. So you'd think that makes asking people why they want to be a train driver more important as of people are only applying based on pay then they need to try weed out these people and find people who are applying for other reasons. I'm making much more now than I'd ever make as a train driver and above it was all about a new challenge and a lifestyle change due to having a young family. So not everyone wants this role just for money. Yes the pay is very good for working a 4 day week and being home a lot. I think if you only want the pay you could end up with a lot of people who aren't actually that interested in the role. Anyway I probably used the "silly" word in the wrong context so probably I'd say not silly just not required questions at that stage of the whole process.... Thanks for your input tho I take everyone's view on board nobody is right or wrong in my view ..

Hi all, first post on railforums.
Got confirmation this evening that my contract is in the post for trainee driver role for edin/bathgate. Start date 22nd October. If any other new starts are on this thread well done and I’ll see you at the training centre. Looking forward to the surge of information and learning coming my way...after 16 years in my current role the change is most welcome!

Debaser said:

Hi all, first post on railforums.
Got confirmation this evening that my contract is in the post for trainee driver role for edin/bathgate. Start date 22nd October. If any other new starts are on this thread well done and I’ll see you at the training centre. Looking forward to the surge of information and learning coming my way...after 16 years in my current role the change is most welcome!

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congratulations
really annoying being still under consideration for Edinburgh,
really wish they would just tell me I haven't been accepted or if I have

Thanks, I hope you get good news soon.

Has anybody who applied for Inverness heard back yet?

Being thinking a lot on reflection now I've had the chance to get over the dissapointment. Don't know about anyone else's interview, but I truly felt they were playing a good cop, bad cop routine. I did come away thinking I hadn't impressed bad cop enough despite having good safety related answers to the questions.
What can I say though, I clearly wasn't what they were after this time. Doesn't mean I won't apply again.
Best of luck to everyone who's been successful or still going through the process.

100% good cop bad cop. That's how they usually do it. You can only use your experience and feed back to try again

Hi all, does anyone know of any update for the Dundee driver position? As far as I can see from reading on here there's a number of people like my self who are still sitting at under consideration. I know a few people heard back for the Perth roles but not sure if anyone has had the "no thanks" for Dundee yet? My thinking is they maybe did hire from the internal pool but plan to hire more later this year so are keeping us under consideration until that point. That's a complete guess though so I may well be wrong. Any thoughts appreciated.

Dundeeborn said:

Hi all, does anyone know of any update for the Dundee driver position? As far as I can see from reading on here there's a number of people like my self who are still sitting at under consideration. I know a few people heard back for the Perth roles but not sure if anyone has had the "no thanks" for Dundee yet? My thinking is they maybe did hire from the internal pool but plan to hire more later this year so are keeping us under consideration until that point. That's a complete guess though so I may well be wrong. Any thoughts appreciated.

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Apparently the Dundee roles were put on hold

Ah ok, thanks. Don't suppose you know why or till when? Cheers

Hello guys, just wondering if any body on here applied for the Aberdeen positions? And if they knew when the start date would be.

Many thanks

Does anyone know what routes you would cover for being based at the depot in Perth?

Just Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh? Or Aberdeen and Inverness too?

Perth link 2 drivers sign Perth to Edinburgh (via Ladybank and via Leuchars), Perth to Aberdeen, Perth to Queen Street (via Croy) and Inverkeithing to Glenrothes (the Fife Circle). Link 1 signs the above plus Perth to Inverness and Perth to Queen Street via Cumbernauld, and some sign the E&G. As a new start you’d go into link 2.

Highlandspring said:

Perth link 2 drivers sign Perth to Edinburgh (via Ladybank and via Leuchars), Perth to Aberdeen, Perth to Queen Street (via Croy) and Inverkeithing to Glenrothes (the Fife Circle). Link 1 signs the above plus Perth to Inverness and Perth to Queen Street via Cumbernauld, and some sign the E&G. As a new start you’d go into link 2.

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Thanks. Very informative. So how would you end up in link one? Can you choose to stay in link two? And if you change is this based on your manager? And can this change. If so how often?

Are you offered taxis if you work the fife circle?

xtradj said:

Thanks. Very informative. So how would you end up in link one? Can you choose to stay in link two? And if you change is this based on your manager? And can this change. If so how often?

Are you offered taxis if you work the fife circle?

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Taxis for working the circle??

Link progression is based on seniority so once started in Link 2 you will be waiting on the more senior drivers in link 2 moving into link 1.

This also depends on spaces becoming available in link 1 to move in to.

This can take years...Also the whole link structure at Perth is rumoured to be changing shortly anyway with very little information on how this is going to be implemented.

This is due to the introduction of HST traction being worked by some Perth drivers.

Mike003 said:

Well I agree that the role is very much about safety. But to be asked how you would deal with a drunk person banging on the train did not really seem that relevant to safety or an emergency situation as once you've had your training you'd follow procedures that you were taught to deal with that type of situation. I didn't get asked anything to do with any scenario that would be an emergency situation. My career has involved constantly working in extremely dangerous environments, and probably much more dangerous than anything I'd ever have to deal with as a train driver. I didn't get the chance to get that across during the interview which is why I didn't like the way it was structured as they didn't seem interested in what you'd actually done in your career which is what I'd say an interview is usually about to find out what you've done in your life in detail. It was all based on what I knew about the company in quite deep depth. And as far as everyone only applying for the salary I'd say possibly for a lot of people but not for myself at all. So you'd think that makes asking people why they want to be a train driver more important as of people are only applying based on pay then they need to try weed out these people and find people who are applying for other reasons. I'm making much more now than I'd ever make as a train driver and above it was all about a new challenge and a lifestyle change due to having a young family. So not everyone wants this role just for money. Yes the pay is very good for working a 4 day week and being home a lot. I think if you only want the pay you could end up with a lot of people who aren't actually that interested in the role. Anyway I probably used the "silly" word in the wrong context so probably I'd say not silly just not required questions at that stage of the whole process.... Thanks for your input tho I take everyone's view on board nobody is right or wrong in my view ..

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I think you have went into the interview convinced it would pan out a certain way and started to flap when it never.
You need to show respect for the interviewers they know much more about the rail industry and the skills required to fill a particular role than you do.

Drunk people are a safety hazard they most definitely are relevant to safety related questions.
The correct way in which to deal with these situations rely on common sense and a natural ability to make the safest possible decision.

What was your answer to that question?

To be honest if it wasnt for the salary I probably wouldn’t have applied for the job at all and im pretty certain there wouldn't be thousands applying every year or so many posts regarding train driver recruitment in this section of the forum.
How they weed people like myself out of the application stage would be pretty tricky.

Do you know how training works as in is it five days a week 9-5?

xtradj said:

Do you know how training works as in is it five days a week 9-5?

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5 days at training school wont be 9 to 5 as 36 hours per week. When doing front end turns You will do 4 days with a driver. Dont book a summer holiday until you are guaranteed your time off.

toot toot said:

5 days at training school wont be 9 to 5 as 36 hours per week. When doing front end turns You will do 4 days with a driver. Dont book a summer holiday until you are guaranteed your time off.

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I imagine it would be 9-5 as an hours lunch a day is 35 a week. Unless it’s half hour? Just wanted to get the jist of times. When do you go out with a driver is that usually after 12/13 weeks?

xtradj said:

I imagine it would be 9-5 as an hours lunch a day is 35 a week. Unless it’s half hour? Just wanted to get the jist of times. When do you go out with a driver is that usually after 12/13 weeks?

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Im sure you get a break in the mornings too...anyway youll have more than t breaks to think about very soon so I wouldn’t worry about that.

First FET for me was after 3 or 4 weeks at the school this was about 8 years ago though but may have changed slightly.

toot toot said:

Im sure you get a break in the mornings too...anyway youll have more than t breaks to think about very soon so I wouldn’t worry about that.

First FET for me was after 3 or 4 weeks at the school this was about 8 years ago though but may have changed slightly.

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Thanks just trying to get an idea of everything as I’m relocating and working out commute times to Glasgow from the depot etc. Will know more day one I guess!

toot toot said:

5 days at training school wont be 9 to 5 as 36 hours per week. When doing front end turns You will do 4 days with a driver. Dont book a summer holiday until you are guaranteed your time off.

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Incorrect. Front end turns are done over 5 days and MUST be 5 days. Your front end turn book has details for 5 days that must be filled out and this is the case for all 3 of your cab turn books. You will be assigned a driver (ideally a DI) to shadow at your depot and you follow their shifts for 7 hours each day of their 4 days Mon-Fri and you will be given another driver to shadow for your 5th day (or any day that your DI is not working) and this makes up your 35 hour week. We have had trainees out recently and this is definitely the way it is being done.
The Training Academy days range from 8am starts to 10am starts as it depends on whether you are in the classroom, a depot, a simulator, a signal box, etc. Again, from speaking to and seeing trainees getting on trains at these times I know this is the case. Your trainer will keep you informed of where to be and what time you've to be there. As the starting times fluctuate, so do the finishing times, tea breaks will be often to give your brain a rest and to stretch your legs or let those that smoke get outside, and you obviously get a lunch break too. Your front end turn weeks or classroom weeks will never exceed 35 hours but you will have to put in a little bit of reading in your hotel room at night or when travelling home on the train. Not much at all, 10 minutes is enough but it's best to keep on top of stuff and really lock in the info you've been taught each day as there will be a LOT of things to remember.

On average it's about 3/4 months (depends on number of traction you have at your depot) doing classroom work, front end turns and traction training before you are out at your depot and driving with a DI. Once you are out doing that you'll have periodic checks to see how you are getting on (be aware that the DTM will also be asking your DI how you are getting on throughout your training and not just at the review points you are expecting). You'll return to the classroom again after ~150 hours for a week or two and then back out to the depot to do the rest of your hours and then once ready you'll do rules and route knowledge and sign for routes (not all of them, you'll sign some later on once you've learned them). Then you're a train driver! The time will fly in and that first day you're out on your own will be an ar$e clenching one but at the end of it you'll definitely be smiling.

Is there any external Perth Trainee drivers starting on the 22nd October on here?
I’m internal and will be joining yous on the 29th October.