Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[Welshman1]

Did they email or phone you

Phoned me with a Withheld number

 

[Yuk767]

You had your medical yet?

 

[Welshman1]

You had your medical yet?

No medical on the 2nd of March, but shouldn’t be any issues, hopefully !

 

[mark01348]

No medical on the 2nd of March, but shouldn’t be any issues, hopefully !

Good news. Good luck. I got stage 2 Wednesday. Had stage 1 last week. Nervous now haha

 

[Welshman1]

Good news. Good luck. I got stage 2 Wednesday. Had stage 1 last week. Nervous now haha

You will be fine mate, just remember to brush up on the examples for your MMI as they will want you to elaborate on them. Computer tests are a bit more relaxed than the paper ones I felt, but you just don’t know how you done.

 

[mark01348]

You will be fine mate, just remember to brush up on the examples for your MMI as they will want you to elaborate on them. Computer tests are a bit more relaxed than the paper ones I felt, but you just don’t know how you done.

Thanks. Yeh luckily it's so fresh in my mind from last week.
Just not doing too well on the train driver info software with the photo memory in the practicing.

Paper ones were relentless haha

 

[Welshman1]

Thanks. Yeh luckily it's so fresh in my mind from last week.
Just not doing too well on the train driver info software with the photo memory in the practicing.

Paper ones were relentless haha

Ye this was the one I found difficult, and was unsure of. What I will say the test on the day is a lot clearer and simpler than the one train driver info use. The one train driver info use have some obscure things in the images

 

[mark01348]

Ye this was the one I found difficult, and was unsure of. What I will say the test on the day is a lot clearer and simpler than the one train driver info use. The one train driver info use have some obscure things in the images

Thanks for the info. Is there a lot more to the MMI other than the questions in stage 1? Thanks

 

[Welshman1]

Thanks for the info. Is there a lot more to the MMI other than the questions in stage 1? Thanks

Just the questions, but they will want you do go in to detail, the interviewers are really good, they will try to help you get it right. They will say like how did that make you feel ? Would you do anything different ? Etc also type in MMI in the search bar there is loads of info to help.

 

[mark01348]

Just the questions, but they will want you do go in to detail, the interviewers are really good, they will try to help you get it right. They will say like how did that make you feel ? Would you do anything different ? Etc also type in MMI in the search bar there is loads of info to help.

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

 

[Simotrfc]

just got my start date for a course on the 11th of April. Absolutely buzzing only been in pool 3 days !

Well in mate. 6 months and counting for me..

 

[Shunted]

Thanks. Yeh luckily it's so fresh in my mind from last week.
Just not doing too well on the train driver info software with the photo memory in the practicing.

Paper ones were relentless haha

My only advice on this is don’t guess! I think it’s heavily negatively marked so just press what you definitely see and should pass ok

 

[SLee]

Thanks. Yeh luckily it's so fresh in my mind from last week.
Just not doing too well on the train driver info software with the photo memory in the practicing.

Paper ones were relentless haha

I never got to practice that photo memory one before sitting it on the day, that pic was up then gone in a flash, I almost laughed as it was ridiculous, and you go through maybe 15 of them.

I just clicked on what I definitely saw, but by then end I was certain I’d failed.

Happily I passed.

I don’t know how many mistakes I made but all I know is I did enough.

The problem with the software that allows you to practice is it probably also tells you how many mistakes you made, which can leave you lacking confidence on the day.

I was like that when practicing group bourdon. At home when I marked my own efforts I was certain I was short of the mark.. on the day I passed to enhanced level.

For me the only one I would advice to practice after doing all the tests is the group bourdon and that only because your eyes learn the cluster shapes of the 4 dots so on the day they are more recognisable and stand out more.

 

[mark01348]

Thanks for the replies. Yeh definetly no guessing..learnt that from stage one when they mentioned negative marking.

I remember closing a page on the paper tests and seeing something in the directory I didn't circle and was kicking myself haha!

I will probably use it more to just try and make my mind sharper to things.

Just going to think positive and do my best.
I guess some nervousness is good because it drives you to try harder. Roll on Wednesday.

 

[BrokenSam]

Through the classroom in Chester finally. If you get Dave Nixon as your trainer he's a proper driver with 16 years experience. Just work hard as he knows if you're half arsing it.

 

[Welshman1]

Through the classroom in Chester finally. If you get Dave Nixon as your trainer he's a proper driver with 16 years experience. Just work hard as he knows if you're half arsing it.

How did you find all the testing ? I would think it’s a lot to take in at first.

 

[wobman]

Through the classroom in Chester finally. If you get Dave Nixon as your trainer he's a proper driver with 16 years experience. Just work hard as he knows if you're half arsing it.

Have they said How long it will be until you go with a DI ? There's still a huge backlog in that area

 

[railwaymania27]

I was thinking the same thing how long it is . Want to move house once I have passed out.

 

[BrokenSam]

How did you find all the testing ? I would think it’s a lot to take in at first.

It's tough not going to lie. I'm grateful to have experience as a Guard. Just make sure your loved ones know the score and that you'll need to spend alot of free time reading up.

Have they said How long it will be until you go with a DI ? There's still a huge backlog in that area

All the course are Crewe so they have enough instructors. I have swapped to Chester and its expected that I may have a bit of a wait after traction training.

Some have only just come back from upwards of 9 months sitting at home. May be changes now with Covid rules easing somewhat.

 

[wobman]

It's tough not going to lie. I'm grateful to have experience as a Guard. Just make sure your loved ones know the score and that you'll need to spend alot of free time reading up.


All the course are Crewe so they have enough instructors. I have swapped to Chester and its expected that I may have a bit of a wait after traction training.

Some have only just come back from upwards of 9 months sitting at home. May be changes now with Covid rules easing somewhat.

Most of that group are front ending waiting for DIs as the group before them haven't passed out yet, I think half have passed out now. As they pass out then that delayed group get the spare DI, some DIs are going on the 197s soon and the 230's training restarts soon aswell.
It's a busy time in the training centre, there's some qualified drivers in there for Chester plus another group for Chester starting in March!!!!

 

[owen306]

Hi, I start as a Trainee Train Driver 21st March with TFW, I was wondering if anybody could let me know what date is payday in March for TFW? I am just trying to work my finances out because the last day I get paid in my current job is 15th March and they will only be paying me 2 weeks. Thank you in advance.

 

[Burt807]

Hi it's every 28 days, and our next payday is the 25th Feb and I think falls on the 25th March too. Hope that helps

 

[owen306]

Hi it's every 28 days, and our next payday is the 25th Feb and I think falls on the 25th March too. Hope that helps

That great help thank you Burt807. I read through my contract and it says I get paid 4 weeks in arrears, but didn’t specify the first payday. I can’t wait to start now.

 

[Burt807]

That great help thank you Burt807. I read through my contract and it says I get paid 4 weeks in arrears, but didn’t specify the first payday. I can’t wait to start now.

No problem. We started on the 17th Jan and got a week's pay a week after we started. You'll probably get a few days worth too

 

[craigybagel]

Hi, I start as a Trainee Train Driver 21st March with TFW, I was wondering if anybody could let me know what date is payday in March for TFW? I am just trying to work my finances out because the last day I get paid in my current job is 15th March and they will only be paying me 2 weeks. Thank you in advance.

Unfortunately you'll be starting on the first day of that pay cycle, so you'll have to wait until April 22nd before you get paid anything. The good news is you'll get a full 4 weeks salary on that day.

On each pay day you get what you've earned for the 4 weeks up to the Saturday before the Friday pay day, if that makes sense?

 

[owen306]

Unfortunately you'll be starting on the first day of that pay cycle, so you'll have to wait until April 22nd before you get paid anything. The good news is you'll get a full 4 weeks salary on that day.

On each pay day you get what you've earned for the 4 weeks up to the Saturday before the Friday pay day, if that makes sense?

That makes perfect sense, thank you for your help.

No problem. We started on the 17th Jan and got a week's pay a week after we started. You'll probably get a few days worth too

thanks Mate, I hope the course is going good and you are enjoying it?

 

[Burt807]

That makes perfect sense, thank you for your help.


thanks Mate, I hope the course is going good and you are enjoying it?

I'm glad someone who knew what they were talking about answered your query
Still a long way to go but yes really enjoying it thanks

 

[Jim2019]

Hi, would anybody happen to know if the 21st March course in the North is just for Crewe & Chester depots?

 

[wobman]

Hi, would anybody happen to know if the 21st March course in the North is just for Crewe & Chester depots?

The latest course thats just finished were for crewe, I've heard march course hss trainees for Chester not sure if it has crewe trainees aswell. There will be a backlog before they get DIs once the classroom part finishes, the group from over 6 months ago haven't all got DIs yet at Chester.
A few are still front end turning whilst waiting, that's better than sitting at home for 6 months like they previously had to do.

 

[owen306]

Hi, would anybody happen to know if the 21st March course in the North is just for Crewe & Chester depots?

Hi, I’m not sure mate. I’m on the 21st course and I’m for crewe.

I'm glad someone who knew what they were talking about answered your query
Still a long way to go but yes really enjoying it thanks

Nice one, im glad you are enjoying it.