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TransPennine Trains - Trainee Driver Recruitment Discussion

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M2025

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22 Jul 2025
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Newcastle
Congrats camc2k. Any details on your approach to the initial application would be appreciated.

Also, anyone got a link to a separate ‘recruitment’ thread? Maybe where new vacancies are posted?
 

GolfRomeo19

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29 Jul 2025
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9
Location
Newcastle
Just received invite for assessment centre also. Newcastle based.
However I did pass my psychometric assessments to enhanced standard less than 5 years ago. Can anyone shed light on whether transpennine stick to the 5-year validity rule like LNER and other TOCs do?
 

Pintman

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13 Dec 2023
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Last I heard TPE was 3 years rather than 5, idk if that's still the case though. Also when you say enhanced, did you sit for TPE? Because there's no one enhanced standard, each TOC can set their own so you could meet a differnt enhanced standard without meeting TPEs
 

GolfRomeo19

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29 Jul 2025
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Last I heard TPE was 3 years rather than 5, idk if that's still the case though. Also when you say enhanced, did you sit for TPE? Because there's no one enhanced standard, each TOC can set their own so you could meet a differnt enhanced standard without meeting TPEs
Fingers crossed it’s still the 5, as I also applied to LNER last year and they were 5 years. Also, when checking with LNER, they accepted my results using their ‘enhanced’ mark so I can’t imagine it would be too dissimilar to TPE. Again, fingers crossed!
 

SCDR_WMR

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17 Dec 2017
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Crewe
Just received invite for assessment centre also. Newcastle based.
However I did pass my psychometric assessments to enhanced standard less than 5 years ago. Can anyone shed light on whether transpennine stick to the 5-year validity rule like LNER and other TOCs do?
It stated 3 on the ad, unfortunately. Same boat for me
 

SCDR_WMR

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I got the invite to for Piccadilly.


Are you sure on this. I just got the original job spec up from the careers portal and can’t see anything mentioned at all but I could be wrong.
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm sure I've seen it somewhere
 

Colly103

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Joined
27 Jul 2025
Messages
51
Location
Durham
So @Colly103 if I was you, I would just keep applying for these trainee driver roles. You don't need to lower your standards. But you do need to understand it's an extremely competitive process, and can be frustrating at times. But all worth it in the end if you get job ofcourse. Just apply, apply, apply.
Thanks for the kind words and advice! Had some technical issues with the speed and accuracy test so I was fully expecting this outcome! I will continue to monitor. Don’t see a guard as lowering standards either but driver is the dream for most of us! Best of luck to those who are going for assessment centre.
 
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Manda2194

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30 Apr 2020
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north west
Maybe I'm wrong, I'm sure I've seen it somewhere
Mine are 4 years old now that’s the only reason I ask.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Actually this has got me thinking. My stage 1 was passed on 2021 and stage 2 2022. I failed the AVAVT first time.

Are both stages treated individually or would they both expire the same time. Either the earlier or later date.
 
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KaneLeb

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9 Jul 2025
Messages
60
Location
ECML
Thanks for the kind words and advice! Had some technical issues with the speed and accuracy test so I was fully expecting this outcome! I will continue to monitor. Don’t see a guard as lowering standards either but driver is the dream for most of us! Best of luck to those who are going for assessment centre.
I definitely don't see a guard as lowering standards. In-fact, if there is a TOC you absolutely would love to work for then it may very well be worth just getting a foot in the door with them, and then trying to progress internally. However I do agree, becoming a driver is the dream - best of luck for the future mate!

And best of luck to all of those attending the assessments!
 

Colly103

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27 Jul 2025
Messages
51
Location
Durham
I definitely don't see a guard as lowering standards. In-fact, if there is a TOC you absolutely would love to work for then it may very well be worth just getting a foot in the door with them, and then trying to progress internally. However I do agree, becoming a driver is the dream - best of luck for the future mate!

And best of luck to all of those attending the assessments!
Same to you buddy. It’s frustrating that you don’t get any indication on how you did on the initial test but I will definitely be trying again. Note to self… next time ensure I have a wired mouse and not one that loses its blue tooth connection mid test! All the best for the future!
 

Manda2194

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30 Apr 2020
Messages
275
Location
north west
I may have spoke too soon. I got an email saying because I have taken the tests twice in the past I can’t take them again.

Could anyone help me with this please. So I failed in 2021 but passed in 2022 although I was told it was only to national standard for the two hand test.

I still have one remaining life right?
 

Pintman

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13 Dec 2023
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You have a life remaining for the national standard, but it sounds like you unfortunately didn't meet the TPE standard on that second attempt
 

Pintman

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Only if you haven't already had 2 fails if you first sat before last December. Because you've been unsuccessful twice to the TPE standard you won't be able to proceed with them unfortunately
 

Manda2194

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30 Apr 2020
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north west
Only if you haven't already had 2 fails if you first sat before last December. Because you've been unsuccessful twice to the TPE standard you won't be able to proceed with them unfortunately
Ah that’s a shame. I never knew that was rule. I thought if you were given the opportunity there were no limits to how many times you got could achieve national standard. (Within reason of course)
 

Pintman

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For a national standard company that is the case, and with TPE you keep sitting if you keep meeting their standard. Hopefully you can progress with a different TOC
 

Manda2194

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30 Apr 2020
Messages
275
Location
north west
For a national standard company that is the case, and with TPE you keep sitting if you keep meeting their standard. Hopefully you can progress with a different TOC
That is a shame I never knew that. I am a signaller so it’s not the end of the world but an unwelcome surprise anyway.

I appreciate your help though
 

SCDR_WMR

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17 Dec 2017
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Crewe
That is a shame I never knew that. I am a signaller so it’s not the end of the world but an unwelcome surprise anyway.

I appreciate your help though
Ahh that's sucks, sorry to hear that. Personally I don't think that rule should be like that - you've failed once, not twice. It shouldn't be a fail to not hit anyone's enhanced standard scores IMO.

Not that my opinion means jack
 

Manda2194

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30 Apr 2020
Messages
275
Location
north west
Ahh that's sucks, sorry to hear that. Personally I don't think that rule should be like that - you've failed once, not twice. It shouldn't be a fail to not hit anyone's enhanced standard scores IMO.

Not that my opinion means jack
Completely caught me surprise but what can you do.

Strange though because in 2023 they said I could resit it next time but that doesn’t seem the case. I have emailed but not expecting a positive.
 

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