Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[B-rail]

Excellent news. I bet you are relieved to have passed and be into the next step

Ye glad I’m past the first stage now. I was dreading getting the results email

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[Saxon79]

Ye glad I’m past the first stage now. I was dreading getting the results email

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Well done on passing. What did you fail first time around?

 

[Rigvon]

Thinking way ahead and assuming I am fortunate enough to pass the next phases. Does anyone know the answer to the following:

1. What are the classroom hours? Is it 9-5? I know driving experience can be all sorts of hours depending on the instructor.

2. Will the new Taffs Well depot be a base for drivers when complete?

 

[B-rail]

Well done on passing. What did you fail first time around?

I’m not sure they don’t tell you, I felt that I’d done pretty well the first time but just had an email to say I was unsuccessful

 

[craigybagel]

Thinking way ahead and assuming I am fortunate enough to pass the next phases. Does anyone know the answer to the following:

1. What are the classroom hours? Is it 9-5? I know driving experience can be all sorts of hours depending on the instructor.

2. Will the new Taffs Well depot be a base for drivers when complete?

Yes and yes. Well, there might be some variation on the 9-5 part but it's vaguely along those lines. But yes to drivers being based at Taffs Well.

 

[Kenners]

Just had my result and I sat the assessment last Wednesday

Hi , great news you passed ! Have they given you further info / dates for the computer testing ? Which depot have you applied for ? Thanks

 

[Rigvon]

Yes and yes. Well, there might be some variation on the 9-5 part but it's vaguely along those lines. But yes to drivers being based at Taffs Well.

This is great news as I live in Taffs Well!

Hi , great news you passed ! Have they given you further info / dates for the computer testing ? Which depot have you applied for ? Thanks

They said an email would follow with computer assessment and MMI dates.

Applied for Cardiff

 

[Kenners]

This is great news as I live in Taffs Well!


They said an email would follow with computer assessment and MMI dates.

Applied for Cardiff

Cheers thanks , best of luck

 

[matthewp]

Has anybody actually got any form of communication regarding rejections?
I submitted what I thought was a strong application and heard absolutely nothing!

 

[Rigvon]

Has anybody actually got any form of communication regarding rejections?
I submitted what I thought was a strong application and heard absolutely nothing!

How long ago did you apply?

 

[matthewp]

How long ago did you apply?

21st September. I've kind of written off tbh, but until I get an official no, then there's still a thin thread that I cling on to.

 

[Rigvon]

It’s likely they’ll go through their applications and then see how many people pass assessments. They could possibly shortlist again

 

[Saxon79]

It’s likely they’ll go through their applications and then see how many people pass assessments. They could possibly shortlist again

I was shortlisted but I'm awaiting assessment date as all slots where filled before I replied. There will be other people in same boat as me just waiting for further assessment dates.

 

[GalaxyDog]

I applied beginning of October, received an email telling me I'd been shortlisted, but have not heard anything since, not even an offer of slots. Wait and see I guess.

 

[Pk89]

I applied beginning of October, received an email telling me I'd been shortlisted, but have not heard anything since, not even an offer of slots. Wait and see I guess.

They seem to be processing people in groups. 32 people a day can do the paper tests whereas only 4 a day can do the computer tests and MMI interviews. Maybe that gives some information about the fail rate of the paper tests or maybe some people pass the paper test but aren’t willing to pay themselves to get down to Cardiff (for the applicants at Chester, Crewe and Shrewsbury). I think that must put a few people off.

I sat computer tests and 2 of the 4 went down the night before and paid for a hotel. All 4 passed the computer tests and had MMI interviews on the day.

 

[matthewp]

I haven't even been told that I've been shortlisted! Put the application in and then radio silence since.

 

[Saxon79]

They seem to be processing people in groups. 32 people a day can do the paper tests whereas only 4 a day can do the computer tests and MMI interviews. Maybe that gives some information about the fail rate of the paper tests or maybe some people pass the paper test but aren’t willing to pay themselves to get down to Cardiff (for the applicants at Chester, Crewe and Shrewsbury). I think that must put a few people off.

I sat computer tests and 2 of the 4 went down the night before and paid for a hotel. All 4 passed the computer tests and had MMI interviews on the day.

What time dud you have to be there for the computer tests?

 

[Pk89]

What time dud you have to be there for the computer tests?

It varied between 11:30 and 11:45. The train from Chester gets you in at either 10:00 or 11:15 which is too close to risk it so I got the earlier one and waited around for about an hour beforehand.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Thinking way ahead and assuming I am fortunate enough to pass the next phases. Does anyone know the answer to the following:

1. What are the classroom hours? Is it 9-5? I know driving experience can be all sorts of hours depending on the instructor.

2. Will the new Taffs Well depot be a base for drivers when complete?

Yes it should be 9-5 split between Chester and Cardiff for the classroom part of the training. Driving hours have to cover dark hours and daylight hours so will either be following a DI's work pattern or planned to include all the hours necessary across a spectrum of earlies, mids and late turns. No idea about Taffs depot

 

[Diedinium]

It varied between 11:30 and 11:45. The train from Chester gets you in at either 10:00 or 11:15 which is too close to risk it so I got the earlier one and waited around for about an hour beforehand.

lol it'd be very ironic if the rail network is the reason anyone is late to the assessment days - I do the same thing (getting to places hours before I need to) when travelling by train, since I'm well aware of just how often delays/cancellations happen.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

They seem to be processing people in groups. 32 people a day can do the paper tests whereas only 4 a day can do the computer tests and MMI interviews. Maybe that gives some information about the fail rate of the paper tests or maybe some people pass the paper test but aren’t willing to pay themselves to get down to Cardiff (for the applicants at Chester, Crewe and Shrewsbury). I think that must put a few people off.

I sat computer tests and 2 of the 4 went down the night before and paid for a hotel. All 4 passed the computer tests and had MMI interviews on the day.

Yes it is a tad unfair really seeing as it's so far from some of the depots. Surely they could give a TfW pass for just that one day. I was lucky that the guard let me pass for free as I work on another TOC but not everyone is in the same boat.

I was the only one who didn't stay in a hotel in my computer testing, and I was the only one who sat the MMI so it wasn't as successful as your date was.

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lol it'd be very ironic if the rail network is the reason anyone is late to the assessment days - I do the same thing (getting to places hours before I need to) when travelling by train, since I'm well aware of just how often delays/cancellations happen.

Indeed, I got the 8.09 from Crewe which was due into Cardiff at 10.48 I think with a start time of 11.30. I was clock watching most of the journey which wasn't very relaxing, and ended up being 15 late so was starting to fret a little!

 

[GalaxyDog]

Yes, Cardiff is two hours from me and I think a train trip would be less taxing. The suggestion of booking a hotel room is a good idea though, unless, you cop a poor hotel and sleep badly. (I recall going for Avanti and doing really well upto the CPU tests. I stayed at home the evening prior, had been whacked by a super late shift the day before that [Monday late shift, Tuesday recovery, Wed tests) and barely hung on in the CPUs, failing only the black squares. )

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Yes, Cardiff is two hours from me and I think a train trip would be less taxing. The suggestion of booking a hotel room is a good idea though, unless, you cop a poor hotel and sleep badly. (I recall going for Avanti and doing really well upto the CPU tests. I stayed at home the evening prior, had been whacked by a super late shift the day before that [Monday late shift, Tuesday recovery, Wed tests) and barely hung on in the CPUs, failing only the black squares. )

There are lots of building works ongoing near the station in Cardiff currently and, depending on the day, the bars are very noisy so expect it to not be a quiet relaxing night's sleep if you're near the station

 

[BlackGSD]

Yes it is a tad unfair really seeing as it's so far from some of the depots. Surely they could give a TfW pass for just that one day. I was lucky that the guard let me pass for free as I work on another TOC but not everyone is in the same boat.

I was the only one who didn't stay in a hotel in my computer testing, and I was the only one who sat the MMI so it wasn't as successful as your date was.

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Indeed, I got the 8.09 from Crewe which was due into Cardiff at 10.48 I think with a start time of 11.30. I was clock watching most of the journey which wasn't very relaxing, and ended up being 15 late so was starting to fret a little!

I stayed in a hotel the night before and believe I was in the same computer date as u I also passed and did my MMI so 2 out of the 4 got through to MMI

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I stayed in a hotel the night before and believe I was in the same computer date as u I also passed and did my MMI so 2 out of the 4 got through to MMI

Ahh amazing, apologies. The only person who went to the pub after said they hadn't and here was nobody there when I left so presumed I was the only one who had their MMI. Have you heard back yet?

 

[BlackGSD]

Ahh amazing, apologies. The only person who went to the pub after said they hadn't and here was nobody there when I left so presumed I was the only one who had their MMI. Have you heard back yet?

Ah I went to jump on the train home as soon as I finished, yea got the email back saying passed and an interview date all very scary, how did u get on

 

[KellyS]

Hey I saw quite a few people in this chat missed out on the first email for paper assessments, including someone who replied within 12 minutes! Just wondered if any of you had heard back yet with a second email with dates?

 

[Paddygee]

Hey I saw quite a few people in this chat missed out on the first email for paper assessments, including someone who replied within 12 minutes! Just wondered if any of you had heard back yet with a second email with dates?

Nothing yet....

 

[KellyS]

Just had an email saying sorry but all slots were full.

Within 12 minutes! Mental. I'm probably really going to struggle replying any quicker than a couple of hours based on my work.. My 12 minute reply time was a fluke. Even if I set an alert of some sort I wont be able to act on it.

Did you eventually hear back?

 

[Tibbsjo]

Hi all, I'm heading to Cardiff next week for stage 2. Nervous and excited.... Has anyone got any tips for preparing for stage 2?...

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Not necessarily, they only seem to be doing so many at a time as they seem to be booking people in in batches

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Nothing yet, cutting it a bit fine if they want people to attend on the 17th for the next stage! Possibly today or tomorrow I'd have thought, 7 days from testing to results

Hi there, I've recently done the paper tests in Chester, and have my stage 2 set for Cardiff in the next week... Have you had your date for Cardiff yet?

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It varied between 11:30 and 11:45. The train from Chester gets you in at either 10:00 or 11:15 which is too close to risk it so I got the earlier one and waited around for about an hour beforehand.

Hi, I've got my computer tests coming up... Going to head down to Cardiff the night before to play it safe and take the hit on a hotel. Have you got any helpful info on Stage2?...