By the sounds of what?
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By the sounds of what?
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Tenthghost
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I'm 3 miles from
Bedford station so I hope I'm in with a shout
Bedford station so I hope I'm in with a shout
Nearest postcode first mate
Ok I'm just going to put in what I have been told by management. They told me that there were no courses due before August. That was for Cambridge and other depots on the great northern routes. I enquirer about kings cross and he told me that he could not be sure as to when the next available course would be as people had been assigned to them already. In regards to Di's it is true that they are short and all the current instructors have trainees assigned to them. It is looking like a slow process that won't be completed until late on in the year. The nearest postcode will also get on a course sooner. This was confirmed to me by a female working in hr.
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I'm waiting for Cambridge and was told pretty much the same at my DMI in December.
El-Alamein
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Well that shoots me in the foot then as im 24miles away.....
traintraining
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- 14 Mar 2015
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google maps, comes up with 2 routes from my postcode, one is 22 miles (31 minutes without traffic) , and the other is 17 miles (35 minutes without traffic) wonder which one they will use lol?
The job advert did state you need to live within 1 hour!! and apart from London depots where public transport may be required to get to work.
All the other depots if you have your own transport then getting to work shouldn't be a problem, so hopefully this policy is only really for London depots
The job advert did state you need to live within 1 hour!! and apart from London depots where public transport may be required to get to work.
All the other depots if you have your own transport then getting to work shouldn't be a problem, so hopefully this policy is only really for London depots
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I think there's a bit of unnecessary panicking on here RE distance.
I can't see govia putting someone thru a medical just to leapfrog someone who's already medical'd up, because they live 2 miles nearer the depot.
I prefer to listen to what WDS said yesterday, who has actually spoken to them.
Chill out guys
I can't see govia putting someone thru a medical just to leapfrog someone who's already medical'd up, because they live 2 miles nearer the depot.
I prefer to listen to what WDS said yesterday, who has actually spoken to them.
Chill out guys
I agree and although I don't believe the distance to depot theory, it would be logical to have a factor which puts you in order of getting called up exclusive of a passed medical. I have heard MMI scores and DMI scores being mentioned?
Personally I think Luck has a lot to do with it.
I don't think that's the case tbh. I personally think you have to take into account how many people applied and was offered the job. Internal and external. That's what is causing the hold up. Also with the shortage of DI's which does not help. It will happen eventually!
Been waiting for a DI since late dec, so have alot of my group. Best for us will be overall a 3 month wait til driving hours. (been penciled in for mid march) Another full group behind waiting, then the final group of the year, who will be out of the training school in a month or so. Cant comment for TL.
There is no set formula for trainees getting through hours as well all have different learning speeds and some will go over the required min hours which holds back DIs, this is just the way it is. I for one am still focused on the end goal of becoming qualifed for a life long job.
This could be the reason why courses wont start til mid year to sort out the back log.
I have heard from the training school, 40 TL, 40 Gn trainees will be scheduled this year, but also theyve gotta have traction done for 300 drivers on the new 377 stock. So if your in the pool, its a good place to be. Dont be surprised if they advertise again for trainees, maybe even fully qualified. (many drivers are still needed in their goal of this recruitment drive)
As for the postcode thing, not sure, Id like to think it should be done in the order of passing interivews, medicals etc.
Good luck and hang in there ppl.
It's not just the shortage of DI's which is the problem...it's all the other stuff that goes with training new drivers.
Simulator training slots, manager time (for line assessments and rules exams), classroom training, depot training, traction training all takes up a lot of time, so when you have a sh*t load of trainees all starting at a similar time - a backlog quickly arises!
I joined another TOC who took on a lot of trainees around the same time (similar to GTR), and while I was obviously very pleased to be employed as a Trainee, the many delays encountered throughout my training was soul destroying. We were doing week upon week of cab turns (sat with another qualified driver looking out of the window). After 14-15 months - all you want to do is drive a train (and move onto the "qualified" pay rate)!
Then when you eventually reach your practical handling hours and are ready to my assessed - you find you are waiting around for weeks waiting for simulator slots and driver manager availability to give you your Rules exams!
Hopefully GTR are trying to plan ahead and avoid a bottle neck in the training programme for each trainee! I suspect GTR will advertise again in 2016/2017 especially for the GN route and word on the street is that they are still expecting a shortage within the next 2-3 years!
I know of two Qualified Drivers working for my TOC who have interviews with GTR coming up as they very short!
Simulator training slots, manager time (for line assessments and rules exams), classroom training, depot training, traction training all takes up a lot of time, so when you have a sh*t load of trainees all starting at a similar time - a backlog quickly arises!
I joined another TOC who took on a lot of trainees around the same time (similar to GTR), and while I was obviously very pleased to be employed as a Trainee, the many delays encountered throughout my training was soul destroying. We were doing week upon week of cab turns (sat with another qualified driver looking out of the window). After 14-15 months - all you want to do is drive a train (and move onto the "qualified" pay rate)!
Then when you eventually reach your practical handling hours and are ready to my assessed - you find you are waiting around for weeks waiting for simulator slots and driver manager availability to give you your Rules exams!
Hopefully GTR are trying to plan ahead and avoid a bottle neck in the training programme for each trainee! I suspect GTR will advertise again in 2016/2017 especially for the GN route and word on the street is that they are still expecting a shortage within the next 2-3 years!
I know of two Qualified Drivers working for my TOC who have interviews with GTR coming up as they very short!
Hello, Guys
Would somebody be able to pm me the no. For HR, I passed my medical in July and am waiting for a Bedford start, the last contact I've had was an email telling me to hold tight and that was over 4 months ago. (Dated 5:10:15).
Not sure if I've missed the boat or if everybody is the same.
Would somebody be able to pm me the no. For HR, I passed my medical in July and am waiting for a Bedford start, the last contact I've had was an email telling me to hold tight and that was over 4 months ago. (Dated 5:10:15).
Not sure if I've missed the boat or if everybody is the same.
You haven't missed the boat mate, it's still in dry dock being built. A quick scan through this thread will tell you that there are plenty in the queue waiting for this ship to set sail.
Hi Rog
Welcome to the forum mate. Yes we're ( Bedford ) all pretty much the same as you fella.
I will say tho, I recd a second update email a week before xmas, as did quite a few on here ( remember the thread ) just stating much the same, still in the pool pending courses becoming available.
Just thought people might be interested to hear this. I'm down for KGX (or Blackfriars, but I'm pretty sure that they put me as KGX)
I've had an awesome opportunity for a trip this summer (Mongol Rally if anyone's heard of it!) - I was bricking it as it's 5 weeks or so, so obviously if it was after me starting with GTR then it wouldn't be possible to still take the TTD position if I went on the rally. However, after speaking with HR, they've confirmed that there will still be courses after summer (I return end of August). I need to stress that they didn't say there won't be any before then, merely that they will still be running them after then! So I don't think that any of us in the Pool have anything to worry about - it may be a wait but it sounds like the recruitment is going to be going on for a long time. Just a case of sitting tight
I hope that this helps to ease some worries!
I've had an awesome opportunity for a trip this summer (Mongol Rally if anyone's heard of it!) - I was bricking it as it's 5 weeks or so, so obviously if it was after me starting with GTR then it wouldn't be possible to still take the TTD position if I went on the rally. However, after speaking with HR, they've confirmed that there will still be courses after summer (I return end of August). I need to stress that they didn't say there won't be any before then, merely that they will still be running them after then! So I don't think that any of us in the Pool have anything to worry about - it may be a wait but it sounds like the recruitment is going to be going on for a long time. Just a case of sitting tight
I hope that this helps to ease some worries!
Patters1983
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- 10 Jan 2016
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- 53
Hi all!
Has anyone got the contact details for GTR recruitment (thamesLink) I've been online and can only manage to find the emails and phone numbers for the customer service enquiries. I need this because I applied and filled in the application on 20 Dec 2015 and havnt heard anything since and also can't log back into my application
Thanks appreciate all the help I can get!
Has anyone got the contact details for GTR recruitment (thamesLink) I've been online and can only manage to find the emails and phone numbers for the customer service enquiries. I need this because I applied and filled in the application on 20 Dec 2015 and havnt heard anything since and also can't log back into my application
Thanks appreciate all the help I can get!
Hi all!
Has anyone got the contact details for GTR recruitment (thamesLink) I've been online and can only manage to find the emails and phone numbers for the customer service enquiries. I need this because I applied and filled in the application on 20 Dec 2015 and havnt heard anything since and also can't log back into my application
Thanks appreciate all the help I can get!
I'm in the same position, I applied on 18 Dec 2015.
Judging by the all the posts on this forum I don't think we will hear from them with an update anytime soon. Looks like there are many people who have been successful and are still waiting for a start date/course, so until things start moving on that front, I doubt they will open the doors for more candidates.
Who knows I could be wrong..
Patters1983
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- 10 Jan 2016
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- 53
Aww ok mate!
Thanks for the reply
Thanks for the reply
There's huge backlogs in training so i'll be amazed if they're taking on many new starters for a bit on the TL route at least. I was talking to a trainee Brighton driver the other day who has just started his rules and he is having his course run in a hotel in Crawley due to lack of training space. He says that there are another two courses of 8 running there at the same time (this is while they also have several other courses running at other locations).
I'm not sure where all the driver trainers will come from to train the newbies either. Bedford and Blackfriars have pretty much run out of people to take trainees on their practical handling with many an experienced trainer threatening to throw in the towel (though I don't know how serious they are!) at the constant conveyor belt of trainees.
Then they haven't got enough managers to assess the trainee drivers once they're up to their hours. Trainees said they're being booked in way in advance for assessment and then they either take that assessment or have to wait several months for another space.
I'm not really sure how all this will pan out as there is a bottleneck in training but when it comes to the practical part it will only get worse. I guess the company wanted to show they would fulfil their part of recruiting all these drivers but not sure they really though it through.
I think in times gone past there was a real drip feed of new drivers but this sort of level of recruitment is totally unheard of! I'm just glad I got in the door right at the beginning of this huge recruitment drive back in 2012! It seem mad now.
I'm not sure where all the driver trainers will come from to train the newbies either. Bedford and Blackfriars have pretty much run out of people to take trainees on their practical handling with many an experienced trainer threatening to throw in the towel (though I don't know how serious they are!) at the constant conveyor belt of trainees.
Then they haven't got enough managers to assess the trainee drivers once they're up to their hours. Trainees said they're being booked in way in advance for assessment and then they either take that assessment or have to wait several months for another space.
I'm not really sure how all this will pan out as there is a bottleneck in training but when it comes to the practical part it will only get worse. I guess the company wanted to show they would fulfil their part of recruiting all these drivers but not sure they really though it through.
I think in times gone past there was a real drip feed of new drivers but this sort of level of recruitment is totally unheard of! I'm just glad I got in the door right at the beginning of this huge recruitment drive back in 2012! It seem mad now.
traintraining
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- 14 Mar 2015
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- 170
If im not wrong most of the initial class room based theory classes are coming to an end.
So that should make the classrooms become empty shortly... in order to welcome the next batch of recruits??
So that should make the classrooms become empty shortly... in order to welcome the next batch of recruits??
WCMLaddict
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- 20 Mar 2012
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What's the point of getting new courses running if there are large numbers of trainees out of school, sitting doing nothing productive, waiting for driving instructors?
This is the case across the country, with any TOC that recruited large numbers of drivers. Training schools are churning out trainees at great pace while there are no available instructors at their depots.
Some trainees are waiting for DIs for months and months (we had some waiting for almost 10 months!) and the company has to pay them.
It would be logical to start new courses only when or around 1 month before the last batch of school leavers start getting their DIs as the time with DI and school course are roughly same. That would also allow for traction courses, annual leave etc.
But that's logic and hopefully you will soon find out that there is no place for logic on the railways. With that in mind I have no doubt that new courses will start very soon
This is the case across the country, with any TOC that recruited large numbers of drivers. Training schools are churning out trainees at great pace while there are no available instructors at their depots.
Some trainees are waiting for DIs for months and months (we had some waiting for almost 10 months!) and the company has to pay them.
It would be logical to start new courses only when or around 1 month before the last batch of school leavers start getting their DIs as the time with DI and school course are roughly same. That would also allow for traction courses, annual leave etc.
But that's logic and hopefully you will soon find out that there is no place for logic on the railways. With that in mind I have no doubt that new courses will start very soon
traintraining
Member
- Joined
- 14 Mar 2015
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- 170
What's the point of getting new courses running if there are large numbers of trainees out of school, sitting doing nothing productive, waiting for driving instructors?
This is the case across the country, with any TOC that recruited large numbers of drivers. Training schools are churning out trainees at great pace while there are no available instructors at their depots.
Some trainees are waiting for DIs for months and months (we had some waiting for almost 10 months!) and the company has to pay them.
It would be logical to start new courses only when or around 1 month before the last batch of school leavers start getting their DIs as the time with DI and school course are roughly same. That would also allow for traction courses, annual leave etc.
But that's logic and hopefully you will soon find out that there is no place for logic on the railways. With that in mind I have no doubt that new courses will start very soon
I dont mind the wait for a DI once im in
Just getting in seems like a huge last hurdle the wait is a killer!
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