TransPennine Trains - Trainee Driver Recruitment Discussion

[gary1234]

its standard interview questions. u talk to an ai chat bot who acts like an interviewer.
questions like tell a time when u stayed calm during a high pressure situation. its 5 questions. a bit different from when i did this two years ago

would you share the 5 questions as a heads up or do you think they’ll be different for everyone?

 

[Northrail127]

I know everyone is keen to help each other out on this forum, however I do also think everyone is in competition when it comes to this type of vacancy.

I could be wrong but I think your chances of anyone sharing questions so you can prepare, when many others haven’t had the chance, are slim to none.

 

[JDAWC]

I know everyone is keen to help each other out on this forum, however I do also think everyone is in competition when it comes to this type of vacancy.

I could be wrong but I think your chances of anyone sharing questions so you can prepare, when many others haven’t had the chance, are slim to none.

I definitely agree with that. Whilst as you say this forum is a great place for help and myself and many others are willing to help eachother out, a line needs to be drawn somewhere. The whole point of the online assessment is to test how well you think on your feet with little to no preparation, a skill that is crucial for train driving. I personally think it's unfair that I and many others did it going in blind whilst others may get time to prepare their answers, defeating the whole point......

 

[NorthernTech]

Unfortunately you’ve probably just given that out as an idea to do the same.

 

[JDAWC]

Unfortunately you’ve probably just given that out as an idea to do the same.

Yeah fair point mate, didn't think of that. Deleted that last point, hopefully not many people saw it as it's a rather heinous thing to do.

 

[Pintman]

so will I have to do my psychometrics again like, think I still have 3 years left

It'll depend if your results met the standard used by TPE. It'll be checked as part of the application process and on the assessment day as well

 

[northeast10]

Crazy salary jump after only 8 weeks training.

Is the salary described correct? I would have thought the 66k was after completion of full training? Not 8 weeks of training?

 

[JDAWC]

Is the salary described correct? I would have thought the 66k was after completion of full training? Not 8 weeks of training?

Yes, at TPE it goes up to full salary after 8 weeks.

 

[Jordan1991]

I think everyone needs to chill a bit about the questions. They will see through it if you’ve pre prepared what you think is the right thing to say.

You either have what they are looking for through your own experiences and reactions to them, or you don’t. You’ll come unstuck trying blag your way though, it’s the whole point of the process.

 

[ayaz2001]

would you share the 5 questions as a heads up or do you think they’ll be different for everyone?

theyre the same questions and its not timed so u can take ur time

 

[Jordan1991]

i think its two years that theyre valid for, for tpe. theyd tell you on the day if u need to redo it.

Hi mate, just been told by TPE psychometrics are accepted for as long as they are valid. So I assume this is 5 years which is good news

 

[fabs]

Yes, at TPE it goes up to £66,664 after 8 weeks. Was brought in as a part of the current RDW agreement to speed up training and get more people applying from within the business. However some may argue it's had the opposite effect as people purposefully prolong their training as they are making shed loads of money with zero responsibility driving on their instructors license.

Yes, at TPE it goes up to £66,664 after 8 weeks. Was brought in as a part of the current RDW agreement to speed up training and get more people applying from within the business. However some may argue it's had the opposite effect as people purposefully prolong their training as they are making shed loads of money with zero responsibility driving on their instructors license.

100%.
It has unfortunately brought the worst out in one or two candidates.
Definitely some burnt fingers recruitment wise so Driver Managers will be ultra scrutinising this time to try and prevent some more slipping through the net.

 

[Fokx]

Hi mate, just been told by TPE psychometrics are accepted for as long as they are valid. So I assume this is 5 years which is good news

It's three years at an enchanted pass mark for Transpennine. After which you'll be sent for re-assessment.

 

[JDAWC]

It's three years at an enchanted pass mark for Transpennine. After which you'll be sent for re-assessment.

Enchanted pass mark!

Might have to get my spell book out and start making some potions in my cauldron in order to pass the psychometrics to this new enchanted standard!

Only kidding lol……

 

[Jordan1991]

100%.
It has unfortunately brought the worst out in one or two candidates.
Definitely some burnt fingers recruitment wise so Driver Managers will be ultra scrutinising this time to try and prevent some more slipping through the net.

It’s not after 8 weeks, it’s 8 weeks after training has been completed

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It's three years at an enchanted pass mark for Transpennine. After which you'll be sent for re-assessment.

Yes they’ve emailed me that today, but apparently it has recently changed so are looking into it and are going to get back to me.

Either way, my enhanced passes would expire this November for 3 years with TPE so fingers crossed it all goes well

 

[fabs]

It’s not after 8 weeks, it’s 8 weeks after training has been completed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==


Yes they’ve emailed me that today, but apparently it has recently changed so are looking into it and are going to get back to me.

Either way, my enhanced passes would expire this November for 3 years with TPE so fingers crossed it all goes well

It is after 8 weeks.

 

[JDAWC]

It’s not after 8 weeks, it’s 8 weeks after training has been completed

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2025 ==


Yes they’ve emailed me that today, but apparently it has recently changed so are looking into it and are going to get back to me.

Either way, my enhanced passes would expire this November for 3 years with TPE so fingers crossed it all goes well

No it’s 8 weeks from the start date (or two pay days as TPE pays four weekly). I work for TPE so I can tell you that it is definitely after 8 weeks. I was talking about it with one of the driver managers at Piccadilly the other day.

 

[ayaz2001]

Hi mate, just been told by TPE psychometrics are accepted for as long as they are valid. So I assume this is 5 years which is good news

Oh thats good, probably bc the company is now owned by the government

 

[fabs]

Hi all.
If just like to urge caution on what you read on forums, this one too.
There’s some information on here that is incorrect. If anyone states any policy on here you can pretty much disregard it as unintentionally wrong, particularly from fellow candidates who are not yet employed by TPE.
The system has changed for this recruitment campaign though (and it has nothing to do with the government, who have not had any input this far down the food chain).

 

[Jordan1991]

Ah that’s strange, the advert says after 8 weeks of completed training! I guess it literally means just the first 8 weeks of it

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2025 ==

Hi all.
If just like to urge caution on what you read on forums, this one too.
There’s some information on here that is incorrect. If anyone states any policy on here you can pretty much disregard it as unintentionally wrong, particularly from fellow candidates who are not yet employed by TPE.
The system has changed for this recruitment campaign though (and it has nothing to do with the government, who have not had any input this far down the food chain).

Are you able to elaborate what information is wrong just so that we know it is incorrect?

 

[JDAWC]

Hi all.
If just like to urge caution on what you read on forums, this one too.
There’s some information on here that is incorrect. If anyone states any policy on here you can pretty much disregard it as unintentionally wrong, particularly from fellow candidates who are not yet employed by TPE.
The system has changed for this recruitment campaign though (and it has nothing to do with the government, who have not had any input this far down the food chain).

I’d like to echo this point.

 

[Pintman]

Very true, if you have a question you should ask TPE themselves!

 

[ayaz2001]

Hi all.
If just like to urge caution on what you read on forums, this one too.
There’s some information on here that is incorrect. If anyone states any policy on here you can pretty much disregard it as unintentionally wrong, particularly from fellow candidates who are not yet employed by TPE.
The system has changed for this recruitment campaign though (and it has nothing to do with the government, who have not had any input this far down the food chain).

Well thats a fallacy if ure not employed by tpe.
Also, how would u know if the government has nowt to do with it, we know Sapia.ai is also being used by other government owned TOCs like LNER. Furthermore, the emails sent are the exact same as two years ago, so no it hasnt changed that much, just AI doing an otherwise tedious job.

I mean yeah be weary of other candidates but u cant sabotage anothers' answers or psychometrics.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jun 2025 ==

Ah that’s strange, the advert says after 8 weeks of completed training! I guess it literally means just the first 8 weeks of it

Completed is an adjective in the sentence not a verb.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jun 2025 ==

I’d like to echo this point.

do u need to be employed by TPE to know the process. A customer service officer wouldnt, a conductor wouldnt.
Anyways, parts of the process is done by the OPC.
So what ur saying is a person who cleans the trains has more insight into the recruitment of train drivers than someone who has been through the process.

 

[Danfilm007]

I've put my application in for this one, good luck all!

 

[fabs]

Well thats a fallacy if ure not employed by tpe.
Also, how would u know if the government has nowt to do with it, we know Sapia.ai is also being used by other government owned TOCs like LNER. Furthermore, the emails sent are the exact same as two years ago, so no it hasnt changed that much, just AI doing an otherwise tedious job.

I mean yeah be weary of other candidates but u cant sabotage anothers' answers or psychometrics.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jun 2025 ==


Completed is an adjective in the sentence not a verb.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jun 2025 ==


do u need to be employed by TPE to know the process. A customer service officer wouldnt, a conductor wouldnt.
Anyways, parts of the process is done by the OPC.
So what ur saying is a person who cleans the trains has more insight into the recruitment of train drivers than someone who has been through the process.

Sounds like you’d very much fit in some mess rooms. Good luck

 

[ayaz2001]

thanks and id say the same back

 

[Geeves]

Sounds like you’d very much fit in some mess rooms. Good luck

To be fair to Ajax2001 from his posts he has done more tests and recruitments than a regular person does in a life time...

 

[JDAWC]

do u need to be employed by TPE to know the process. A customer service officer wouldnt, a conductor wouldnt.
Anyways, parts of the process is done by the OPC.
So what ur saying is a person who cleans the trains has more insight into the recruitment of train drivers than someone who has been through the process.

I am not saying that at all, its thing like the pay, how the company works.

I don't quite know why you've reacted like this to be and @fabs as it's a bit surprising. I wish you luck however and as fabs said I'm sure you'll fit right into some mess rooms!

 

[ayaz2001]

no hate, im just presenting a counter to your argument lol.

 

[tucker86]

Good Morning

I’m thinking of applying for a trainee drivers job at my local station Preston for TPE, I’m just wondering if anybody has an old work time table hey don’t mind sharing so I can see what the shift work looks like in reality, and also does anybody know what traction I would be trained on ? Will it be the 185 or the nova 1 or 2 ? This will determine what routes I would get once qualified.

Thanks