I have to echo this. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Every cloud and all that! It’s a big world out there and the railway is a massive industry. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and even if you’re successful at the DMI stage, go keep your options open. I might not have applied to GWR had I been successful with Freightliner and this missed out. Knowing what I know now though, and following this thread, I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to just keep applying regardless. As for Talent Pools.....I think wherever you go it’s the same issue. Hit and miss. The same applies though, just keep applying. I have a friend who applied for GWR’s Reading pool at the same time as I applied for Fratton, and he was successful but hasn’t heard anything since. He’s now part way through driver training for SWR.
Glad your training is going well
@Timpg! I’m 11-weeks in to my driving hours (not sure where the time has gone to be honest!) and loving it. I don’t want to go too far off topic, but I will just add this; You’ll have ups and downs (probably?), but never give up!