Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[BOMPO83]

Hopefully we all get in. In the interview they said they try not to let people expire from there but obviously they've messed up

 

[SJTee]

Ah ok November 2026 I got till

Similar for me, October

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2025 ==

From the original email:
“Your place in the Talent Pool is confirmed for up to three years from the date you sat and passed your paper assessments. If, for any reason, you do not get a start date confirmed within this three-year period, you will be required to re-apply and go through the full recruitment process again.”

 

[LoftyTD]

Ah ok November 2026 I got till

Did you do your paper tests in Nov 2024??

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2025 ==

Ignore what I said, didn’t realise it was 3 years? In that case Ive got until Dec 2026.

 

[BOMPO83]

Anyone in here actually get on a course this year ?

 

[JLyons]

Anyone in here actually get on a course this year ?

I wouldn’t of thought so, when they say the courses have been filled, they mean the courses have been cancelled as they’ve taken on too many qualified drivers.

 

[Big George]

I wouldn’t of thought so, when they say the courses have been filled, they mean the courses have been cancelled as they’ve taken on too many qualified drivers.

Too many 'qualified' drivers, or simply, too many drivers (trainees & qualified combined)??...

 

[JLyons]

Too many 'qualified' drivers, or simply, too many drivers (trainees & qualified combined)??...

Will be a combination of both, as there’s definitely some trainees, but from what I’m led to believe mainly qualified drivers due to less money spent on training & less time taken before being productive. Would be interesting to see the official numbers of how many qualified & trainees were taken on, also how many drivers they are over complement at each depot.

 

[SJTee]

Anyone had any news? All quiet here!

 

[Westcoast-ting]

Too many 'qualified' drivers, or simply, too many drivers (trainees & qualified combined)??...

I applied and was in a talent pool for crewe as a qualified driver. Was told that they needed drivers a.s.a.p and expect a call.
Soon after a friend who works there told me they scaled back the timetable and loads of old hands decided to stay on to bump there pensions up.

 

[LoftyTD]

Anyone had any news? All quiet here!

Still sitting tight with fingers crossed, checking here regularly. I have emailed just to enquire about any updates so awaiting a response. My friend who is in the conductor talent pool is having a meeting with a manager this week I believe, so I asked him to see what info he can get for the trainee drivers in the talent pool, if I hear anything I will share.

 

[BOMPO83]

Still sitting tight with fingers crossed, checking here regularly. I have emailed just to enquire about any updates so awaiting a response. My friend who is in the conductor talent pool is having a meeting with a manager this week I believe, so I asked him to see what info he can get for the trainee drivers in the talent pool, if I hear anything I will share.

Thanks mate

 

[johnstan]

Still sitting tight with fingers crossed, checking here regularly. I have emailed just to enquire about any updates so awaiting a response. My friend who is in the conductor talent pool is having a meeting with a manager this week I believe, so I asked him to see what info he can get for the trainee drivers in the talent pool, if I hear anything I will share.

Thanks mate, hopefully he gets more info!

 

[LoftyTD]

Unfortunately nothing as of yet

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2025 ==

Just had an email stating the talent pool has been extended to 5 years rather than the original 3 years, and that there are no courses for 2025 and possibly none for 2026 either. I assume everyone in the talent pool will have the email. While its great to have more closure and some security being in the talent pool for a further two years, its a tough one to take given the amount of work we put in.

 

[SJTee]

Unfortunately nothing as of yet

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2025 ==

Just had an email stating the talent pool has been extended to 5 years rather than the original 3 years, and that there are no courses for 2025 and possibly none for 2026 either. I assume everyone in the talent pool will have the email. While its great to have more closure and some security being in the talent pool for a further two years, its a tough one to take given the amount of work we put in.

Yep, had the same email.

 

[BOMPO83]

Me to

 

[JLyons]

Unfortunately nothing as of yet

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2025 ==

Just had an email stating the talent pool has been extended to 5 years rather than the original 3 years, and that there are no courses for 2025 and possibly none for 2026 either. I assume everyone in the talent pool will have the email. While its great to have more closure and some security being in the talent pool for a further two years, its a tough one to take given the amount of work we put in.

I’m seeing it as good news as the way it was going we were all going to expire from the pool. You’d like to think by 2028 we’d manage to get in!

 

[LoftyTD]

I’m seeing it as good news as the way it was going we were all going to expire from the pool. You’d like to think by 2028 we’d manage to get in!

I think it definitely increases our chances for sure, and shows they don't want us to go to waste. Its just a shame about the setbacks and how long the whole process is taking! But let’s stay positive, our time will come!

 

[JLyons]

I think it definitely increases our chances for sure, and shows they don't want us to go to waste. Its just a shame about the setbacks and how long the whole process is taking! But let’s stay positive, our time will come!

Definitely. Only thing that didn’t read well is where it says they’ve already recruited the necessary train crew. So, in other words unless people leave, retire or the timetable expands then we won’t get in. Makes you wonder how for positions down south they’ve ended up with 60 odd in the talent pool if they’ve now reached their limit, seems a big oversight. 60 people is near enough to fill a depot in itself!

 

[ThePeakNed]

Definitely. Only thing that didn’t read well is where it says they’ve already recruited the necessary train crew. So, in other words unless people leave, retire or the timetable expands then we won’t get in. Makes you wonder how for positions down south they’ve ended up with 60 odd in the talent pool if they’ve now reached their limit, seems a big oversight. 60 people is near enough to fill a depot in itself!

Yeah 60 people would fill Shrewsbury’s link with change!

I did hear whispers that there were only 12 drivers being recruited this year whilst I was in training school last year, but seemingly that’s turned into 0.

 

[LoftyTD]

Definitely. Only thing that didn’t read well is where it says they’ve already recruited the necessary train crew. So, in other words unless people leave, retire or the timetable expands then we won’t get in. Makes you wonder how for positions down south they’ve ended up with 60 odd in the talent pool if they’ve now reached their limit, seems a big oversight. 60 people is near enough to fill a depot in itself!

With that being said, it also says they have the necessary crew for the next few years - so that could indicate further recruitment to come over the next few years or after. Also, I messaged my driver friend and he has confirmed its because of the older people not retiring, and has said there are a lot of them currently there, which is promising for us if we get a bunch leave. But again, I’m only trying to see the positives haha!

 

[BOMPO83]

The wording of "maybe" 2026 probably means if enough people retire. Or was it possibly ha

 

[eSTeeSCe]

Hi there.
Subject to medical, I have been given a start date for driver training for TfW out of Chester, pretty much my dream job.
I was wondering if someone wouldn’t mind answering a few questions I have about what I can expect from the training and then going forward into the future.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tyg]

Hi there.
Subject to medical, I have been given a start date for driver training for TfW out of Chester, pretty much my dream job.
I was wondering if someone wouldn’t mind answering a few questions I have about what I can expect from the training and then going forward into the future.

Thanks in advance.

Ill see you there I got my start for chester too

 

[LoftyTD]

Hi there.
Subject to medical, I have been given a start date for driver training for TfW out of Chester, pretty much my dream job.
I was wondering if someone wouldn’t mind answering a few questions I have about what I can expect from the training and then going forward into the future.

Thanks in advance.

Congratulations on getting your start date!
When did you hear back if you don't mind me asking? A lot of us for Cardiff are waiting our calls.
I followed this persons journey https://thetraindrivercom.wordpress.com/gsm-r-course/ to get a real good insight into what to expect with training and how it is structured etc.
They didn’t say loads about the whole process during my manager interview, only that theres no holidays allowed for first three months as it’s all classroom based.

 

[eSTeeSCe]

Congratulations on getting your start date!
When did you hear back if you don't mind me asking? A lot of us for Cardiff are waiting our calls.
I followed this persons journey https://thetraindrivercom.wordpress.com/gsm-r-course/ to get a real good insight into what to expect with training and how it is structured etc.
They didn’t say loads about the whole process during my manager interview, only that theres no holidays allowed for first three months as it’s all classroom based.

I applied in 2022 when they did a big campaign. I flew through it all and then failed the medical.
The issue has since been resolved with my medical but I assumed I was out of the game. I had an email about 3 weeks ago saying I was still in the talent pool for Chester. I then got a call last week offering a start date in August subject to medical if I was still interested.
Sorry I can’t be any more specific.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jun 2025 ==

Ill see you there I got my start for chester too

Awesome, well done. See you in Chester hopefully.

 

[BOMPO83]

Wonder how many drivers are due to retire ?

 

[LoftyTD]

Wonder how many drivers are due to retire ?

I would love to say the same figure as that in the talent pool but I honestly don’t know. I’m just going to assume it’s lots to make me feel better hah!

 

[SJTee]

Does anybody know if they recruit directly to Carmarthen depot? It would actually be easier for me than Cardiff!

 

[Railway1642]

I understand there was an intake of Trainee drivers back in 2022 for Carmarthen.

 

[RogerDodger]

Just to add - they've recently advertised for Qualified Drivers at Chester. Application's closed last week and sifting began immediately. I'm led to believe they're recruiting Qualified Drivers ASAP. Could be a little bit more of a wait for those at Chester.