Transpennine Express New Trainee Driver Vacancies

[Flyboy]

Chris - the upside is that after your training you can then apply to FTPE as a Qualified Driver.

 

[Beveridges]

Technically two years after your training you can apply, and swap your 142s for 185s!

 

[Flyboy]

Ah ok, I see.

 

[Clarky042]

We were told yesterday that 85 people passed the stage 2 tests. Due to the availability of the OPC, only the top 40 results were passed onto stage 3, i.e. DTG + CBI.

Disclaimer : This post is not meant to cause offence in any way and those who have been / will be assesed this week fully deserve it so well done.

Is anyone else confused by this ? As an ex Air Traffic Controller I have seen many assesment centre tests / aptitude selection centres etc..... but I've always been in a more straight up "Pass or Fail" kind of scenario. Well done to those in the top 40 getting through BTW , but as one of those who has still heard nothing from FTPE as yet ........ any ideas on where that leaves the "45" ?

Does this mean they may have technically "passed" and not have any recorded fail should they wish to reapply next time ?

I ask as this is my first attempt to get onto the Railway and I'd like to try again so was just wondering how it would stack up ?

It does seem (just my perception) as if they've moved the goal posts to accomodate OPC's staffing level / availability. It could also be that maybe they just didn't expect that many to "pass" so redefine what constitutes as a pass to keep the levels manageable.... which from a business point of view makes perfect sense when dealing with a pool of people so large to begin with.

Ps : well done Chris , Karma was stacked in your favour there and I'm glad you were succesful, it must have been really stressful having to make a decision and narrow your choice...... well done.

 

[Beveridges]

Technically two years after your training you can apply

Ah ok, I see

Any Driver who has just passed out (whether its passenger or maintenance depot) has to complete a two year PQA period where you are assessed extremely vigorously. Management will spend a lot of time with you, watching you closely, and writing reports. They will also regularly download your OTMR trying to find any mistakes to do you for. They can take you off the job if they think you've made a minor mistake, leaving you to struggle to get your key back. If you make a major mistake in those PQA years you can probably say goodbye to the job.

Regardless of the details, it is not normally possible to transfer between TOC's until your PQA period is over with. I got over mine over a year ago, and thankfully now I am one of the maintenance drivers that the managers rarely have to see. And that is great.

 

[Dave1987]

You are classed as NQD or "Newly qualified driver" for your first year and you have regular ride outs and downloads as Beverages says. After your first year you have a summary assessment which is essentially your pass out exam all over again. Needless to say in your first year or so you are watched like a hawk by your DM. But as with everything the less paperwork you cause for them the more they will leave you alone. The best feeling is when your AOM comes round and doesn't know who you are because you haven't had any incidents at all.

 

[Merrydown]

.....

 

[SilentChill]

Wow what a day, I'm bloody knackered............ not home yet long long day.

 

[notadriver]

I would think that the other candidates may have passed but FTPE have possibly taken the decision on who goes through on DFFT results and the original application we all filled in.
Some of the applicants I have spoken to over the last few weeks already work with the rail industry and even for FTPE(does this help?)
I think a little luck is needed also through the application stage.
I've said before that competition for this role is fierce,is there any other jobs that pay this kind of salary which do not need any form of experience or qualifications before you can apply.
Just my thoughts.

(Trainee) Air traffic controller ? Airline pilot ?

 

[Flyboy]

(Trainee) Air traffic controller ? Airline pilot ?

Yes indeed, aviation is in a mess!

As an example, I heard the other day that an airline that has just made a significant number of its employees redundant, is now considering doing away with paper napkins on board to save costs, yet in the last few months the Directors of said airline awarded themselves an 18% payrise! :roll:

Clarky - I don't think they would've moved the goalposts by a huge amount, if at all, or redefined what constitutes a pass, maybe they're doing as I said sometime ago and building up a pool of candidates who have passed the initial stages and can be quickly allocated a final stage assessment slot, without them (FTPE) having to start the entire process all over again with new applications.

Just a thought.

 

[mark1981]

I just wish someone would tell me whether I've passed or failed the last stage, I still haven't heard anything!

 

[Merrydown]

.....

 

[Clarky042]

Clarky - I don't think they would've moved the goalposts by a huge amount, if at all, or redefined what constitutes a pass, maybe they're doing as I said sometime ago and building up a pool of candidates who have passed the initial stages and can be quickly allocated a final stage assessment slot, without them (FTPE) having to start the entire process all over again with new applications.

Just a thought.

Yeah I do agree Flyboy , that may well be what they are aiming for to save restarting the whole (costly) process from scratch at a later date. The point I was trying to get at is just that I have previously been through quite a few Assesments that were purely Pass = Progress, Fail = Go Home and try again, so this situation (Possible to Pass but don't progress just yet) is slightly alien to me.

Also, I've read somewhere (quite possibly on here) that 2 Fails at an assesment would preclude someone from ever applying for a drivers position again..... so with that in mind , would "The 45" have this particular one recorded as a pass on OPC's records despite having not made it through on this occasion?

I was just looking for a bit of Clarity in a cloudy world I think....

mark1981 I just wish someone would tell me whether I've passed or failed the last stage, I still haven't heard anything!

Fully agree with you there Mark , feeling in limbo is very frustrating but I'm sure we will hear something soon !

Best of British to anyone attending this Thursday / Friday.

 

[TDK]

(Trainee) Air traffic controller ? Airline pilot ?

Back in 1978 I was going to try for airline pilot but didn't have the correct qualifications

 

[sidekick]

There are no real sponsorship opportunities to become an airline pilot anymore. British Airways's FFP scheme is the closest but still requires an 80k loan (secured by BA, taken out by yourself) to be repaid on entry over a 7 year period. After that you have a few such as Easyjet's new MPL scheme which is similar only you have to secure the loan (thus you need a house, wealthy parents or the savings yourself). Then there are few schemes from schools where you can pay similar costs but no guarantee of a job! Then you can do it yourself in a modular route and be extremely lucky to get a job at the end, probably paying the same after paying for a type rating to get your first job!

I can't imagine this industry will ever be allowed to go that way but I hope not! That financial limitation has already killed 1 of my dreams (along with the dreams of many others), I hope it doesn't kill this one!

Anyway, back on topic!

As for choosing the top 40, I guess it's only similar to how some TOC's (including FTPE) don't accept borderline passes anymore, if the numbers are too great they have to be filtered somehow, as unfortunate as it is!

 

[Flyboy]

sidekick - don't look at it as killing a dream, more a case of dodging a bullet.

 

[Quickthorn]

I think it's safe to assume that those of us who haven't heard by now won't be attending what's left of the assessments this week.

I'm hoping that those who haven't heard either way have at least passed what assessments they sat, as it seemed to me that one or two people on here who didn't get through were told early on.

It's a shame that it's panned out this way. I didn't really expect to get one of these posts, given the competition, but I was hoping to at least get a chance to get through the assessments.

 

[sidekick]

sidekick - don't look at it as killing a dream, more a case of dodging a bullet.

I've heard that from a lot of people in the industry now. It's slightly depressing to think but I believe you are probably right! Still it's hard to let go of a 20 year dream!

I take it your in the airlines, and by the looks of it looking for a way out! Says it all I guess. Good luck with your assessment!

 

[SilentChill]

I know the feeling Silentchill.
How many turned up today and did everybody get through?

Think there was 11 of us today we all passed DTG apart from 1 I think.

 

[Flyboy]

sidekick - Yes I am.

What I would say is that there are still a few good airlines - BA, Virgin and Monarch for example, and if you have about 5 years of seniority with any airline it's generally going to be okay, with the odd exception, but for someone who is thinking of starting down the road to commercial flying, or is currently in training, the majority can only look forward to many years of being in serious debt, unless of course the bank of Mum & Dad is funding everything.

Far better to choose a stable industry where one doesn't have the constant worry of being out of a job most of the time. Of course there are other industries suffering at the moment, but aviation seems to be the worst at dealing with financial difficulties.

As you mentioned in your earlier post, let's hope the railway doesn't go down a similar route, but with strong Union influence and a cohesive workforce I can't see that happening. Oh, and by the way, an MPL is useless outside of the airline to which your training is tied and is a complete waste of time and money.

Very sorry to all for the slight thread creep.

 

[JAMBO]

Any Driver who has just passed out (whether its passenger or maintenance depot) has to complete a two year PQA period where you are assessed extremely vigorously. Management will spend a lot of time with you, watching you closely, and writing reports. They will also regularly download your OTMR trying to find any mistakes to do you for. They can take you off the job if they think you've made a minor mistake, leaving you to struggle to get your key back. If you make a major mistake in those PQA years you can probably say goodbye to the job.

Regardless of the details, it is not normally possible to transfer between TOC's until your PQA period is over with. I got over mine over a year ago, and thankfully now I am one of the maintenance drivers that the managers rarely have to see. And that is great.

Where do you actually get your info from?! I am amazed at your posts and the utter trash you speak. Reading what you write it's very clear you know absolutely nothing regarding a mainline train driver job.

 

[mark1981]

Has anyone heard anything today?

I'm still waiting to find out whether I've passed or failed stage 2!

It's pretty obvious that I haven't got through but it would still be nice to be put out of my misery.

 

[Beveridges]

Reading what you write it's very clear you know absolutely nothing regarding a mainline train driver job.

Yes I do know something about it. You drive up and down a line stopping at stations




But in all seriousness, the PQA system is generally the same for maintenance depot and passenger driving. It's one thing that the depot driving grade "copied" off the passenger side many years ago.

 

[Clarky042]

Has anyone heard anything today?

I'm still waiting to find out whether I've passed or failed stage 2!

It's pretty obvious that I haven't got through but it would still be nice to be put out of my misery.

Same here Mark , still nothing......

 

[TDK]

Yes I do know something about it. You drive up and down a line stopping at stations




But in all seriousness, the PQA system is generally the same for maintenance depot and passenger driving. It's one thing that the depot driving grade "copied" off the passenger side many years ago.

The training is only 15 weeks for DD is it not? If that is the case the PQ period will be finished sooner time wise than mainline.

 

[Beveridges]

My DD training took 6 months, which ended up being more like 8-9 months because they sometimes took me off training to cover other duties like fuelling, oil & water when they were short staffed or no suitable minder was in. Then it's 2 years PQ.

 

[notadriver]

Shunt driver training is 3-4 months at my TOC.

 

[SilentChill]

"Transpennine Express New Trainee Driver Vacancies"


Thats the title of this thread...........................just sayin

Go argue else where as thats all you "certain" people seem to do

 

[156484]

Regardless of the details, it is not normally possible to transfer between TOC's until your PQA period is over with. I got over mine over a year ago, and thankfully now I am one of the maintenance drivers that the managers rarely have to see. And that is great.

What an absolute load of rubbish. You really don't have a clue what your taking about, as you prove time and again on here and other forums.

 

[Beveridges]

I said 'not normally' possible to transfer within that two years. I didn't say it was impossible. But I wouldn't expect to leave 142s behind for 185s in less than two years.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Keep misreading my posts and keep those insults coming

PM Sent
EDIT: Can't send you one unfortunately as you only have only managed to contribute three posts to this forum. Big gob for a newbie. Not worth the effort of even replying to. Come back and try again when you have more posts, keyboard hero.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Shunt driver training is 3-4 months at my TOC.

A Guard takes longer than that in my TOC
Driver Opp training is not far off a year. Took me over a year to pass out as I failed the first time But it would have still took 8-9 months if I passed first time.