Good enough for northern but not TPE!!

[Bert and Ernie]

I recently applied for trainee driver with northern and passed all the new style physcometric tests, and have been out in a talent pool waiting for a position to become available.
I saw a position available for trainee driver with TPE and decided to apply for this as well, but was shocked to find out it was rejected at application stage due to my physcometric tests!
Apparently TPE have told me my tests are good enough for Northern but not for TPE! TPE have higher pass rates than northern!
I personally think this is a joke as it's the same job on the the same route!
What are TPE trying to prove?

 

[Louby]

I recently applied for trainee driver with northern and passed all the new style physcometric tests, and have been out in a talent pool waiting for a position to become available.
I saw a position available for trainee driver with TPE and decided to apply for this as well, but was shocked to find out it was rejected at application stage due to my physcometric tests!
Apparently TPE have told me my tests are good enough for Northern but not for TPE! TPE have higher pass rates than northern!
I personally think this is a joke as it's the same job on the the same route!
What are TPE trying to prove?

I thought northern was the one who had the higher to get in ?? ( I know they haven't set a mark yet with the new tests)

 

[driver9000]

I don't think TPE are trying to prove anything other than that their standards are different to Northern. Welcome to the wonderful minefield of railway recruitment.

At least you are still in with a shout with Northern so all is not lost.

 

[DunfordBridge]

I would imagine that driving for Northern is probably quite challenging with all the constant stopping every five minutes then there are the demands on route knowledge with all the routes radiating from the hubs such as Leeds and Manchester. Did I mention the legacy rolling stock from the eighties?

 

[455driver]

TPE like to think of themselves of being in the same camp as East Coast and Virmin West Coast rather than in the same camp as 'ordinary' TOCs and so set higher recruitment marks.

Please note the pass mark is the same for all TOCs but some like applicants to get a good pass rather than just a pass. If you pass the test but dont get the higher mark required you wont be taken on but also wont have used up one of your lives, plus some TOCs (Northern for one) will accept an ordinary pass.

 

[Bluebri]

I am a bit confused with this thread. As has been discussed in the psychometric tests thread, the new test does not have any gradings. It is simply pass or fail. The only possible variable on the test is the mmi but that itself is simply reported as a pass or fail. I know this because I had a discussion with the examiner from ocp regarding the tests and how they are marked and then passed to the top. The dm interview should then be the deciding factor for a toc as to who they actually pick from those who have passed. As I said, this is what I have been clearly told. If tocs are obtaining gradings and sifting on this basis, it would interesting to know that this is the case but also where that information had come from directly?

 

[Louby]

I am a bit confused with this thread. As has been discussed in the psychometric tests thread, the new test does not have any gradings. It is simply pass or fail. The only possible variable on the test is the mmi but that itself is simply reported as a pass or fail. I know this because I had a discussion with the examiner from ocp regarding the tests and how they are marked and then passed to the top. The dm interview should then be the deciding factor for a toc as to who they actually pick from those who have passed. As I said, this is what I have been clearly told. If tocs are obtaining gradings and sifting on this basis, it would interesting to know that this is the case but also where that information had come from directly?

I agree, thought there wasn't any markings at the min

 

[Greg1205]

I believe that sometimes it depends on the amout of trainees they need. TPE recently advertised only a few positions. When I did my online test they replied me that on this occasion you were unsaccessful, but we can not give you any feedbacks. Reffering to Bluebri I also agree. DM interview should weed people out if you pass two stages of assessment, but it is they way of railway recruitment so we have to swallow it...

 

[Beveridges]

It's because TPE are a far more desirable TOC to Drive for than Northern hence they set the standards higher. It's simple as that really. TPE can afford to pick and choose. They have even been known to turn down qualified incident-free post-PQA main line drivers from northern so if you get in TPE off the street you have almost beaten the odds of winning the lottery.
As for the job itself ? Driving for Northern would be far harder and more testing. I could see the appeal of 185 cabs than 142 cabs plus northern services tend to attract the worst type of passengers.

 

[455driver]

I prefer driving the older trains rather than the new "ask the computer what you want and it will decide how to do it" trains!
Okay I might not be sat in (noisy) air conditioned comfort, my knees will have a bit of a draught blowing over them at speed and I might get a bit wet when its raining but at least I am still "driving" the train!

 

[Beveridges]

Have you ever been in a 142 cab then gone into a 185 cab ?

 

[DunfordBridge]

As for the job itself ? Driving for Northern would be far harder and more testing. I could see the appeal of 185 cabs than 142 cabs plus northern services tend to attract the worst type of passengers.

Admittedly, my daily commute to York is a world apart from the Northern fast train through Barnsley on a Saturday but have you ever been on one of the booze-cruise runs on a Saturday through York? Thereagain, Northern has customers on the Real Ale Train Crawl around Marsden if I remember rightly.

 

[455driver]

Have you ever been in a 142 cab then gone into a 185 cab ?

Yes, okay the cab ergonomics of the 185 are obviously better than the 142, I would still prefer to drive the 142 on a daily basis!

 

[Beveridges]

Yes, okay the cab ergonomics of the 185 are obviously better than the 142, I would still prefer to drive the 142 on a daily basis!

Right so you'd rather suffer a cramped cab with no legroom, sweat in the Summer heat, get deafened by a very noisy engine and screaching, possibly suffer from a bad back and sit in a smelly rundown work environment (cab) that is in a depressing dirty worn graffitied state? At the same time, listening to a train load of drunks (animals) on a Saturday night all shouting, swearing, stamping and constant gob crap, with virtually no sound proofing between the cab and saloon, while driving hours on end?

Would you really want this than the comfy, clean, quiet, fast, air conditioned, private 185 cab with loads of legroom?

 

[SPADTrap]

Yes, okay the cab ergonomics of the 185 are obviously better than the 142, I would still prefer to drive the 142 on a daily basis!

So cannot believe you admitted that here, 455!!

 

[455driver]

So cannot believe you admitted that here, 455!!

I aint into computers so the 142 wins for me, okay it would be nice to drive the 185 occasionally so I can see how the other harf live but I really wouldnt like to drive them all the time, why cant (some) people get that!

My experience is between a 455 and a Desiro (444/450) and I much prefer the 455.

I have never driven a 142 (sort of similar to a 455) or a 185 (a diesel Desiro) but carrying my views over I would probably prefer the 142 as my bread and butter traction.

 

[Beveridges]

A 455 is more like a 156 than a 142.

156s are worlds better than 142s. There is no southern equivalent to a Pacer.

 

[455driver]

There is no southern equivalent to a Pacer.

Mores the pity, I would love to drive a couple of 142s into Waterloo just to see the looks on peoples faces!

 

[Beveridges]

Mores the pity, I would love to drive a couple of 142s into Waterloo just to see the looks on peoples faces!

You wouldn't get that pleasure with Northern as the passengers have been used to it for the last 28 years.

 

[SPADTrap]

I aint into computers so the 142 wins for me, okay it would be nice to drive the 185 occasionally so I can see how the other harf live but I really wouldnt like to drive them all the time, why cant (some) people get that!

My experience is between a 455 and a Desiro (444/450) and I much prefer the 455.

I have never driven a 142 (sort of similar to a 455) or a 185 (a diesel Desiro) but carrying my views over I would probably prefer the 142 as my bread and butter traction.

I agree with those, but the 142? That's bold!

I am the same though, I am looking forward to my 317/379 mix!

 

[richw]

Mores the pity, I would love to drive a couple of 142s into Waterloo just to see the looks on peoples faces!

Can it be arranged, or are 142s lacking clearance

 

[TOCDriver]

LOL at all this rubbish. If you really have the railways in your blood, you wouldn't give a fig on what traction you operate. Personally, I regret not having had a go in the blue squares - they had just been taken out of commission when I started training up.

 

[455driver]

Can it be arranged, or are 142s lacking clearance

Probably not cleared for thr route, FGW have tried to get a 142/143 to Paddington a couple of times with one making it as far as Swindon.

 

[Beveridges]

LOL at all this rubbish. If you really have the railways in your blood, you wouldn't give a fig on what traction you operate

That's like telling someone that it does not matter what type of car they drive, whether it's a run down low spec one from the 1980's or a new high end one.

It's also like telling someone that it does not matter what your working environment is like.

 

[455driver]

That's like telling someone that it does not matter what type of car they drive.

But does it matter?
A car is a just for getting from A to B in relative comfort, I cant see the point in spending thousands of pounds for something that is just going to sit in a driveway or car park for most of its life.

 

[richw]

Probably not cleared for thr route, FGW have tried to get a 142/143 to Paddington a couple of times with one making it as far as Swindon.

I think it was a 143 they put on in place of a Penzance to paddington a couple years ago now, shame it didn't go all the way.

Is the third rail an issue for the 142 or is that a rail forum myth?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

But does it matter?
A car is a just for getting from A to B in relative comfort, I cant see the point in spending thousands of pounds for something that is just going to sit in a driveway or car park for most of its life.

Depends on your mileage, if I was doing low miles I'd be happy with a £500 banger. If i did 25000+ miles per year, I wouldn't be happy doing that in a £500 banger.

 

[Beveridges]

Is the third rail an issue for the 142 or is that a rail forum myth?

It's a myth. How else would 142's ever get to Liverpool Lime Street via Hunts Cross ?

 

[TOCDriver]

That's like telling someone that it does not matter what type of car they drive, whether it's a run down low spec one from the 1980's or a new high end one.

It's also like telling someone that it does not matter what your working environment is like.

Rubbish. You can't compare a car to a train. Like I say, the railway is either in your blood or it's not. If you really do love the railway, you wouldn't give a fig what you drive and you would enjoy every minute of it. I wouldn't find it any more satisfying driving a 390 down from Bolton to Salford than I would my regular 142. Same speeds, same railway, same timetable. Yes, the 390 may have a more comfy seat but that's not the point.

 

[Bluebri]

Interesting digression from the original thread. As someone not yet driving but hoping to be soon, for £32k per year plus, they could tell me to drive a pedal powered train to be honest. I would prefer a modern comfy environment but a job is a job. It sure beats the hell out of not driving a train regardless. I wonder how much life these 20 year plus engines have left in them though?

 

[Legzr1]

But does it matter?
A car is a just for getting from A to B in relative comfort, I cant see the point in spending thousands of pounds for something that is just going to sit in a driveway or car park for most of its life.

It wouldn't really matter if all you did was drive it at 5mph until the early hours of the morning on the same stretch of 400M road day in, day out and occasionally move from the front seat to the rear.