Northern Rail Trainee Driver Recruitment

[Gigmole]

Hi All, not sure who else is in the same boat. I applied to Northern Rail in January 2020, before they were taken back under the governments wing. I have since had a couple of emails, the last at the end of Feb when I was informed my details would be passed to the new operator.

Since then, I have heard nothing. Has anyone else had an update? I've tried emailing them, but not yet had a response. I just want to know if the recruitment drive has continued, and if I'm still in the process.

Given COVID and the government take over, it wouldn't surprise me if they had cancelled, but just after some clarification.

Many thanks,

 

[RBSN]

Don’t bother with emailing. You need to give them a call.

 

[Taylor-j01]

Did you hAve the data transfer email in March?

and a recent email 3 weeks ago to say due to covid 19 recruitment is temporilry closed. They will email once its open again soon?

check your junk

 

[Gigmole]

Did you hAve the data transfer email in March?

and a recent email 3 weeks ago to say due to covid 19 recruitment is temporilry closed. They will email once its open again soon?

check your junk


Yes, I got the email about data transfer. No, not had anything since, in my inbox or trash. Thanks of this though, at least I know.

 

[Brilufc]

Hi All, not sure who else is in the same boat. I applied to Northern Rail in January 2020, before they were taken back under the governments wing. I have since had a couple of emails, the last at the end of Feb when I was informed my details would be passed to the new operator.

Since then, I have heard nothing. Has anyone else had an update? I've tried emailing them, but not yet had a response. I just want to know if the recruitment drive has continued, and if I'm still in the process.

Given COVID and the government take over, it wouldn't surprise me if they had cancelled, but just after some clarification.

Many thanks,

I was in the same situation as you, when they advertised for leeds again last month I thought my details would still be on file so wouldn't need to reapply.
I emailed northern to clarify situation and they said
"Northern vacancies were previously advertised on the DB Careers site. Due to changing systems, we were unable to transfer candidate date to our new careers system.

As such, you will have to apply for all roles via our new Northern Careers site."

I had to apply again for the role. Just glad I did get in touch with them.

 

[richfoz84]

I think you’re application was terminated as you hadn’t gone too far in the process and you’ll Have to wait for another suitable vacancy and start again. I remember reading a few people in this position a few months ago.

Here’s the email I used recently to chase up my start date:


Heidi.Coffey@northernrailway.co.uk

 

[Gigmole]

I think you’re application was terminated as you hadn’t gone too far in the process and you’ll Have to wait for another suitable vacancy and start again. I remember reading a few people in this position a few months ago.

Here’s the email I used recently to chase up my start date:


Heidi.Coffey@northernrailway.co.uk

Thanks for this, really appreciated.

 

[Trogladyte]

Wonder when Northern will be recruiting for drivers at Blackpool or Wigan again

 

[Manda2194]

Wonder when Northern will be recruiting for drivers at Blackpool or Wigan again

Good point actually. I applied for Blackpool last September and got an email a few weeks later saying they ere not recruiting for the position anymore. Strange as I thought Grand Central would have took a few of the Northern Drivers.

 

[Efini92]

Wonder when Northern will be recruiting for drivers at Blackpool or Wigan again

If you want Wigan you’re best off getting a job elsewhere and transferring. There’s a few waiting to transfer from various depots at the minute.

 

[Manda2194]

How about Lime Street. I've been looking for about 8 months and pretty sure I never have seen a vacancy.

I imagine Wigan is a tiny depot to so recruitment would be quite restricted.

 

[TreacleMiller]

Recruitment is suspended at Sheffield due to not being able to hold interviews.

Just had the email confirming.

Which means I at least got through some of the initial sorting.

 

[Efini92]

How about Lime Street. I've been looking for about 8 months and pretty sure I never have seen a vacancy.

I imagine Wigan is a tiny depot to so recruitment would be quite restricted.

Lime street do recruit but are snow under with trainees. I believe on average it’s about 18-24 months to pass out there

 

[Jason.bourne]

Recruitment is suspended at Sheffield due to not being able to hold interviews.

Just had the email confirming.

Which means I at least got through some of the initial sorting.

My email today basically said that my application has been withdrawn as they do not foresee any interview dates within the next 6 months. Was your email different from this?

 

[TreacleMiller]

No, that's exactly what mine said.

So, no recruitment on this position.

 

[Manda2194]

Lime street do recruit but are snow under with trainees. I believe on average it’s about 18-24 months to pass out there

Wow that seems ages. Any idea why they take so long there?

 

[A460009]

My email today basically said that my application has been withdrawn as they do not foresee any interview dates within the next 6 months. Was your email different from this?

What depot was this for?

 

[iwasyoungonce]

Recruitment is suspended at Sheffield due to not being able to hold interviews.

Just had the email confirming.

Which means I at least got through some of the initial sorting.

Same for me

 

[Gigmole]

Seems that my email to Northern has triggered an update to lots of us, all interested in Sheffield. I guess they forgot that branch when they let everyone else know they were putting recruitment on hold.

 

[A460009]

Seems strange that they would put recruitment on hold at certain places but then still advertise at others. Leeds and Manchester were advertised in the last month

 

[TreacleMiller]

Spoke with them last week when I asked about applying for Leeds. They said no need as we would have you in the system already.

So if Leeds is still recruiting I should have been in on both. Oh well.

 

[A460009]

Did you apply for Leeds prior to the franchise change? I read on another thread afew weeks ago that those who applied for vacancies in January for Darlington, Sheffield etc received emails saying they were nolonger progressing with the recruitment for the job (This was before the franchise change) and for any future vacancies they’d need to apply again

 

[Gigmole]

Did you apply for Leeds prior to the franchise change? I read on another thread afew weeks ago that those who applied for vacancies in January for Darlington, Sheffield etc received emails saying they were nolonger progressing with the recruitment for the job (This was before the franchise change) and for any future vacancies they’d need to apply again

I applied to Sheffield prior to the changes (Jan), and the email yesterday said I'd need to re apply.

 

[Efini92]

Wow that seems ages. Any idea why they take so long there?

Lack of instructors/dtm’s to train them and pass them out.

 

[Manda2194]

Lack of instructors/dtm’s to train them and pass them out.

Thanks. I have always found the railway industry amazing. Surely Northern must know this so you need to train more instructors. Does that mean you just sit around on trainee salary?

 

[Efini92]

Thanks. I have always found the railway industry amazing. Surely Northern must know this so you need to train more instructors. Does that mean you just sit around on trainee salary?

Unfortunately it’s not that easy, no one wants to do it. Over the years the drivers rate of pay has caught up to the instructors rate of pay. It’s the same problem with dtm’s, nobody wants to do the job.
After 12 months your money goes up unless you’ve failed an assessment. I’m only aware of that happening to one person and IIRC the decision was overturned.

 

[Manda2194]

Unfortunately it’s not that easy, no one wants to do it. Over the years the drivers rate of pay has caught up to the instructors rate of pay. It’s the same problem with dtm’s, nobody wants to do the job.
After 12 months your money goes up unless you’ve failed an assessment. I’m only aware of that happening to one person and IIRC the decision was overturned.

How does that work in a practical sense then? Are you still in the classroom until you find an instructor?

 

[Efini92]

How does that work in a practical sense then? Are you still in the classroom until you find an instructor?

No you’ll have finished school and come back to depot. You’ll do your traction conversions and you’ll be assessed on everything you’ve done since day one. Then you do some driving with a dtm so they are happy you can drive under instruction. Then you’re ready for your practical handling with an instructor. It’s luck of timing really, some get them straight away, some wait months. If you have to wait you come into depot. Some go out front ending with other drivers, some go over rules with each other and some just book on and go home.

 

[RBSN]

Guys:

There is a lot of questions on this thread that could be answered by calling the recruitment team. They are a (very) small team but they’re also friendly and professional and they would be able to answer any questions you have for them - or at the very least give you an update as to where recruitment is currently.

At Leeds all our trainees have been stood down for the time being with pay. This is likely to be the case for some time.

 

[Manda2194]

No you’ll have finished school and come back to depot. You’ll do your traction conversions and you’ll be assessed on everything you’ve done since day one. Then you do some driving with a dtm so they are happy you can drive under instruction. Then you’re ready for your practical handling with an instructor. It’s luck of timing really, some get them straight away, some wait months. If you have to wait you come into depot. Some go out front ending with other drivers, some go over rules with each other and some just book on and go home.

Understood so Lime Street recruiting anytime soon Is out the question? trying to work out which depots I have a realistic chance of. Lime Street and Wigan seem to be the only ones. Hopefully Manchester but I'm right 42 minutes away in off peak so that could be interesting!