Greater Anglia - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[Zontar]

Hey guys I’m new to the forum hello , I’ve recently applied for the Trainee mainline role at Bishops stortford and I haven’t heard anything yet either and it’s been 1 month since they closed is anyone else going crazy and keep checking the portal to see if their status of the application has changed yet. It’s killing me waiting

I know some people have been invited to SJT, but as others have said things can change quickly on the railway, and move very slowly.

 

[trainhopeful14]

I’ve had the SJT. Still waiting on results. But I also still have an active application to do my stage 2 from November. It’s just very very slow.

 

[dk1]

dk1 - have you heard anything else about recruitment at GA? Do you know if any trainee train drivers have already been selected?

Sorry no I don't. Only know that some internal moves have been postponed.

 

[NiftyJ35]

I’ve had the SJT. Still waiting on results. But I also still have an active application to do my stage 2 from November. It’s just very very slow.

Ohh woah okay thanks, doesn’t help I’m the most inpatient person ever either, glad it’s not just me waiting and we’re all in the same situation.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2025 ==

As dk1 said above the upcoming changes into GBR could be having an effect on recruitment. I applied a month ago today myself and my application status hasn't changed

dk1 - have you heard anything else about recruitment at GA? Do you know if any trainee train drivers have already been selected?

Yeah I did hear about that so they must be swamped with applicants thanks

 

[trainhopeful14]

Ohh woah okay thanks, doesn’t help I’m the most inpatient person ever either, glad it’s not just me waiting and we’re all in the same situation.

I’m beginning to think they deliberately make us wait this long to see how much we really want it

 

[NiftyJ35]

Hahaha, it feels like it testing our patience. They probably hope if we make them wait until Xmas 2050 people may forget about it. But we all won’t it’s frustrating isn’t it all this damn waiting.

 

[Greeny1]

Through experience, it really is best to forget about it as much as you can until you get an email informing you of the current situation, whether it be the SJT, how long the application will stand, if it will expire, and to look out for a new advert. My first application, I waited a year after passing the SJT for it to expire eventually. You could look for related tests to help boost your confidence, but it may be in vain, so that's up to you.

 

[aimee723]

Hey guys I’m new to the forum hello , I’ve recently applied for the Trainee mainline role at Bishops stortford and I haven’t heard anything yet either and it’s been 1 month since they closed is anyone else going crazy and keep checking the portal to see if their status of the application has changed yet. It’s killing me waiting

Hi this is also my first time applying. I heard back on the 19th May with the SJT that had a 6 days expiry. Haven’t heard anything since.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2025 ==

Hi this is also my first time applying. I heard back on the 19th May with the SJT that had a 6 days expiry. Haven’t heard anything since.

This was also for Bishop’s Stortford

 

[GiordyRail]

I applied in November, was offered a test in March but I missed it. Done the tests at another company then was offered a test for last Thursday and since I passed at another company I just need to wait for DFFT test. Hopefully it’s not too long until my interview, was offered an interview at another company I just need to wait.

 

[mwest123]

Hi, anyone received the SJT for Colchester Mainline? My dad’s applied so I’m keeping an eye on this forum on his behalf

 

[JDawson]

I’ve also applied for a job at Colchester and as yet I’ve not received anything. From reading this forum it appears the process can be lengthy.

 

[dk1]

I’ve also applied for a job at Colchester and as yet I’ve not received anything. From reading this forum it appears the process can be lengthy.

It can be lengthy and unfortunately those currently waiting are caught up in the GBR transfer which may or may not have implications.

 

[JDawson]

Exciting times for the rail industry I bet. I’m just happy I got an appreciation in. Every time I refreshed the page another job listing was removed.

 

[NiftyJ35]

Hi this is also my first time applying. I heard back on the 19th May with the SJT that had a 6 days expiry. Haven’t heard anything since.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2025 ==


This was also for Bishop’s Stortford

Ohhh so you’re still waiting results, best of luck . I’ve checked my spam and I still haven’t heard anything with the SJT for bishops stortford yet. TBH I’m giving up hope now it’s been so long.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

I emailed GA HR and got this reply below.

Not sure hot to interpret it as I’m going to get a test or I’ll wait up to 12 months :/

“
Your application has been added to our pool and is now awaiting the online Train Driver Situational Judgement Test. Due to a high volume of applications, we’re unable to invite everyone to complete the assessment at this time; any invitations will be sent out based on Greater Anglia’s current recruitment requirements.

We’ll keep you updated throughout the process, and please be assured that your application remains valid for 12 months”

 

[JDawson]

Ohhh so you’re still waiting results, best of luck . I’ve checked my spam and I still haven’t heard anything with the SJT for bishops stortford yet. TBH I’m giving up hope now it’s been so long.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

I emailed GA HR and got this reply below.

Not sure hot to interpret it as I’m going to get a test or I’ll wait up to 12 months :/

“
Your application has been added to our pool and is now awaiting the online Train Driver Situational Judgement Test. Due to a high volume of applications, we’re unable to invite everyone to complete the assessment at this time; any invitations will be sent out based on Greater Anglia’s current recruitment requirements.

We’ll keep you updated throughout the process, and please be assured that your application remains valid for 12 months”

I got the same message this morning. I’ve applied for a role at Colchester.

I took it as a positive and will wait patiently for the next stage of assessment. I’ll updated if/when I hear anything further.

 

[aimee723]

Ohhh so you’re still waiting results, best of luck . I’ve checked my spam and I still haven’t heard anything with the SJT for bishops stortford yet. TBH I’m giving up hope now it’s been so long.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

I emailed GA HR and got this reply below.

Not sure hot to interpret it as I’m going to get a test or I’ll wait up to 12 months :/

“
Your application has been added to our pool and is now awaiting the online Train Driver Situational Judgement Test. Due to a high volume of applications, we’re unable to invite everyone to complete the assessment at this time; any invitations will be sent out based on Greater Anglia’s current recruitment requirements.

We’ll keep you updated throughout the process, and please be assured that your application remains valid for 12 months”

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything too. Hopefully we hear soon.

 

[Greeny1]

That is typical of the recruitment process to be fair. It is a waiting game that can result in nothing.

 

[NiftyJ35]

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything too. Hopefully we hear soon.

Keeping everything crossed - just all a waiting game now

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

I got the same message this morning. I’ve applied for a role at Colchester.

I took it as a positive and will wait patiently for the next stage of assessment. I’ll updated if/when I hear anything further.

Best of luck dude and keep us posted on the progress

 

[ku_ku_ka_cho]

I've got a live application with Cross Country having passed the assessment centre last September...never to hear anything again! Rail industry recruitment really is a poor show, a simple one line email update should not be beyond the capability of a recruitment officer sifting paperwork when candidates have spent hundreds of pounds and masses of time and effort to take part in a process. We are applying for roles in companies that profess to focus on fairness, communication, professionalism and customer services but they treat potential employees like cattle, it is really poor.

 

[NiftyJ35]

I've got a live application with Cross Country having passed the assessment centre last September...never to hear anything again! Rail industry recruitment really is a poor show, a simple one line email update should not be beyond the capability of a recruitment officer sifting paperwork when candidates have spent hundreds of pounds and masses of time and effort to take part in a process. We are applying for roles in companies that profess to focus on fairness, communication, professionalism and customer services but they treat potential employees like cattle, it is really poor.

Ohh that’s bad, yikes especially when they say doing a role like this that’s safety critical is all about comms and yet these companies cannot do a simple thing and tell us, this is where most thing break down as companies are terrible at it unfortunately. Best of luck I’ve you’ve applied too.

 

[Lee09]

I applied for Bishops Stortford and Cambridge.
I have completed the initial Online Assessment and received an email yesterday saying that I had passed that and am now in a Pool awaiting the SJT and any invitations will be sent out based on Greater Anglia’s current recruitment requirements.
Both applications still showing ‘Under Consideration’

 

[I_am_Nobody]

Applied for both London LivSt vacancies, and I have received this email twice, once for each!

 

[Covnarcom]

Just received an email about my Southend Victoria mainline driver application stating that I’m in the pool to be invited to do the Situational Judgement Test, valid for 12 months, etc. etc.

 

[SBJ]

Just received an email about my Southend Victoria mainline driver application stating that I’m in the pool to be invited to do the Situational Judgement Test, valid for 12 months, etc. etc.

I too received one of these. I've taken this as a positive as well, basically passing the "sifting stage", although having read through the above (and other) threads it appears as though we may get a SJT in anywhere from 5 minutes time to 12 months (or time out).

Fingers crossed!

 

[Carrowman]

Just received an email about my Southend Victoria mainline driver application stating that I’m in the pool to be invited to do the Situational Judgement Test, valid for 12 months, etc. etc.

Received mine just now too for Norwich. Positive news, although hoping I don't have to wait too long for the SJT

 

[Covnarcom]

I too received one of these. I've taken this as a positive as well, basically passing the "sifting stage", although having read through the above (and other) threads it appears as though we may get a SJT in anywhere from 5 minutes time to 12 months (or time out).

Fingers crossed!

Yeah, it can basically come at any time. I will say, though, that it’s a bit different to the other times I’ve applied over the last (nearly) 2 years. Every other time, it’s been SJT as soon as humanly possible followed by an email stating the application will be held in a pool for 6 months as opposed to a full year.

Certainly positive, though my Southend Vic depot driver application has already progressed to SJT so I’m putting more stock in that for the moment. As ever, it’s a tossup between getting to the next stage either next week or next century!

 

[ku_ku_ka_cho]

I applied for Bishops Stortford and Cambridge.
I have completed the initial Online Assessment and received an email yesterday saying that I had passed that and am now in a Pool awaiting the SJT and any invitations will be sent out based on Greater Anglia’s current recruitment requirements.
Both applications still showing ‘Under Consideration’

Same, for Cambridge.

 

[NiftyJ35]

I applied for Bishops Stortford and Cambridge.
I have completed the initial Online Assessment and received an email yesterday saying that I had passed that and am now in a Pool awaiting the SJT and any invitations will be sent out based on Greater Anglia’s current recruitment requirements.
Both applications still showing ‘Under Consideration’

Yeah I’m in the same boat as you, we may be waiting a while I think. Keep us updated in here and let us know if you do hear anything.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2025 ==

I did think I was going to be the only one getting that email in a pool for 12 months waiting SJT as I applied the evening before they took all the posting down. Keeping our fingers crossed for us all waiting hopefully it’s within this century we hear lmao

 

[unbutton]

Got some initial contact from Ilford - I'm in a pool, so will probably amount to nothing. Even though I passed Stage 1/2/MMI at the OPC this year, I'm on the list for the initial SJT .

 

[Teddyward]

Over 8000 applications for all depots and recruitment team is very small.