Trainee Driver

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Hi all,

After a career in logistics management, I’m going to look at making a change. Something I’ve always really fancied is train driving - basically a dream job.

I live in the South West so I’ll be targeting GWR and SWR. I know it’s the kind of role I’ll have to play the long game in seeking with the various trainee and talent pool models the TOCs use, which is fine.

I’d like to get myself into a trainee role in the next 5 years, which, with all the infrastructure investment, I hope is realistic. My question is, at 32 am I too old to make the switch? What kind of age range do TOCs tend to go for in their trainee roles in order to make training someone a worthwhile investment - and when is potentially too late age wise?

Please be as honest as possible, TIA!

RailUK Forums

baz962 · 2 Feb 2020

I started as a trainee , two year's ago aged 47 . Was a 44 year old and a 40 year old start a month before me . I qualified in 2018 at 48. I used to work in security and then car parking. You are certainly not too old and definitely in with a shout.

Stigy · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Hi all,

After a career in logistics management, I’m going to look at making a change. Something I’ve always really fancied is train driving - basically a dream job.

I live in the South West so I’ll be targeting GWR and SWR. I know it’s the kind of role I’ll have to play the long game in seeking with the various trainee and talent pool models the TOCs use, which is fine.

I’d like to get myself into a trainee role in the next 5 years, which, with all the infrastructure investment, I hope is realistic. My question is, at 32 am I too old to make the switch? What kind of age range do TOCs tend to go for in their trainee roles in order to make training someone a worthwhile investment - and when is potentially too late age wise?

Please be as honest as possible, TIA!

Absolutely not too old. I’m 37 and a trainee and lots of trainees I know of are in their late forties (you’ll no doubt have several people respond in this thread who started their career in driving in their forties or fifties). I like your attitude to it all and how you have a timeline. Good luck with it!

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Deleted

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

baz962 said:
I started as a trainee , two year's ago aged 47 . Was a 44 year old and a 40 year old start a month before me . I qualified in 2018 at 48. I used to work in security and then car parking. You are certainly not too old and definitely in with a shout.

Stigy said:
Absolutely not too old. I’m 37 and a trainee and lots of trainees I know of are in their late forties (you’ll no doubt have several people respond in this thread who started their career in driving in their forties or fifties). I like your attitude to it all and how you have a timeline. Good luck with it!

Thanks chaps, much appreciated!

In terms of when roles come up, how many attempts do you get at the initial online assessments? Are these part of the ‘2 strikes’ rule or are they separate from the main assessment centre process?

Liam00086 · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Thanks chaps, much appreciated!

In terms of when roles come up, how many attempts do you get at the initial online assessments? Are these part of the ‘2 strikes’ rule or are they separate from the main assessment centre process?

They are separate, but if you fail then you have to wait 6 months before you can apply to that TOC again.

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Liam00086 said:
They are separate, but if you fail then you have to wait 6 months before you can apply to that TOC again.

Cheers Liam. So to confirm, the 2 strikes rule only begins from assessment centre stage 1?

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

...only double checking as I’ve seen conflicting stuff on here, some saying the initial online bit counts, others saying it doesn’t!

Liam00086 · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
...only double checking as I’ve seen conflicting stuff on here, some saying the initial online bit counts, others saying it doesn’t!

Yeah, only OPC tests have the 2 strike rule

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Liam00086 said:
Yeah, only OPC tests have the 2 strike rule

Really helpful, thanks!

So from what I’ve read, the process goes like this (once you’ve passed the initial online bit):

OPC 1
OPC 2
MMI
DMI

Liam00086 · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Really helpful, thanks!

So from what I’ve read, the process goes like this (once you’ve passed the initial online bit):

OPC 1
OPC 2
MMI
DMI

It depends on which TOC you are with, for me with GWR it was
Opc1
Opc2 with MMI
DMI

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Liam00086 said:
It depends on which TOC you are with, for me with GWR it was
Opc1
Opc2 with MMI
DMI

Thanks mate. Out of interest (if you don’t mind me asking!) how old are you and what’s your background? Did you work on the railway before or come from a different industry?

Stigy · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
...only double checking as I’ve seen conflicting stuff on here, some saying the initial online bit counts, others saying it doesn’t!

You’ll see here in places that the two strike rule applies to the Visual Search Exercise (VSE) which some operators use. I don’t see that this can apply, as the VSE is usually done at home this can’t be monitored. Only TOCs who use enhanced testing standards use the VSE. It’s basically a few home-based psychometric assessments. Other initial assessments most definitely are not part of the two strikes rule.

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Stigy said:
You’ll see here in places that the two strike rule applies to the Visual Search Exercise (VSE) which some operators use. I don’t see that this can apply, as the VSE is usually done at home this can’t be monitored. Only TOCs who use enhanced testing standards use the VSE. It’s basically a few home-based psychometric assessments. Other initial assessments most definitely are not part of the two strikes rule.

I think I’ve read about the VSE, Stigy. Is this the test where you’re given two sequences of numbers or symbols and you have to determine whether they match (over about 20 questions)?

Westcoast-ting · 2 Feb 2020

Stigy said:
You’ll see here in places that the two strike rule applies to the Visual Search Exercise (VSE) which some operators use. I don’t see that this can apply, as the VSE is usually done at home this can’t be monitored. Only TOCs who use enhanced testing standards use the VSE. It’s basically a few home-based psychometric assessments. Other initial assessments most definitely are not part of the two strikes rule.

I know a lad who failed vse for vt and also wmt ar enhanced standard for stage 1, when he applied for vt he was told by the opc his two lives had gone for vt !.

Liam00086 · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Thanks mate. Out of interest (if you don’t mind me asking!) how old are you and what’s your background? Did you work on the railway before or come from a different industry?

No problem mate, I’m 33 and was a bus driver, the closest I have to working on the railway is driving rail replacement bus haha

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

Liam00086 said:
No problem mate, I’m 33 and was a bus driver, the closest I have to working on the railway is driving rail replacement bus haha

Haha fair play to you! When did you start training or are you already qualified? How did you find the whole assessment process?

Liam00086 · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Haha fair play to you! When did you start training or are you already qualified? How did you find the whole assessment process?

I start in 8 days and can’t wait, the process is long and although it’s taken just over a year, that is quick in railway terms.

I applied Dec2018
Stage 1 March 19
Stage 2 May
DMI July
In the pool August
Had my offer 3 days after being put in the pool
Had medical September.
As for the assessments I would say do the practice material they give you and when you’re there listen, and ask questions if you don’t understand something and you will be fine.

Stigy · 2 Feb 2020

Westcoast-ting said:
I know a lad who failed vse for vt and also wmt ar enhanced standard for stage 1, when he applied for vt he was told by the opc his two lives had gone for vt !.

One of the OPC’s inconsistencies I mentioned in another thread.

Trogladyte · 2 Feb 2020

The way VT allowed people to do some of the tests at home was dodgy

OneLowban · 2 Feb 2020

There were 14 on my course and I think around half were 35-55, you have nothing to worry about regarding age.

Regarding the VSE above, I did it at stage two OPC tests in Watford for Arriva Rail London.

Anon87 · 2 Feb 2020

OneLowban said:
There were 14 on my course and I think around half were 35-55, you have nothing to worry about regarding age.

Regarding the VSE above, I did it at stage two OPC tests in Watford for Arriva Rail London.

Thanks mate. I’m really surprised - it seems the majority of trainees are somewhere in their 40s!

OneLowban · 2 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Thanks mate. I’m really surprised - it seems the majority of trainees are somewhere in their 40s!

A lot will have replied to this thread, yeah, but in general the age and job background is extremely diverse within the rail industry I’ve found.

Another thing you will hear/read a lot is to just keep at it. Thousands apply for trainee driver vacancies, one day it will be your turn!

Anon87 · 3 Feb 2020

OneLowban said:
A lot will have replied to this thread, yeah, but in general the age and job background is extremely diverse within the rail industry I’ve found.

Another thing you will hear/read a lot is to just keep at it. Thousands apply for trainee driver vacancies, one day it will your turn!

I will do just that, thanks so much for the advice! This forum is full of so much valuable info. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your background and how old are you? Have you been qualified for long?

OneLowban · 3 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
I will do just that, thanks so much for the advice! This forum is full of so much valuable info. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your background and how old are you? Have you been qualified for long?

Before this I was a bus driver for 2.5 years and then a bus service controller for 1 year, I’m 28 and have been qualified for just over 4 months now.

Anon87 · 3 Feb 2020

OneLowban said:
Before this I was a bus driver for 2.5 years and then a bus service controller for 1 year, I’m 28 and have been qualified for just over 4 months now.

Good for you! We both have a history in transport/logistics. I guess the health and safety awareness that we will both have could help a lot in the process?

DA1 · 3 Feb 2020

OneLowban said:
Regarding the VSE above, I did it at stage two OPC tests in Watford for Arriva Rail London.

Hi mate, do you mind if I drop you a message about this?

OneLowban · 3 Feb 2020

Pete87 said:
Good for you! We both have a history in transport/logistics. I guess the health and safety awareness that we will both have could help a lot in the process?

Cheers mate.

Yeah I believe my experience did help through the process, answering competency questions etc.

DA1 said:
Hi mate, do you mind if I drop you a message about this?

Go for it!

Robnw67 · 3 Feb 2020

OneLowban said:
There were 14 on my course and I think around half were 35-55, you have nothing to worry about regarding age.

Regarding the VSE above, I did it at stage two OPC tests in Watford for Arriva Rail London.

This encourages me no end! I am 53 and just applying now. I have passed a number of online tests and I'm just waiting to see if I'll be offered an interview now!

OneLowban · 3 Feb 2020

Robnw67 said:
This encourages me no end! I am 53 and just applying now. I have passed a number of online tests and I'm just waiting to see if I'll be offered an interview now!

It’s never too late as they say!

Other than my course I have seen other trainees around 35-55 too, don’t give up.

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