Search results

I don’t think people get the idea that if you have to repeatedly take a test it might mean that the job’s not really for you. Some just wouldn’t want to admit that and will flog the assessment until they finally parrot fashion their way through it. If that was equated into a doctor having done...

No, you’ve misunderstood the difference between ‘aptitude tests‘ ie. those taken to get the job, with the assessments that you take once employed as a trainee driver. It is the latter that I am referring to. The two strikes and you’re out currently apply to every assessment you take while...

And have you seen the recent news on fraudulent paid-for licences, not in the UK, that could still have legally slipped unnoticed through the net and been used to gain commercial pilot work in the UK. Because the ‘quality‘ of the applicant is everything, and far beyond what can be paid for in...

Exactly. People underestimate just how much time, learning effort, brain space, and hard slog it takes to become a fully qualified mainline driver. The training takes over your life and has to be the number one priority, over all else, during that time.

A lot depends on whether you can afford (financially) to take a leap of faith by leaving your existing job. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who say they’d love to, but they couldn’t afford to take any cut in their salary while accruing the actual driving hours. Then there’s the small matter of...

Except that you don’t complete the driver training and pass based on those written exams. The driving training itself has to be done as an employee of a TOC, working full-time; not on an ad-hoc basis. For that the trainee will need to take the leap of faith from their existing employment and...

Still ‘live’ at the moment, closing date apparently the 9th May, but it might well be pulled sooner if application numbers go off the scale. https://uk.firstgroupcareers.com/vacancy/south-western-railway-trainee-train-driver---farnham--9989-farnham/10019/description/

It depends on your TOC, but the general process will be roughly the same. Rules; classroom based and will take up to about three months. You’ll probably have practical exercises to perform on a simulator too. There’ll also be the PTS test quite early on. Some TOCs have visits planned into the...

Don’t worry yourself, a lot of trainees come into the job from a wide variety of backgrounds - not everyone of them will have done a similar role. It will be both challenging and hard work. Be prepared to sacrifice your evenings to study and revision during the Rules learning. There’s a lot to...

It does occasionally happen. Most TOCs will allow two goes at the final five day assessment, but unlike a car driving test, you don’t need to retake everything, only the part(s) you failed. Apparently the simulator day is where 1 in 3 trainees will fail first time. Remember though, that by...

Engineer (safety critical) with the MOD. Now a trainee train driver.

I wouldn’t say that’s the representative of ALL enthusiasts. There are enthusiasts, the spotters, and then there are those who are enthused by the subject matter and it’s intracacies. Some enthusiasts are easy to train because they ARE interested in the job for what it is; they want to learn...

On mine; 7 attendees in total 2 White females 5 White males Age range 23 to 50 Various backgrounds from; performing arts management, former MOD engineer, and at least two from aviation. Only one of the group (and not the oldest on the course) was an existing railway employee.

A heads-up that SWR have adverts on their website for depot drivers for Farnham and Fratton.

Agree with Stigy, it’s always worth pestering them. Don’t let them forget you.

Agreed it’s not terribly helpful if the same HR dept are giving you two different answers. For the record, SWR is 3 years, but I have no idea if that time span is blanketed across all First Group companies.

It depends on the TOC/FOC. Some are three years, some are five. Speak to the HR department as they will be able to advise.

Leave the application you have in already, and just apply for the other depot as well. If you’re successful in being offered a position at one of them, they will automatically withdraw any other depot applications which are still live.

Yes, they expect you to have taken up suitable residence by the time you start the course.

For info, some TOCs do. SWR take heavy traffic into account. They perform a check from your home postcode to the depot for both a shift outside of rush hour, and a shift that will involve some travel during peak times. If a round trip is greater than 1.5 hours, you’re out of the frame straight away.