GWR Train Driver talent pool

Stigy · 4 Aug 2019

Daydr3am3r said:
Unfortunately circs at home mean that I would be unable to drop to a trainee drivers wage in August as this would be the only income in our household. I therefore had to pull out of the August course which is frustrating to say the least.

I’ve been placed back in the pool and told there are no spaces on Nov/Feb as spaces have been sorted, even if some are not aware yet. Beyond Feb it will be into the new financial year and on, as course dates are not known yet.

I also run the risk of being bumped down for any internals before this.

I’m a pretty optimistic guy so everything happens for a reason, so it is what it is. Thought I would share as an update, not a sympathy vote!!

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully you’ll get a course in the new year!

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Daydr3am3r · 4 Aug 2019

Tommy222256 said:
Ahh gutted mate, does this mean the 12 month time limit on your talent pool spot will run out or is there no time limit?!

They didn’t really mention it mate. They just said my results last for 5 years. Hopefully as they were talking about future dates next year I’ll just be offered the next available option, even if this is Summer 2020.

Daydr3am3r · 4 Aug 2019

Stigy said:
Sorry to hear this. Hopefully you’ll get a course in the new year!

Thanks Stigy. Hope the course is going well!

Dtrucker · 5 Aug 2019

Daydr3am3r said:
Unfortunately circs at home mean that I would be unable to drop to a trainee drivers wage in August as this would be the only income in our household. I therefore had to pull out of the August course which is frustrating to say the least.

I’ve been placed back in the pool and told there are no spaces on Nov/Feb as spaces have been sorted, even if some are not aware yet. Beyond Feb it will be into the new financial year and on, as course dates are not known yet.

I also run the risk of being bumped down for any internals before this.

I’m a pretty optimistic guy so everything happens for a reason, so it is what it is. Thought I would share as an update, not a sympathy vote!!

That’s a bummer mate. Hope everything works out for and you get another start date before you know it

Daydr3am3r · 5 Aug 2019

Dtrucker said:
That’s a bummer mate. Hope everything works out for and you get another start date before you know it

Thanks pal, you and me both!!

Scott1991 · 5 Aug 2019

Daydr3am3r said:
Unfortunately circs at home mean that I would be unable to drop to a trainee drivers wage in August as this would be the only income in our household. I therefore had to pull out of the August course which is frustrating to say the least.

I’ve been placed back in the pool and told there are no spaces on Nov/Feb as spaces have been sorted, even if some are not aware yet. Beyond Feb it will be into the new financial year and on, as course dates are not known yet.

I also run the risk of being bumped down for any internals before this.

I’m a pretty optimistic guy so everything happens for a reason, so it is what it is. Thought I would share as an update, not a sympathy vote!!

Any ideas when we would be notified if on one of those courses? Really hoping to hear something soon.

Daydr3am3r · 5 Aug 2019

Scott1991 said:
Any ideas when we would be notified if on one of those courses? Really hoping to hear something soon.

Not sure mate. To be honest a lot of it sounded like internal staff but that’s just my hunch. I don’t think they would have sent out confirmation/contracts for Feb yet, but could be wrong.

Stigy · 5 Aug 2019

Scott1991 said:
Any ideas when we would be notified if on one of those courses? Really hoping to hear something soon.

For a February course I certainly wouldn’t expect to hear before December. Solely going by the amount of notice people have received and how the railway works. There’s no more science to it than that I’m afraid.

Tommy222256 · 7 Aug 2019

I think as an external candidate they will be no movement until the new year. Hopefully I’m wrong!

PaulBusDriver · 7 Aug 2019

Just fyi fellow prospective trainees, I got my DMI date booked today after waiting since end of May.

Dtrucker · 8 Aug 2019

PaulBusDriver said:
Just fyi fellow prospective trainees, I got my DMI date booked today after waiting since end of May.

Ideal. About time. When have you got it September? What depot have you applied for?

PaulBusDriver · 8 Aug 2019

Dtrucker said:
Ideal. About time. When have you got it September? What depot have you applied for?

DMI is August 28th and I'm at Gloucester.

Liam00086 · 8 Aug 2019

PaulBusDriver said:
DMI is August 28th and I'm at Gloucester.

Nice one finally

PaulBusDriver · 8 Aug 2019

Yes I'm very pleased mate, now I need to prepare

Liam00086 said:
Nice one finally

Liam00086 · 8 Aug 2019

PaulBusDriver said:
Yes I'm very pleased mate, now I need to prepare

Well if I passed mine (should hopefully find out tomorrow/Monday) then I’ll give you some tips

Mr Oli · 8 Aug 2019

Liam00086 said:
Well if I passed mine (should hopefully find out tomorrow/Monday) then I’ll give you some tips

I had my DMI on the 16th July, they gave me the same timeline that they gave you (Monday latest), and I still haven't heard back , 3 weeks later. I'll be interested to see how fast they get back to you.

Liam00086 · 8 Aug 2019

Mr Oli said:
I had my DMI on the 16th July, they gave me the same timeline that they gave you (Monday latest), and I still haven't heard back , 3 weeks later. I'll be interested to see how fast they get back to you.

Yeah there is 3 of us I know of waiting from the depot I applied for. 1 internal and 2 external. They said 1-2 weeks as they had to do all the interviews first,

Dtrucker · 9 Aug 2019

Mr Oli said:
I had my DMI on the 16th July, they gave me the same timeline that they gave you (Monday latest), and I still haven't heard back , 3 weeks later. I'll be interested to see how fast they get back to you.

What depot have you applied for? I had mine on the 18th of July and heard back on the 22nd

Mr Oli · 9 Aug 2019

Dtrucker said:
What depot have you applied for? I had mine on the 18th of July and heard back on the 22nd

Bristol Temple Meads - what about you?

Dtrucker · 9 Aug 2019

Mr Oli said:
Bristol Temple Meads - what about you?

Oh ok. Hopefully you hear soon. I’m in the talent pool for Exeter st David’s

cancatsdance · 9 Aug 2019

what's at Westbury depot as in the pool

Scott1991 · 13 Aug 2019

Hi guys. Just wondering if anyone knows the rules about taking holiday during the training period? Is it a big no no or can you take leave after a certain amount of time? Its just I have my wedding in spain in september 2020 and would need a week off for it. Just so I know whether or not to keep optimistic as I sit in the talent pool. Still waiting

Liam00086 · 13 Aug 2019

Scott1991 said:
Hi guys. Just wondering if anyone knows the rules about taking holiday during the training period? Is it a big no no or can you take leave after a certain amount of time? Its just I have my wedding in spain in september 2020 and would need a week off for it. Just so I know whether or not to keep optimistic as I sit in the talent pool. Still waiting

At my interview they said the first 3 months would be a no but after that should be ok

Scott1991 · 13 Aug 2019

Liam00086 said:
At my interview they said the first 3 months would be a no but after that should be ok

Cheers mate

I'm really hoping to hear something soon. From what I understand theres a course in Feb however that sounds like its full from what people are saying on here. After that, I have no idea what the dates are. I'd love to know the likelihood of me getting on a course in the next 6 months

Liam00086 · 13 Aug 2019

Scott1991 said:
Cheers mate

I'm really hoping to hear something soon. From what I understand theres a course in Feb however that sounds like its full from what people are saying on here. After that, I have no idea what the dates are. I'd love to know the likelihood of me getting on a course in the next 6 months

Yeah I’m not sure, I’m still waiting to hear back from DMI so fingers crossed

tiptoptaff · 13 Aug 2019

No pre-booked annual leave in the first 19 weeks. You will get a week of leave between rules and traction planned in but you won't know what week that us until about a week to ten days before you start.

You can take up to two weeks to take during your handling phase, and it is very likely you will be told you have to take at least one week off. You will not be allowed to pass out and use weeks of accrued leave.

Bear in mind also you'll need to save two days for Christmas Day and Boxing day

Stigy · 13 Aug 2019

Scott1991 said:
Hi guys. Just wondering if anyone knows the rules about taking holiday during the training period? Is it a big no no or can you take leave after a certain amount of time? Its just I have my wedding in spain in september 2020 and would need a week off for it. Just so I know whether or not to keep optimistic as I sit in the talent pool. Still waiting

You’ll be allocated some leave during the training which you’ll all take at the same time, assuming it’s the same for all courses as it is my intake? After you’ve completed the 19-weeks classroom training you’ll have another week to take during your handling hours which can be taken as and when (obviously this would need to be taken so it doesn’t conflict with assessments etc as you’ll still be in your training period).

CiderDrinker · 15 Aug 2019

Stigy said:
You’ll be allocated some leave during the training which you’ll all take at the same time, assuming it’s the same for all courses as it is my intake? After you’ve completed the 19-weeks classroom training you’ll have another week to take during your handling hours which can be taken as and when (obviously this would need to be taken so it doesn’t conflict with assessments etc as you’ll still be in your training period).

Hey, yes it is the same for all courses, as Taff said, between rules and traction, although if it’s urgent you could potentially change this for front end turns, trainer dependant.

DJB · 16 Aug 2019

Hi Guys,

First post on this forum/thread, but have been following it for a long time.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who was able to provide advice and insight into the assessment centres and interviews. Im happy to say that I had my DMI yesterday afternoon, and received an email this morning to say that I had been successful and I am now in the talent pool for HEX.

The hard work and long evenings revising has paid off but now the wait begins. Fingers crossed aye!

Thank you again!
Dan

Stigy · 16 Aug 2019

DJB said:
Hi Guys,

First post on this forum/thread, but have been following it for a long time.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who was able to provide advice and insight into the assessment centres and interviews. Im happy to say that I had my DMI yesterday afternoon, and received an email this morning to say that I had been successful and I am now in the talent pool for HEX.

The hard work and long evenings revising has paid off but now the wait begins. Fingers crossed aye!

Thank you again!
Dan

Congrats and good luck mate! Hopefully the wait won’t be too long for you!

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