• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Trainee Train Driver — SWR Farnham Depot

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

Q

Quin79

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2019
Messages
284
Didn't get through the online SJT. Admittedly did rush it around midnight last night to get it done before they took it down but hey ho
 
S

Stigy

Established Member
Joined
6 Nov 2009
Messages
4,882
Quin79 said:
Didn't get through the online SJT. Admittedly did rush it around midnight last night to get it done before they took it down but hey ho
Click to expand...
The SJT is only given once the application is completed isn’t it?
 
Q

Quin79

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2019
Messages
284
Stigy said:
The SJT is only given once the application is completed isn’t it?
Click to expand...

That's right. Can only assume it was the SJT I failed on. Although pretty much as soon as I had submitted the application I had the email to complete the SJT, so I assumed I had passed the application part....Thought may have been one of those computer filtering things for applications. May be wrong? Have to say the application part seemed a lot easier than Southern/GTR's as they asked lots of questions. SWR just had the one box to fill in (max 5000 words). Bit surprised to be unsuccessful with them as awaiting my assessment day with Southern
 
GeniusB

GeniusB

Member
Joined
10 Sep 2019
Messages
107
Location
Southall
Afternoon all,

Has anyone had any response or feedback for this application ? trying to remember if this recruitment was for a talent pool, been a while now.
 
P

Peeler

Member
Joined
8 Mar 2019
Messages
92
Wasn’t for a talent pool. Was for a live post which was successfully filled.

SWR are committed to putting on new driver & guards all next year too so look out for adverts!
 
R

Rich.16

Member
Joined
23 Jul 2019
Messages
59
Would you know if this would be trainee posts or already qualified?

Many thanks.

Peeler said:
Wasn’t for a talent pool. Was for a live post which was successfully filled.

SWR are committed to putting on new driver & guards all next year too so look out for adverts!
Click to expand...
 
GeniusB

GeniusB

Member
Joined
10 Sep 2019
Messages
107
Location
Southall
Peeler said:
Wasn’t for a talent pool. Was for a live post which was successfully filled.

SWR are committed to putting on new driver & guards all next year too so look out for adverts!
Click to expand...
Oh, how do you know the position was successfully fill
 
GeniusB

GeniusB

Member
Joined
10 Sep 2019
Messages
107
Location
Southall
Oh, how do you know the position was successfully filled ?? I've had no notification nothing, no rejection email and my application status online is still under consideration ? Applied for Farnham Depot.
 
P

Peeler

Member
Joined
8 Mar 2019
Messages
92
GeniusB said:
Oh, how do you know the position was successfully filled ?? I've had no notification nothing, no rejection email and my application status online is still under consideration ? Applied for Farnham Depot.
Click to expand...

Just an assumption to be fair because I know of someone on a new course going to Farnham but they could also have more than one post to fill there over the year. So on reflection you cannot really say it’s filled........

Don’t be afraid to give recruitment a call. They are very approachable and will tell you where they can what’s occurring.

Some of the current stats are staggering thou’. They go through around 1000 applications a week at the moment for SWR jobs!
 
GeniusB

GeniusB

Member
Joined
10 Sep 2019
Messages
107
Location
Southall
Peeler said:
Just an assumption to be fair because I know of someone on a new course going to Farnham but they could also have more than one post to fill there over the year. So on reflection you cannot really say it’s filled........

Don’t be afraid to give recruitment a call. They are very approachable and will tell you where they can what’s occurring.

Some of the current stats are staggering thou’. They go through around 1000 applications a week at the moment for SWR jobs!
Click to expand...

Thanks mate, think I will give them a call.
 
T

theironroad

Established Member
Joined
21 Nov 2014
Messages
3,697
Location
London
Peeler said:
Wasn’t for a talent pool. Was for a live post which was successfully filled.

SWR are committed to putting on new driver & guards all next year too so look out for adverts!
Click to expand...

With the turnover of drivers at the moment and very high reliance on free day working at some depots , they need to be committed if they want to run a timetable.
Rich.16 said:
Would you know if this would be trainee posts or already qualified?

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Qualified are a lot quicker to get productive, but swr aren't that attractive as they are one of the lowest paid drivers in the country. Some qualified are prepared to take a pay cut for personal reasons. I'd suggest that trainees will be taken on , especially in suburban depots, but a lack of sufficient numbers driving instructors slows down the pipeline.
 
GeniusB

GeniusB

Member
Joined
10 Sep 2019
Messages
107
Location
Southall
theironroad said:
With the turnover of drivers at the moment and very high reliance on free day working at some depots , they need to be committed if they want to run a timetable.


Qualified are a lot quicker to get productive, but swr aren't that attractive as they are one of the lowest paid drivers in the country. Some qualified are prepared to take a pay cut for personal reasons. I'd suggest that trainees will be taken on , especially in suburban depots, but a lack of sufficient numbers driving instructors slows down the pipeline.
Click to expand...
Are you a driver by any chance ? As your saying there's an issue possibly with driver trainers
 
T

theironroad

Established Member
Joined
21 Nov 2014
Messages
3,697
Location
London
GeniusB said:
Are you a driver by any chance ? As your saying there's an issue possibly with driver trainers
Click to expand...

When there are large influxes of trainees, it's not such a problem at the training school where there's roughly 12 trainees to 1 class instructor, but when the trainee comes to do their 200+ practical driving hours on a 1-1 basis with an instructor (DI) there is usually a log jam. In some cases at some depots it has been a very long wait and in some of those cases people have quit.

For various reasons there is a general shortage of DIs
 
HeelBurton

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
241
Location
Wembley
theironroad said:
When there are large influxes of trainees, it's not such a problem at the training school where there's roughly 12 trainees to 1 class instructor, but when the trainee comes to do their 200+ practical driving hours on a 1-1 basis with an instructor (DI) there is usually a log jam. In some cases at some depots it has been a very long wait and in some of those cases people have quit.

For various reasons there is a general shortage of DIs
Click to expand...

Waterloo seems to have a decent quota of DI’s now, at least until I leave. Was talking to a trainee from Guildford who’s been sent down to Fratton from her hours but there is a backlog, not as bad as a year ago though
 
T

Twotwo

Member
Joined
10 Aug 2018
Messages
595
theironroad said:
When there are large influxes of trainees, it's not such a problem at the training school where there's roughly 12 trainees to 1 class instructor, but when the trainee comes to do their 200+ practical driving hours on a 1-1 basis with an instructor (DI) there is usually a log jam. In some cases at some depots it has been a very long wait and in some of those cases people have quit.

For various reasons there is a general shortage of DIs
Click to expand...


Wow, can't believe its been that bad that some people have had to quit! Must be certain depots surely not waterloo/Wimbledon
 
T

theironroad

Established Member
Joined
21 Nov 2014
Messages
3,697
Location
London
HeelBurton said:
Waterloo seems to have a decent quota of DI’s now, at least until I leave. Was talking to a trainee from Guildford who’s been sent down to Fratton from her hours but there is a backlog, not as bad as a year ago though
Click to expand...

Glad to hear things have improved somewhat. Leaving as in retiring or moving TOC?
 
T

theironroad

Established Member
Joined
21 Nov 2014
Messages
3,697
Location
London
Twotwo said:
Wow, can't believe its been that bad that some people have had to quit! Must be certain depots surely not waterloo/Wimbledon
Click to expand...

I believe it has only been one or two who have actually left, but waiting for a DI is pretty soul destroying especially when it goes on for months and months. Most people just bide their time though and try to keep themselves occupied.
 
H

HantsMan

Member
Joined
9 Jun 2019
Messages
26
They are running a lot of DI courses too at the moment & have had a few over the past year so it’s not as bad as people perceive.
 
HeelBurton

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
241
Location
Wembley
HantsMan said:
They are running a lot of DI courses too at the moment & have had a few over the past year so it’s not as bad as people perceive.
Click to expand...

Yep. I’ve noticed quite a few DI’s over the last 4-5 months. Noticeably when trying to book yard days at Clapham Yard it’s always full of people doing clanging’n’banging
 
H

HantsMan

Member
Joined
9 Jun 2019
Messages
26
HeelBurton said:
Yep. I’ve noticed quite a few DI’s over the last 4-5 months. Noticeably when trying to book yard days at Clapham Yard it’s always full of people doing clanging’n’banging
Click to expand...

I’m glad people are still volunteering to do it. It’s what I aspire to do too as I believe it’s important to support & develop others but I’ve got a long way to go yet! :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top