GWR Train Driver talent pool

[DogDays]

Maybe some more positive news. I sent a speculative email to HR yesterday asking about the future requirements if my prospective depot and the condition of the talent pool.
Today I received a phone call from an HR manager who told me that they have a full schedule of courses to run starting in April next year. Apparently COVID has put them months behind but they intend to run multiple full courses for trainees, including one for Gloucester, my depot.
She ended the call by saying "just hang in there, we'll be in touch next year"

 

[G30RG3]

Maybe some more positive news. I sent a speculative email to HR yesterday asking about the future requirements if my prospective depot and the condition of the talent pool.
Today I received a phone call from an HR manager who told me that they have a full schedule of courses to run starting in April next year. Apparently COVID has put them months behind but they intend to run multiple full courses for trainees, including one for Gloucester, my depot.
She ended the call by saying "just hang in there, we'll be in touch next year"

That's awesome news, thank you for sharing Hopefully the new covid varient won't be as problematic as before and we can all finally get on!
I'm south west so hopefully the full schedule of courses is inclusive of, again good to here something from hr direct as opposed to speculation. Best of luck

 

[Dieseldriver]

Has anyone heard any recent news on the situation regarding Qualified Driver Talent Pools?

 

[Takoa64]

Has anyone heard any recent news on the situation regarding Qualified Driver Talent Pools?

I applied in Feb 2021 for qualified position at Bristol and have basically heard nothing. I have emailed HR twice and they have just said to be patient. You having any more luck?

 

[Baqanz]

Has anyone heard any recent news on the situation regarding Qualified Driver Talent Pools?

I've heard the same as Takoa, just wait to hear from HR...

 

[Dieseldriver]

I applied in Feb 2021 for qualified position at Bristol and have basically heard nothing. I have emailed HR twice and they have just said to be patient. You having any more luck?

Similar position to you, just a case of waiting it out then I guess!

 

[Class2ldn]

I applied in the middle of 2020 and still haven't heard anything lol

 

[Jaytrains]

Maybe some more positive news. I sent a speculative email to HR yesterday asking about the future requirements if my prospective depot and the condition of the talent pool.
Today I received a phone call from an HR manager who told me that they have a full schedule of courses to run starting in April next year. Apparently COVID has put them months behind but they intend to run multiple full courses for trainees, including one for Gloucester, my depot.
She ended the call by saying "just hang in there, we'll be in touch next year"

Sounds like good news

 

[387star]

Two trainees at fratton have finally passed out after two years of training and internal guards are now going for tests. Two other trainees there near pass out.

 

[Nonuts]

Two trainees at fratton have finally passed out after two years of training and internal guards are now going for tests. Two other trainees there near pass out.

Looking like the new year, but yes, hopefully us two Fratton guys will be passed out soon. I've heard Frattons taking between 6-10 trainees in the short future so I assume the above mentioned courses will have places for them. Everyone else from my course 90 (Westbury, Bristol) is out handling now, all be it about 5 months behind the Fratton. Far as I know the back log is near caught up so it looks better for those waiting in pools than it did 6 months ago.

 

[Lee70]

you didn't get the email about the depot driver stuff they sent in April 2021 ?

Basically said no recruitment planned for mainline over next couple years but depot driver courses planned through out if you fancy being in both pools.
they said you will remain in mainline pool and also depot driver pool and they will be in touch as and when.

I’m in the Exeter st David’s pool and have been since January 2020. Is there a separate pool or process for Depot driver then??

 

[Danetime]

I don't believe so. Not what I got told on the phone for St Davids.

Just a side note for people in the Talent Pool. Please go and get a welfare check at your GP with an ECG. Also, an up to date eye test even if you don't wear glasses (only cost £15 and can be free in some places).

At your welfare check ask for BMI, Blood pressure and an ECG. If your ECG comes back abnormal push for more testing will save you the cost of a private scan at short notice.

I'm currently waiting for an echocardiographic study on my heart before I can get declared fit due to an abnormal ECG. Something my GP would have hopefully picked up and would have cleared up whilst I was waiting in the talent pool.

My ECG results showed ''T-wave changes compatible with athletic heart and or normal ethic variation.''

 

[Nonuts]

I don't believe so. Not what I got told on the phone for St Davids.

Just a side note for people in the Talent Pool. Please go and get a welfare check at your GP with an ECG. Also, an up to date eye test even if you don't wear glasses (only cost £15 and can be free in some places).

At your welfare check ask for BMI, Blood pressure and an ECG. If your ECG comes back abnormal push for more testing will save you the cost of a private scan at short notice.

I'm currently waiting for an echocardiographic study on my heart before I can get declared fit due to an abnormal ECG. Something my GP would have hopefully picked up and would have cleared up whilst I was waiting in the talent pool.

My ECG results showed ''T-wave changes compatible with athletic heart and or normal ethic variation.''

My ecg showed a right axis deviation (falsely) due to the sensors being in the wrong place. GWR sent the scan to a specialist (at no cost to me) and it came back as fine. It's really common for occupational health ecgs to show a problem falsely

 

[MostlyHarmless]

My ecg showed a right axis deviation (falsely) due to the sensors being in the wrong place. GWR sent the scan to a specialist (at no cost to me) and it came back as fine. It's really common for occupational health ecgs to show a problem falsely

Yep same here. Worth getting your eyes tested though especially if they haven't been for a while.

 

[DCS887]

Hey all,

Hope I'm in the right place.

I have an interview with GWR for the qualified train driver talent pool in Exeter coming up, and just had a few questions. I've seen a post on traction & routes associated, but wondered if anyone would have the T&C's for the drivers so I could go through that, and typical diagrams. Also if anyone knows how the training for Qualified drivers is carried out, as it seems like a lot of travelling from Swindon & Bristol?

I just want to be able to have more definitive questions for the DM's, and not bother them with a long list!

Appreciate any response back.

Cheers

 

[Jaytrains]

Evening ladies and gents, has this omicron virus/covid affected the February course or is it still happening? I dont want a repeat of last year to happen again, any news?

 

[Danetime]

Spoken to HR yesterday and the two courses starting in February are still planned but that can change at any moment of course.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Evening ladies and gents, has this omicron virus/covid affected the February course or is it still happening? I dont want a repeat of last year to happen again, any news?

Mine is still going ahead in Jan, as I've just received my initial joining instructions although that doesn't include the training details (i.e. where and a detailed schedule) which is to follow apparently

 

[Jaytrains]

Ohh ok that sounds positive, i also doubt that they will stop training unless we go on lockdown of course but you never know anything can happen

 

[Sparky88]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year.

At some point within the next 18 months - 2 years we wish to relocate to the West Country. Does anybody have a rough idea of how long the talent pools are taking for qualified drivers? And can I apply to be in more than one? We don’t have a specific area we wish to move to so for example could I apply for Westbury, Bristol TM, Parkway and Gloucester and if I were to pass the relevant interviews and offered a job then we would look at where to live.

Any info is greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Horizon22]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year.

At some point within the next 18 months - 2 years we wish to relocate to the West Country. Does anybody have a rough idea of how long the talent pools are taking for qualified drivers? And can I apply to be in more than one? We don’t have a specific area we wish to move to so for example could I apply for Westbury, Bristol TM, Parkway and Gloucester and if I were to pass the relevant interviews and offered a job then we would look at where to live.

Any info is greatly appreciated, thanks!

There's a few people in this forum who are in the same boat and I think the general answer is "not fast"! W. Country depots are very popular with both internal transfers & externals.

 

[Class2ldn]

From when I applied before I didn't think they will let you apply for more then one as they are broken up into different areas so different managers for each area. An east dsm wouldn't interview for a a West position and vice versa for example.
I've been waiting since December 2019 for an interview and just keep getting knocked back with they don't have any managers available for interviews so they are in no rush.
Not ideal when like you we want to relocate but can't without a job to go to.
I do believe you can select a 1st 2nd and 3rd option when you apply so might help you a bit

 

[WishIHadAName]

I asked if I could be considerd for both Plymouth and Exeter and they said no. Still waiting to hear anything although I only applied in October.

 

[Mabs]

I don't post much but I thought I'd let you guys know my application timeline.

Application made 25th September 2020

Stage 1 assessment included everything except MMI 17th November 2021

Stage 2 MMI only 13th Dec 2021

DMI coming up in a couple of weeks.

I'm internal for First group but external for GWR. I work for another Railway company.

It's been moving fast for me. I applied at the right time.

 

[Cowcow15]

I don't post much but I thought I'd let you guys know my application timeline.

Application made 25th September 2020

Stage 1 assessment included everything except MMI 17th November 2021

Stage 2 MMI only 13th Dec 2021

DMI coming up in a couple of weeks.

I'm internal for First group but external for GWR. I work for another Railway company.

It's been moving fast for me. I applied at the right time.

Thats real quick! Best of luck for the dmi in a couple of weeks.

What depot is this for, if you're happy to share.

 

[Mabs]

Thats real quick! Best of luck for the dmi in a couple of weeks.

What depot is this for, if you're happy to share.

I applied for Reading.

Thank you, I just need to make sure I smash the DMI and end up getting top marks. There is no other ways I want it. I don't want to wait 2 years.

 

[Cowcow15]

I applied for Reading.

Thank you, I just need to make sure I smash the DMI and end up getting top marks. There is no other ways I want it. I don't want to wait 2 years.

Best of luck!

I passed my dmi back in feb 2020 and was placed in a talent pool for exeter st davids, so nearly a 2 year wait for me so far. Not sure how much longer the wait will be for me, but im pleased ive made it this far.

I expect reading is a much bigger depot so hopefully your wait wont be as long!

Keep us posted with the outcome of your dmi! Again, best of luck!

 

[on-the-tracks]

I don't post much but I thought I'd let you guys know my application timeline.

Application made 25th September 2020

Stage 1 assessment included everything except MMI 17th November 2021

Stage 2 MMI only 13th Dec 2021

DMI coming up in a couple of weeks.

I'm internal for First group but external for GWR. I work for another Railway company.

It's been moving fast for me. I applied at the right time.

September 2020 or 2021?

 

[EmmD]

Best of luck!

I passed my dmi back in feb 2020 and was placed in a talent pool for exeter st davids, so nearly a 2 year wait for me so far. Not sure how much longer the wait will be for me, but im pleased ive made it this far.

I expect reading is a much bigger depot so hopefully your wait wont be as long!

Keep us posted with the outcome of your dmi! Again, best of luck!

I passed my DMI in September 2019, still waiting lol

 

[Mabs]

I have no words to say as some people have been waiting since 2019. I wish everyone's application starts to move forward and get the good news soon.

I feel extremely lucky my application has moved so quickly. During my stage one I was told I would be lucky if I get a course before July/August 2022 as others have been waiting so long.

I was also told my assessments will be valid for 5 years. So far I've only applied for GWR Reading but if the wait is too long I will apply for other TOC's. I will ask at the DMI how long I should expect to wait should I be successful.

Also my DMI is online using Zoom.

I will update soon how it went.