GWR Train Driver talent pool

Fair mo · 9 Dec 2019

Hopefully it's just you and me waiting....

RailUK Forums

dabollicks · 9 Dec 2019

Fair mo said:
Hopefully it's just you and me waiting....

It’d be nice! We can live in hope i guess

Fair mo · 9 Dec 2019

Sounds great. Just have to convince the wife that 17 weeks away will go quickly

jezzer34 · 10 Dec 2019

dabollicks said:
Was going to ask the very same thing

applied in April 2019, stage 1 September 19, stage 2 November 19. Dmi Feb 20

dabollicks · 10 Dec 2019

jezzer34 said:
applied in April 2019, stage 1 September 19, stage 2 November 19. Dmi Feb 20

What depot did you apply for? Similar dates to me. Applied in June, stage 1 September 11, stage 2 November 6, DMI still waiting to hear

dabollicks · 10 Dec 2019

Fair mo said:
Sounds great. Just have to convince the wife that 17 weeks away will go quickly

If I get that far, which I hopefully will, I’ve not had the conversation with my missus about possible training yet.

Fair mo · 11 Dec 2019

dabollicks said:
If I get that far, which I hopefully will, I’ve not had the conversation with my missus about possible training yet.

Good luck!

dabollicks · 11 Dec 2019

Fair mo said:
Good luck!

Thanks. I’ll certainly need it

Busandrail · 11 Dec 2019

dabollicks said:
If I get that far, which I hopefully will, I’ve not had the conversation with my missus about possible training yet.

It's hard isn't it, my misses has just gone back to work after 10 years being at home with the kids, all kids now in school but now I'm going to be away for 5 months it will be difficult for her to do it all by herself, especially as we don't have much family around us to help out. Worth the hassel in the long run

Stigy · 11 Dec 2019

Busandrail said:
It's hard isn't it, my misses has just gone back to work after 10 years being at home with the kids, all kids now in school but now I'm going to be away for 5 months it will be difficult for her to do it all by herself, especially as we don't have much family around us to help out. Worth the hassel in the long run

I thought exactly that, but my wife coped without me. I thought it would be more difficult, but I think after a few weeks of doing it Monday to Friday by herself with a 3 and 7 year old she got used to it. By the time got home for good I think she was a little disappointed to be honest

I enjoyed the time away myself too...

1494 · 11 Dec 2019

Stigy said:
As long as you commit to move before your handling hours start you should be okay (because that’s the first time you’ll be working at your allocated depot full time and will have to be within the 1-hr due to fatigue etc.), but bear in mind during training you will be accommodated based on your depot, so if it’s Newton Abbott or Plymouth (I believe) you’re trained at for the 16 or so weeks, you won’t get accommodation supplied. Anywhere else you would do. Therefore you’d be expected to either supply your own accommodation so that you can attend the classroom training every day, or travel up every day. There will also be times during your front end turns (shadowing a driver.....there’s two or three weeks of this within the schedule) where you’d probably need to be at your Home Depot too.

Thanks for this that's good to know. I don't want to jump the gun yet as I am awaiting my DMI date, but it just helps with planning should I pass. I will sell my house and move back into Devon to be able to take the job. I also have a brother in Torquay and a sister in Plymouth so could stay at either if I hadn't sold yet. Happy to do whatever I need to do to stay within the rules but just needed to know their stance on it, thanks. I'm guessing quite a few people re-locate for a job so they must be used to it.

1494 · 11 Dec 2019

Danetime said:
Hey Tom!

I passed my DMI for Exeter St Davids in June and I lived in Barnstaple just outside the one hour mark (I was told it was). The question was asked in my DMI and I said I would move before training started to which they seemed pleased with. However, other people started to get phone calls from my talent pool regarding starting positions next year and I've yet to hear anything. So I've taken the choice of moving to Exeter last month hoping that this will increase my chances of getting the call.

Thanks for this, this is useful to know. Once I know the result of my DMI (if I get a date) then i'll start working out what i'm going to do. Tom

CloudDriver · 11 Dec 2019

Two questions-

Did anyone receive a certificate or correspondence stating you have passed the Driver Assesment?

Secondly, can you apply to other Trainee Driver positions at the same time as being in the Pool given you have passed the assesment center & is this recommended or is it best to wait for the call From DB?

Stigy · 11 Dec 2019

CloudDriver said:
Two questions-

Did anyone receive a certificate or correspondence stating you have passed the Driver Assesment?

Secondly, can you apply to other Trainee Driver positions at the same time as being in the Pool given you have passed the assesment center & is this recommended or is it best to wait for the call From DB?

You are aware this thread is about GWR, don’t you?

Anyway, in answer to your questions;

1. No, you won’t do.
2. Yes, you can apply for other companies. I would recommend this approach since a talent pool isn’t a guaranteed job.

Nonuts · 21 Dec 2019

The very best of luck to all of you starting courses early next year. Its going to be an exciting and likely full on time.

Everyone waiting for news, I hope it's good when it arrives and those waiting for course dates I hope it's not a long wait.

All have a great Christmas and New Year. Look forward to meeting those on the Feb 10th Bristol course.

Liam00086 · 21 Dec 2019

Nonuts said:
The very best of luck to all of you starting courses early next year. Its going to be an exciting and likely full on time.

Everyone waiting for news, I hope it's good when it arrives and those waiting for course dates I hope it's not a long wait.

All have a great Christmas and New Year. Look forward to meeting those on the Feb 10th Bristol course.

Have a great Christmas/New Year. Be great to put a face to the Nonuts name haha. Just us 2 by the looks of it.

Busandrail · 22 Dec 2019

Just quick update. Had all my joining instructions and schedule, looks very full on with a lot of travelling. Some very tight turn around too which will be fun aha ie: Bristol-Swindon and back to Cornwall in 2 days.

Just a quick question, my first day is in Par for local induction, will I likely get my uniform that day? I was wondering if they'd likely let me get it earlier than my first day, as by 9am on the 7th iv got to be in Swindon and didn't really fancy lugging all my uniform up there.

Also does anyone know what traction Par sign?

baz962 · 22 Dec 2019

Busandrail said:
Just quick update. Had all my joining instructions and schedule, looks very full on with a lot of travelling. Some very tight turn around too which will be fun aha ie: Bristol-Swindon and back to Cornwall in 2 days.

Just a quick question, my first day is in Par for local induction, will I likely get my uniform that day? I was wondering if they'd likely let me get it earlier than my first day, as by 9am on the 7th iv got to be in Swindon and didn't really fancy lugging all my uniform up there.

Also does anyone know what traction Par sign?

Two day turnaround tight ... Wish my turnaround times were that long lol

irish_rail · 22 Dec 2019

Busandrail said:
Just quick update. Had all my joining instructions and schedule, looks very full on with a lot of travelling. Some very tight turn around too which will be fun aha ie: Bristol-Swindon and back to Cornwall in 2 days.

Just a quick question, my first day is in Par for local induction, will I likely get my uniform that day? I was wondering if they'd likely let me get it earlier than my first day, as by 9am on the 7th iv got to be in Swindon and didn't really fancy lugging all my uniform up there.

Also does anyone know what traction Par sign?

Traction wise they do 150, HST, and will probably do 802s at some point.

Stigy · 22 Dec 2019

Busandrail said:
Just quick update. Had all my joining instructions and schedule, looks very full on with a lot of travelling. Some very tight turn around too which will be fun aha ie: Bristol-Swindon and back to Cornwall in 2 days.

Just a quick question, my first day is in Par for local induction, will I likely get my uniform that day? I was wondering if they'd likely let me get it earlier than my first day, as by 9am on the 7th iv got to be in Swindon and didn't really fancy lugging all my uniform up there.

Also does anyone know what traction Par sign?

You should receive your uniform at your induction, apart from your Backpack, which you’ll get after PTS (that’s how it was for our course anyway). Can you not have your local induction, go home with the uniform, then travel to Bristol? I doubt local induction will take all day, most likely it’ll be a few hours. I was at mine for about 4-hours at the most, then lugged my uniform home (in hindsight I wish I’d driven to depot and stuck the uniform in the boot as it’s a lot to carry).

Are you internal or external?

Busandrail · 22 Dec 2019

baz962 said:
Two day turnaround tight ... Wish my turnaround times were that long lol

Aha maybe I'm just out of touch.
Basixally I'm in Bristol Mon-Thursday, they've booked me a hotel in Bristol for the Thursday night then at 9am I have to be in Swindon for the day, then as its a Friday no hotel is provided so have to get back to Cornwall for the weekend aha.

irish_rail said:
Traction wise they do 150, HST, and will probably do 802s at some point.

Ideal thanks

Stigy said:
You should receive your uniform at your induction, apart from your Backpack, which you’ll get after PTS (that’s how it was for our course anyway). Can you not have your local induction, go home with the uniform, then travel to Bristol? I doubt local induction will take all day, most likely it’ll be a few hours. I was at mine for about 4-hours at the most, then lugged my uniform home (in hindsight I wish I’d driven to depot and stuck the uniform in the boot as it’s a lot to carry).

Yeah it IS possible to do that. I could drive up do the induction, go home and get last train upto Swindon which would get me in at like 10pm. That's probably the best option.

Are you internal or external?

external

Thanks for the answers guys

Stigy · 22 Dec 2019

Busandrail said:
Aha maybe I'm just out of touch.
Basixally I'm in Bristol Mon-Thursday, they've booked me a hotel in Bristol for the Thursday night then at 9am I have to be in Swindon for the day, then as its a Friday no hotel is provided so have to get back to Cornwall...

Not ideal, but Swindon is easily commutable from Bristol and you will just need to take your bag/case or whatever with you?

Busandrail · 22 Dec 2019

Stigy said:
Not ideal, but Swindon is easily commutable from Bristol and you will just need to take your bag/case or whatever with you?

Yeah, i wasnt at all moaning just trying to get my head round all this traveling around lol. Just eager to get going now.

Daydr3am3r · 22 Dec 2019

Busandrail said:
Yeah, i wasnt at all moaning just trying to get my head round all this traveling around lol. Just eager to get going now.

In fairness it’s only the first two weeks then it calms down a little!

Stigy · 22 Dec 2019

Daydr3am3r said:
In fairness it’s only the first two weeks then it calms down a little!

Agreed. I also found that after 16 or 17 weeks in a hotel I actually quite liked the lifestyle

Daydr3am3r · 23 Dec 2019

Stigy said:
Agreed. I also found that after 16 or 17 weeks in a hotel I actually quite liked the lifestyle

I think if I had stayed in a hotel for 16 weeks I would have had to order a larger pair of trousers due to all of the food temptations!!

Stigy · 23 Dec 2019

Daydr3am3r said:
I think if I had stayed in a hotel for 16 weeks I would have had to order a larger pair of trousers due to all of the food temptations!!

I lost a stone in weight before I went as I was told I needed to at my medical (because my BMI was 33.7). He said he’d call me back in in three months. I knew he probably wouldn’t, but I wanted to lose weight anyway so I did it a couple of weeks before starting

Anyway, Let’s just say my BMI is around 33.7 again...

obrut165 · 23 Dec 2019

Stigy said:
I lost a stone in weight before I went as I was told I needed to at my medical (because my BMI was 33.7). He said he’d call me back in in three months. I knew he probably wouldn’t, but I wanted to lose weight anyway so I did it a couple of weeks before starting

Anyway, Let’s just say my BMI is around 33.7 again...

Daydr3am3r · 23 Dec 2019

Stigy said:
I lost a stone in weight before I went as I was told I needed to at my medical (because my BMI was 33.7). He said he’d call me back in in three months. I knew he probably wouldn’t, but I wanted to lose weight anyway so I did it a couple of weeks before starting

Anyway, Let’s just say my BMI is around 33.7 again...

Crezzy27 · 24 Dec 2019

Bus and rail I’m on the same course!! Out of Plymouth!!

local induction on the 6th then onto Swindon that night...

just got my travel card, do we need to book a ticket or can we just get on and go?

also I’m external, where is the gateline??

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