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Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

Joined
9 Jun 2023
Messages
9
Location
Wales
Got the email today I’m in the talent pool for cardiff! Best news to start the week. Anybody have any idea how long people tend to sit in there? Being a larger depot I’m hoping not long ‍♂️
 
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kallyvintage

Member
Joined
24 Oct 2022
Messages
65
Location
NW
Depends on lots of factors. I passed my DMI early April for Chester depot and have to wait until 2024 now..
 

RyanC87

Member
Joined
26 Jul 2022
Messages
185
Location
Holyhead
Got the email today I’m in the talent pool for cardiff! Best news to start the week. Anybody have any idea how long people tend to sit in there? Being a larger depot I’m hoping not long ‍♂️
There's a few courses planned for cardiff, few just starting so will probably be between septmember and January now, for the current courses to leave the classrooms. Good news is there aren't a huge amount in the pool due to the amount of courses
 

RyanC87

Member
Joined
26 Jul 2022
Messages
185
Location
Holyhead
Hello have a assement day coming up, the email mentions that there will be a written communication test, a group activity and interview involved, any idea what these might contain. Many thanks
If you look through this thread you'll find everything in detail. Lots of examples etc aswell.
 

Plodster

Member
Joined
21 Feb 2019
Messages
370
Location
North
Hello have a assement day coming up, the email mentions that there will be a written communication test, a group activity and interview involved, any idea what these might contain. Many thanks
Is this for a drivers or guards position?
No group activity or interview in the first driver assessments…
 

Plodster

Member
Joined
21 Feb 2019
Messages
370
Location
North

Ratdog77

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2023
Messages
6
Location
Cardiff mainline

Diedinium

Member
Joined
31 Oct 2021
Messages
185
Location
Shropshire
I've just had a worrying week waiting to find out if I'll be signed off on the medical or not: I'm over the usual +5 dioptre eyesight correction standard, so they needed me to go to an optician to confirm I meet the 6/6 vision standard and then have the doctor make a decision off that it seems? Anyway, had the good news today that I've been signed off, just some paperwork to fill out now for the background check/employer reference, RDG pass and uniform. Still can't quite believe it.

(On a site note: I do need to move to Shrewsbury as well, so if there is anyone in this thread that has a spare room they're looking to rent (or knows someone who does) in Shrewsbury please feel free to private message me, it would be a big help.)
 
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JLyons

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2019
Messages
102
Location
Shrewsbury
For those that have taken the computer tests, how long do the images stay up for of the traffic scenes in the ATAVT Perception Test? Is it 2 seconds or less?
 

JLyons

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2019
Messages
102
Location
Shrewsbury
I believe they are 0.7/0.8 of a second. They are pretty quick.

That is a pretty good example of them

I’ve got this exact test, that’s what made me ask the question as you can set a custom display time. Will start it at a second and lower it down once I get the hang of it! Cheers
 

JoeEcco

Member
Joined
15 Feb 2021
Messages
36
Location
Wolverhampton
Had my results from paper assessments, failed Group Bourdon but passed all others. Absolutely gutted. Previously got enhanced when sitting the test with Virgin Trains. Not sure where I went so drastically wrong which has disappointed me more.

Wish you all the best of luck.
 

Jf1878

Member
Joined
17 May 2023
Messages
6
Location
Wales
Some great information on this forum. I read on the Daily Post that TFW will be recruiting 100 drivers every year until 2026. Does anyone know when they will be recruiting again? I'm due to leave the RAF next year and was hoping to have a crack at the process. Have signed up for job alerts and been checking the website regularly but haven't seen any openings for a while.

Thanks
 

craigybagel

Established Member
Joined
25 Oct 2012
Messages
5,826
Some great information on this forum. I read on the Daily Post that TFW will be recruiting 100 drivers every year until 2026. Does anyone know when they will be recruiting again? I'm due to leave the RAF next year and was hoping to have a crack at the process. Have signed up for job alerts and been checking the website regularly but haven't seen any openings for a while.

Thanks
Unfortunately, nobody is in a position to say that with any certainty. Driver recruitment is a bit of a mysterious dark art and unless you're involved at the higher level of management it's really hard to predict what depots will be recruited for next or when.

Just make sure you're signed up for alerts so you can get your application in as soon as a vacancy comes up!
 

Jf1878

Member
Joined
17 May 2023
Messages
6
Location
Wales
Thanks for the replies, really appreciate it. Signed up to alerts and will keep checking TFW site in the hope some more openings come up in the next couple of months!
 

David85

Member
Joined
8 Aug 2023
Messages
13
Location
Chester
Hi All.

First time poster...

I had the hugely disappointing news this week that I failed my DMI for Trainee Train Driver at Chester. I thought it went really well, so the news was a double blow.

I just wanted some advice. I believe I have a two year window to reapply based the previous rounds of tests.

I think may be having an office sort of background (non railway) and that it sounds Chester is quite subscribed already in the talent pool may have gone against me a little. I really put the hours in revising every thing.

I really want to work for TFW and can apply again in 6 months. Also I can apply for other TOCs until test scores expire 04/25.
Has anyone been successful after reapplying post 6 months? Would you be applying for other TOCs too?

Any other advice you could offer?

Thanks.
 

Diedinium

Member
Joined
31 Oct 2021
Messages
185
Location
Shropshire
Hi All.

First time poster...

I had the hugely disappointing news this week that I failed my DMI for Trainee Train Driver at Chester. I thought it went really well, so the news was a double blow.

I just wanted some advice. I believe I have a two year window to reapply based the previous rounds of tests.

I think may be having an office sort of background (non railway) and that it sounds Chester is quite subscribed already in the talent pool may have gone against me a little. I really put the hours in revising every thing.

I really want to work for TFW and can apply again in 6 months. Also I can apply for other TOCs until test scores expire 04/25.
Has anyone been successful after reapplying post 6 months? Would you be applying for other TOCs too?

Any other advice you could offer?

Thanks.
Sorry to hear this, I'm sure you'll get another chance though - the pass results for the psychometrics are valid at some operators for up to 5 years so keep your eyes peeled.

Also, I come from an office based background in a completely unrelated field and managed to pass the DMI, I wouldn't say that's what lost you it.

Did you focus on the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique when answering? They really like real examples that demonstrate your competence in the topic of the question rather than answering in hypotheticals - although adding hypothetical stuff after answering with a situation that's relevant is a good way to do it.
 

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