GWR Trainee Driver Course - 1st July 19

[PULF]

Hey guys,

Is anyone else on this course date at St Phillips Marsh either for Westbury or other depots?

I’m aware there’s also a course running at Reading beginning the same date too.

 

[tiptoptaff]

You won't find many here for the SPM course. There are next to no externals on it, and unless a large number of the 14 of us lurk these forums, then that's all you'll see

 

[tiptoptaff]

From the Forums, I know its you, Stigy and I. Hello to my TL who lurks but doesn't post, but is also on the July course.

 

[tiptoptaff]

The course make up is: 6or7 Bristols, 4 Westburys, 1 Fratton and we *think* 2 Gloucester.

 

[PULF]

The course make up is: 6or7 Bristols, 4 Westburys, 1 Fratton and we *think* 2 Gloucester.

Wow okay fair enough! What have you come from doing? I assume there are more than 14 at the Reading course then!

 

[tiptoptaff]

Wow okay fair enough! What have you come from doing? I assume there are more than 14 at the Reading course then!

Resourcing.

I couldn't say - but 14 is a lot, I'd be surprised if it was more than that on a course

 

[Stigy]

Yup, I’m on it (unless they mix up my pee sample with a crack addict)

 

[tiptoptaff]

Yup, I’m on it (unless they mix up my pee sample with a crack addict)

Is that really a mix up though....?

 

[PULF]

Yup, I’m on it (unless they mix up my pee sample with a crack addict)

Yeah same here, had my medical today

 

[Stigy]

Is that really a mix up though....?

Well, this is it...

 

[Stigy]

Yeah same here, had my medical today

Me too, probably crossed paths if you were at Swindon?

 

[PULF]

Me too, probably crossed paths if you were at Swindon?

No Reading! Okay though cause that’s where I work now

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Well done guys that date is coming round quick now, not jealous at all

Have you been given your contracts now?

 

[tiptoptaff]

After the D&A results return, a formal offer will be made. Unit then, nope

 

[Daydr3am3r]

They like it to go down to the wire then! Staying positive it’s nice to see do many courses being run.
Out of interest ttt what level of internals do you think have an end goal of train driver in mind?

 

[tiptoptaff]

They like it to go down to the wire then! Staying positive it’s nice to see do many courses being run.
Out of interest ttt what level of internals do you think have an end goal of train driver in mind?

Hard to tell - I'd say it's less than maybe 20%

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Fair enough, I appreciate that it is an impossible question to be accurate on!

 

[tiptoptaff]

It also varies by region - the West until the recent large drive didn't need to look beyond current staff to fill trainee roles, whereas in the East, there's never been enough staff who want it to fill all the spaces.

 

[EBlackadder]

From the Forums, I know its you, Stigy and I. Hello to my TL who lurks but doesn't post, but is also on the July course.

Greetings.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Greetings.

You think you know someone....

 

[Mintona]

The course make up is: 6or7 Bristols, 4 Westburys, 1 Fratton and we *think* 2 Gloucester.

I can’t keep up with all these new Bristol drivers anymore

 

[PULF]

So guys with less than 2 weeks to go, anyone received any joining information yet?

 

[Stigy]

So guys with less than 2 weeks to go, anyone received any joining information yet?

Ooooh. Me me me! *waves willy* (hopes this is still acceptable form of celebration as per other threads...).

I say that, but that’s all I’ve received, and I’m still waiting for temp travel passes through the post which they said would be recorded delivery. Still waiting for the training schedule too, with details of accommodation etc. I enquired a while ago and was told the joining instructions would arrive 10-14 days prior to start date and the schedule, 7-10 days. Since I received JIs last Friday, we may receive the schedule sooner rather than later?

Have you receive anything?

 

[PULF]

Ooooh. Me me me! *waves willy* (hopes this is still acceptable form of celebration as per other threads...).

I say that, but that’s all I’ve received, and I’m still waiting for temp travel passes through the post which they said would be recorded delivery. Still waiting for the training schedule too, with details of accommodation etc. I enquired a while ago and was told the joining instructions would arrive 10-14 days prior to start date and the schedule, 7-10 days. Since I received JIs last Friday, we may receive the schedule sooner rather than later?

Have you receive anything?

oh okay then! I guess any time from now then!

I’ve known about the date since April but that’s still all I know up until now. I’m a lot closer to Bristol currently than I will be when I relocate to Westbury so I doubt I’ll have any accommodation.

 

[Stigy]

oh okay then! I guess any time from now then!

I’ve known about the date since April but that’s still all I know up until now. I’m a lot closer to Bristol currently than I will be when I relocate to Westbury so I doubt I’ll have any accommodation.

Are you external to GWR?

They supply accommodation if your journey is over 2-hours by train to the training centre. They may be looking at doing the same for corporate induction for me in Swindon too (assuming it’s swindon which I’m reliably informed it will probably be) as that’s over 2-hours by train. I’d rather do Swindon travelling up on the day(s) to be honest as I’ll be away from home so long anyway and it’s not a missive trek like Bristol haha.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Landed in the inbox this morning. Waves willy

 

[Daydr3am3r]

After sending off your signed contracts did you receive anything prior to the joining instructions? Trying to work out when to hand my notice in and wondered whether you get a confirmation letter at all, or just rely on the contract.

 

[Stigy]

After sending off your signed contracts did you receive anything prior to the joining instructions? Trying to work out when to hand my notice in and wondered whether you get a confirmation letter at all, or just rely on the contract.

You probably won’t receive confirmation. I received confirmation that they received it but only because they needed to ask something else anyway. I handed my notice in when I received my contract. Once you have that contract it’s pretty much a done deal and they will be contacting your references soon after they receive a signed contract.

When is your course?

 

[Daydr3am3r]

Thanks Stigy, course is 12th August.

Regarding references I completed the welcome pack and references at 23:00 on an evening, and by 08:00 the following morning they had emailed all three. Caught me by surprise as I hadn’t even told two of them!

 

[Stigy]

Thanks Stigy, course is 12th August.

Regarding references I completed the welcome pack and references at 23:00 on an evening, and by 08:00 the following morning they had emailed all three. Caught me by surprise as I hadn’t even told two of them!

They tried to get mine quite quickly but railway HR being railway HR, my employer ignored them, then I found out when I asked that I needed to give them permission to give GWR the reference due to GDPR? Found this strange as I obviously told GWR who to contact as a reference, plus, they’re both FirstGroup TOCs...