Transport for Wales - Conductor Recruitment and Discussion

[Marsprobe]

If they are still running the assessment days in April and May, that must be good news as it must mean they still have vacancies? Hopefully those in the talent pool will hear soon

 

[jah_147]

If they are still running the assessment days in April and May, that must be good news as it must mean they still have vacancies? Hopefully those in the talent pool will hear soon

I hope it’s sooner rather than later, I’ve only been in the talent pool since January. I am expecting 2026 to be honest, to align with the increased services on the Valley lines.

 

[oseyboy10]

Anyone done the assessment day recently? Curious how the role play, group activity and interview layout looks. Thanks in advance.

Hi mate have you done the assessment day/group exercise's? I’ve got one next month and am wondering if you can provide me with what to expect! In the email they said I’ll be briefed on the day ..

 

[bingbongbutler]

The fact that there’s 160 in the pool currently and still adding must be a good sign right? Recruitment know what they’re doing

 

[SCDR_WMR]

The fact that there’s 160 in the pool currently and still adding must be a good sign right? Recruitment know what they’re doing

They will keep adding to the pool as they know there will be drop outs, especially given the long timeframe now. That and it allows them to cherry pick the highest scoring individuals meaning some in the pool won't have a chance of a job yet they won't know it as they don't know where they sit in the pool

 

[Lewisham2221]

The fact that there’s 160 in the pool currently and still adding must be a good sign right? Recruitment know what they’re doing

Without a breakdown by depot, or at least region, the 160 number is relatively meaningless. Same goes for which depots they're adding to the talent pool for. For example, you could have loads of people on the talent pool/catchment area for Carmarthen, Cardiff, Shrewsbury, Machynlleth, Crewe etc, but that's absolutely no use if you're short of guards at, say, Holyhead or Llandudno Junction.

 

[bingbongbutler]

They will keep adding to the pool as they know there will be drop outs, especially given the long timeframe now. That and it allows them to cherry pick the highest scoring individuals meaning some in the pool won't have a chance of a job yet they won't know it as they don't know where they sit in the pool

Is that the process? Picking from the highest scoring or a case of first come first serve?

 

[Tevion539]

Is that the process? Picking from the highest scoring or a case of first come first serve?

Well, the details of how they pick from the talent pool has never actually been made public. No TOC has as far as I’m aware. You’d imagine it would be based on time in the pool and test scores.

Maybe an FoI request?

 

[WirralLine]

Ive been reliably informed due to a change in plans regarding future Bidston services, an extra 12 conductors are to be taken on for Chester later this year/early next year.

 

[Railway1642]

Evening all,

Anymore updates on future guards courses yet?

Seems like everything including new courses and recruitment has been frozen.

 

[Tevion539]

Evening all,

Anymore updates on future guards courses yet?

Seems like everything including new courses and recruitment has been frozen.

There was a course down south scheduled for September I believe. But this has been filled, past that I’m not sure.

 

[Railway1642]

There was a course down south scheduled for September I believe. But this has been filled, past that I’m not sure.

Has there been any courses earlier this year?

It’ll be interesting to know which depots the course in September is for.

 

[Tevion539]

Has there been any courses earlier this year?

It’ll be interesting to know which depots the course in September is for.

I’m not sure about earlier this year - but I know there’s at least one or two going to Carmarthen in the course later this year, I’d imagine theres Cardiff too, but couldn’t say on ML or Valleys. Mine was split 50/50 Carmarthen and Cardiff ML a few years back.

 

[Railway1642]

I’m not sure about earlier this year - but I know there’s at least one or two going to Carmarthen in the course later this year, I’d imagine theres Cardiff too, but couldn’t say on ML or Valleys. Mine was split 50/50 Carmarthen and Cardiff ML a few years back.

Oh really, that surprises me about Carmarthen as they said there was no courses for this depot for the rest of 2025 into 2026.
How accurate is this information?

 

[Tevion539]

Oh really, that surprises me about Carmarthen as they said there was no courses for this depot for the rest of 2025 into 2026.
How accurate is this information?

I personally know someone who’s on the course. I’d say pretty accurate.

 

[Railway1642]

I personally know someone who’s on the course. I’d say pretty accurate.

External applicant?

 

[Tevion539]

External applicant?

Internal.

 

[Railway1642]

Internal.

Ahh ok that makes sense. Don’t think there’s been any external intakes used out of the talent pool for sometime now. Hopefully more positions come up for this depot soon.

 

[Ally2900]

Does anyone know when TWF does their recruitment rounds? I'm just wondering if it's a set time of year, or more as and when? Thank you

 

[Tevion539]

Does anyone know when TWF does their recruitment rounds? I'm just wondering if it's a set time of year, or more as and when? Thank you

there was a recruitment drive between 2022-2024. But it’s slowed down now, as shown above. There’s not much in the way of vacancies at the moment - it’ll be as and when required now for new applicants.

 

[Ally2900]

there was a recruitment drive between 2022-2024. But it’s slowed down now, as shown above. There’s not much in the way of vacancies at the moment - it’ll be as and when required now for new applicants.

Thanks. Yeah, I haven't seen many positions available - only senior conductor posts. Will keep an active eye on this thread.

 

[WelshConductor]

Out of curiosity does anyone know how many trainee conductors are on each course?

 

[Adlee Turner]

Out of curiosity does anyone know how many trainee conductors are on each course?

When I did my course last September, there were 8 of us but at the end of the course which was about last December time, our tutor did say that the courses were being dropped down to 4 per course. I’m not sure if this is still the case now or if it was just the valley courses.

 

[David-1]

I’m not holding out much hope of getting on a course if there are only 4 per course. and we are in the talent pool for only 2 years

 

[Tevion539]

I’m not holding out much hope of getting on a course if there are only 4 per course. and we are in the talent pool for only 2 years

I was in SWRs talent pool for 23 months. They called me three days after starting with TfW. I’d completely forgotten about them until that point.

Don’t give up hope, but don’t keep all your eggs in one basket. There was 8 on my course too. I don’t know why they’d shrink it by 50%. Commercial Operations Training isn’t understaffed as far as I know, and they seemed to deal quite well with 8 per trainer.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you all. If anyone does get a course and needs advice, my DMs are always open.

 

[Railway1642]

Would be interesting to know how many vacancies were available at the South Wales depots.

 

[WelshConductor]

When I did my course last September, there were 8 of us but at the end of the course which was about last December time, our tutor did say that the courses were being dropped down to 4 per course. I’m not sure if this is still the case now or if it was just the valley courses.

Thanks for the info. For those interested, the current breakdown of talent pool conductor trainees is as follows:

Cardiff (ML/CVL) 90
Carmarthen 3
Chester 10
Crewe 19
LLJ 1
Machynlleth 7
Rhymney 13
Shrewsbury 1
Treherbert 13
Pwllheli 3

Additionally it was confirmed that there were no new courses for the remainder of 2025. (As things stand)

 

[Railway1642]

Thanks for the info. For those interested, the current breakdown of talent pool conductor trainees is as follows:

Cardiff (ML/CVL) 90
Carmarthen 3
Chester 10
Crewe 19
LLJ 1
Machynlleth 7
Rhymney 13
Shrewsbury 1
Treherbert 13
Pwllheli 3

Additionally it was confirmed that there were no new courses for the remainder of 2025. (As things stand)

Hopefully recruitment will open back up again for the depots with low numbers.

No more planned courses as it stands. However, I saw in an earlier post that there’s a course in September. Will this bring these numbers down?

Thanks for the info.

 

[D1015]

Honestly it sounds like the recruitment process has become an utter shambles at TfW.

 

[WirralLine]

Honestly it sounds like the recruitment process has become an utter shambles at TfW.

In what way? If theyve got the numbers they required then thats a success isnt it?