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GTR - Trainee Train Driver vacancies (07/12/20)

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Sly Sloth

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New update this morning - a course is happening in September - all full now.. next update is august
I’d guess this is the cancelled June course candidates

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I heard today that 2 more courses are likely before the end of the year…….not sure which depots they’ll be for though
 
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REO Nate

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I’d guess this is the cancelled June course candidates

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I heard today that 2 more courses are likely before the end of the year…….not sure which depots they’ll be for though

Thanks for the information.

If they run, this is very promising.

Fingers crossed o_O
 

Dlrowtlaw

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4 new Trainees are starting on a rules course in the next few weeks they - will be for Thameslink Gillingham depot. They were taken from the 2017 Talent Pool.
 

Need2

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4 new Trainees are starting on a rules course in the next few weeks they - will be for Thameslink Gillingham depot. They were taken from the 2017 Talent Pool.
Are you sure? There psychometric’s would have expired.
 

baz962

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Are you sure? There psychometric’s would have expired.
Do Thameslink require a shorter validity. The official validity period is five years. Maybe those four were pulled out the pool as their psychometrics are about to expire.
 

EGPWS#2

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In the pool for Southern selection day for a couple of months now (all online tests passed). How long should I expect to reasonably be in the pool for? TIA
 

Sly Sloth

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In the pool for Southern selection day for a couple of months now (all online tests passed). How long should I expect to reasonably be in the pool for? TIA
They’ve been doing assessments fairly regularly. If you pass everything then it’s the waiting in the talent pool which takes time! Months if not years depending on depot
 

Sly Sloth

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If you’re not on Septembers course then you’ll have a wait as they’re going to close the school for at least 18 months. The trainers are going to be used to cover competency development roles and training days/conversion courses. It’s the talk in every mess room I’ve been in for the last week as some can’t believe why they’d shut the school when they’re already short and there’s plenty looking to retire fairly soon
 

Luckyflames

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If you’re not on Septembers course then you’ll have a wait as they’re going to close the school for at least 18 months. The trainers are going to be used to cover competency development roles and training days/conversion courses. It’s the talk in every mess room I’ve been in for the last week as some can’t believe why they’d shut the school when they’re already short and there’s plenty looking to retire fairly soon
Very sad reading for me personally. Think I might just see my time out in the Fire Brigade. Can retire in 22 months on a full pension. Thanks for the updates though. Much appreciated.
 

Need2

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If you’re not on Septembers course then you’ll have a wait as they’re going to close the school for at least 18 months. The trainers are going to be used to cover competency development roles and training days/conversion courses. It’s the talk in every mess room I’ve been in for the last week as some can’t believe why they’d shut the school when they’re already short and there’s plenty looking to retire fairly soon
Not in the mess rooms I’ve been in.
 

REO Nate

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There are so many different rumours of what’s happening.

I had a SN DM on one of my services a few weeks ago; he said they are currently looking at what gaps there are on the roster and who is retiring over the next 12 months before bidding for courses.

Who knows what may happen. :s
 

43066

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Very sad reading for me personally. Think I might just see my time out in the Fire Brigade. Can retire in 22 months on a full pension. Thanks for the updates though. Much appreciated.

Not in the mess rooms I’ve been in.

Indeed. I’d take whatever has been said in messrooms with a pinch of salt. Very, very difficult to believe a TOC the size of TL/GTR will not recruit trainees for 18 months…
 
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choochoochoo

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It would make sense they’d close the school. Backlog of trainees with no driving instructors

Why would you pay for even more trainees to be on full driver pay as they wait for instructors.

Would also explain the barrage of adverts in mess rooms asking for drivers to apply to be driving instructors.
 

Sly Sloth

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Indeed. I’d take whatever has been said in messrooms with a pinch of salt. Very, very difficult to believe a TOC the size of TL/GTR will not recruit trainees for 18 months…
They shut the school for nearly 2 years when the core 1st opened and got some of the trainers to sign the core to conduct because there wasn’t time to release drivers for routes. I used to pull into Croydon and see then sat on the end of the platforms asking TL drivers if they were needed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

It would make sense they’d close the school. Backlog of trainees with no driving instructors

Why would you pay for even more trainees to be on full driver pay as they wait for instructors.

Would also explain the barrage of adverts in mess rooms asking for drivers to apply to be driving instructors.
Let’s not forget their being taken over in October so the incentive to pay for trainees has long gone!
 

Mattyblob

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It would make sense they’d close the school. Backlog of trainees with no driving instructors

Why would you pay for even more trainees to be on full driver pay as they wait for instructors.

Would also explain the barrage of adverts in mess rooms asking for drivers to apply to be driving instructors.
Since covid you don't get full pay until you get your key, I don't believe it's changed again since
 

ninhog

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Would also explain the barrage of adverts in mess rooms asking for drivers to apply to be driving instructors.

I've not seen any adverts in messrooms..? Some DI roles have been advertised online recently, but that's it.

Let’s not forget their being taken over in October so the incentive to pay for trainees has long gone!

Who's taking over the management contract on behalf of the DfT? The franchise was extended a while ago and if I remember correctly, it's not due to finish for a while yet. Also, incentive isn't relevant as the DfT pay for everything, so it wouldn't cost GTR a penny.
 

Sly Sloth

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Who's taking over the management contract on behalf of the DfT? The franchise was extended a while ago and if I remember correctly, it's not due to finish for a while yet. Also, incentive isn't relevant as the DfT pay for everything, so it wouldn't cost GTR a penny.

The management contract isn’t being taken over. If you work for GTR you should be aware!

GTR don’t get paid for each staffs wages. Employ someone new and the budget doesn’t increase from the DFT. Employ a trainee and it costs the company.
 

whoosh

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I've not seen any adverts in messrooms..? Some DI roles have been advertised online recently, but that's it.



Who's taking over the management contract on behalf of the DfT? The franchise was extended a while ago and if I remember correctly, it's not due to finish for a while yet. Also, incentive isn't relevant as the DfT pay for everything, so it wouldn't cost GTR a penny.

There has been a steady stream of online adverts, but I haven't seen any in messrooms either. The positions are filled each time I understand. Whilst some are quite new to train driving, they meet the criteria to apply, and some have mentored in previous careers, so good luck to them.


The management contract isn’t being taken over. If you work for GTR you should be aware!

GTR don’t get paid for each staffs wages. Employ someone new and the budget doesn’t increase from the DFT. Employ a trainee and it costs the company.

The management contract was extended for three years in March or April. The 'Management Fee' is paid to run the service, and there are bonuses (quite significant I think) for meeting various performance targets. Running the service or meeting targets might require people to be employed!

October COULD see Govia bought out by a Spanish/Australian bus and tram firm. This is if the offer to buy is accepted by shareholders. It would still be run as a Govia business (remember Go-Ahead is in partnership with Keolis which involves SNCF), so Govia would still be the employer, just Go-Ahead would have new owners.
 
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choochoochoo

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There has been a steady stream of online adverts, but I haven't seen any in messrooms either. The positions are filled each time I understand. Whilst some are quite new to train driving, they meet the criteria to apply, and some have mentored in previous careers, so good luck to them.

Maybe it was just in the inner depots (Welwyn,Hitchin and Hornsey)
 

ElisaHarkness

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There has been a steady stream of online adverts, but I haven't seen any in messrooms either. The positions are filled each time I understand. Whilst some are quite new to train driving, they meet the criteria to apply, and some have mentored in previous careers, so good luck to them.




The management contract was extended for three years in March or April. The 'Management Fee' is paid to run the service, and there are bonuses (quite significant I think) for meeting various performance targets. Running the service or meeting targets might require people to be employed!

October COULD see Govia bought out by a Spanish/Australian bus and tram firm. This is if the offer to buy is accepted by shareholders. It would still be run as a Govia business (remember Go-Ahead is in partnership with Keolis which involves SNCF), so Govia would still be the employer, just Go-Ahead would have new owners.
I work for a Bus company owned by Go Ahead & the take over has been confirmed.

The update emails for the talent pool have been few & far between, would rather an update to say it’s on hold for the time being or something..
 

198ksw

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Can anyone advise how the trainee drivers pay scale on Southern works please?

From classroom upto fully qualified and if there is premium for working Sundays when qualified?

Thanks
 

Mabs

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Same. I'm in pool for GWR but this is attractive too.
Well done to you. You're in a good position.

I did the assessments with GWR around 10 months ago and passed everything except the final DMI. I did it online during lockdown and I think I would have done better in a face to face interview.

Anyway it is what it is and I just have to be patient and keep on applying everywhere possible.

GWR wouldn't tell me what grade I got as they only need National pass mark and only tell me that I've met the required pass marks.

I applied for Chilterns railway and GTR so I'm not sure if I've met the required pass marks for both companies.

GWR Recognise my pass marks for 5 years and SWR 3 years.

I don't think il redo any assessments until 5 years are up. I don't wanna risk failing anything and then my original pass mark is cancelled.

On the positive note I'm starting my TFL role next week (part time) and SWR (part time). Working two part time jobs fits in nicely with my work life balance for now.
 
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