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Avanti - Trainee Train Drivers - Recruitment Discussion

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Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
nope still waiting, applied for manchester and liverpool, hopefully wont be too long now
How does it work applying for 2 depots? Did you have to do two lots of tests, or was it just one set and the interviews and you’re in the talent bank for both? Were you a 2022 applicant? You should have been sent an email so I’d message them
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
no just the one set of tests yes, no i applied 2023
I think they cancelled that recruitment. I had a friend who was at your stage and was then they emailed saying they weren’t progressing anymore applicants. It’s not common to be left waiting over 2 years in the application stage
 

Flatcap1825

Member
Joined
8 Apr 2025
Messages
5
Location
Huddersfield
I was in the 2023 intake, just awaiting on the DMI. Last comms I had was in March saying they would be in touch but it may not be for some time. Not losing hope just yet
 

nolypops83

Member
Joined
13 Feb 2023
Messages
332
Location
Manchester
I think they cancelled that recruitment. I had a friend who was at your stage and was then they emailed saying they weren’t progressing anymore applicants. It’s not common to be left waiting over 2 years in the application stage

Yeah that’s what I got told earlier in the year. I should have got an email saying the recruitment was closed in early 2024, but it never arrived.
 

nalla

Member
Joined
14 Mar 2024
Messages
34
Location
winsford
no, i believe it was anyone who had not finished all their assessments as i read that people were getting the email saying no longer progressing, i have had an email saying it will be a couple more months wait but that was in march.
 

scotsman82

Member
Joined
2 Mar 2025
Messages
51
Location
Scotland
Has anyone had the call this week? They are usually pretty sharpish with it
Hi Jordan think it said the coming weeks they will probably need time to go through which stations are priority what they have left in talent pool results etc and potentially others might have found alternative employment whilst in the pool . Best of luck though hope you get a start course .
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
Hi Jordan think it said the coming weeks they will probably need time to go through which stations are priority what they have left in talent pool results etc and potentially others might have found alternative employment whilst in the pool . Best of luck though hope you get a start course .
Hi mate, yeah I guess you’re right. I was just going off previous communications as they usually got back to us within a week or so of the first email going out.

I’ve got an interview Northern on the 20th this month so I really wanted to find out before then as it’s taking a big chance!
 

Pintman

Member
Joined
13 Dec 2023
Messages
190
Location
The Pub
Hi mate, yeah I guess you’re right. I was just going off previous communications as they usually got back to us within a week or so of the first email going out.

I’ve got an interview Northern on the 20th this month so I really wanted to find out before then as it’s taking a big chance!
If you're in the talent pool for Avanti and sit an MMI with Northern then that will overwrite your Avanti CBI, whether you pass or fail the MMI. So consider very carefully what you want to do.
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
If you're in the talent pool for Avanti and sit an MMI with Northern then that will overwrite your Avanti CBI, whether you pass or fail the MMI. So consider very carefully what you want to do.
Yeah know that mate, hence the big decision. Thing is, if I’m not on one of these courses for 2026 with Avanti then I’ll only have 2027 before my tests expire, so it could be just 2 courses I’d be hoping to get on if I don’t get on these 2 they are currently doing. So my chances would be looking pretty slim with time running out?

Whereas if I pass the MMI with northern, I’d be on a course by the end of this year. What do you think you would do?
 

Pintman

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Joined
13 Dec 2023
Messages
190
Location
The Pub
I mean if you sit and fail the MMI, you've got nothing and can't carry on with any company. And your test passes will expire at the same time but you'll have lost a life to national. Personally, I would say the lower risk option is to stick with Avanti until your results expire.
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
I mean if you sit and fail the MMI, you've got nothing and can't carry on with any company. And your test passes will expire at the same time but you'll have lost a life to national. Personally, I would say the lower risk option is to stick with Avanti until your results expire.
Right ok. Wouldn’t my other psychometrics still be valid if I were to fail an MMI? I thought if you fail the interview, you can just apply again after 6 months or so? Providing you’ve got enough lives, I didn’t think you had to do the whole psychometrics again
 

Pintman

Member
Joined
13 Dec 2023
Messages
190
Location
The Pub
Right ok. Wouldn’t my other psychometrics still be valid if I were to fail an MMI? I thought if you fail the interview, you can just apply again after 6 months or so? Providing you’ve got enough lives, I didn’t think you had to do the whole psychometrics again
Generally they would still be valid I think, but it depends on the retest policy of the TOC. Honestly flipping a coin might be your best bet!
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
What depo you applied for mate?
I’m in the talent bank for Manc with avanti, and just been accepted to the interview day for northern at Manc also.

Although I’m not too hopeful as the extra assessments they make you do at northern before the interview sound brutal. Apparently 3 out of 14 made it past the extra tests to interview last time. Hopefully they don’t count towards a life, I’ve not heard of any other TOC doing this
 
Joined
28 Mar 2023
Messages
65
Location
Wirral
I’m in the talent bank for Manc with avanti, and just been accepted to the interview day for northern at Manc also.

Although I’m not too hopeful as the extra assessments they make you do at northern before the interview sound brutal. Apparently 3 out of 14 made it past the extra tests to interview last time. Hopefully they don’t count towards a life, I’ve not heard of any other TOC doing this
Yeah it’s a a hard one because we have all basically out are lives on hold waiting for a start date and that phone call might never come so do your try for another Toc.
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
Yeah it’s a a hard one because we have all basically out are lives on hold waiting for a start date and that phone call might never come so do your try for another Toc.
Yeah exactly mate, really tough. Hold out and hope for avanti or try for northern and it would a guaranteed start if I made it through
 

Swall

Member
Joined
2 Feb 2025
Messages
29
Location
Greater Manchester
I’m in the talent bank for Manc with avanti, and just been accepted to the interview day for northern at Manc also.

Although I’m not too hopeful as the extra assessments they make you do at northern before the interview sound brutal. Apparently 3 out of 14 made it past the extra tests to interview last time. Hopefully they don’t count towards a life, I’ve not heard of any other TOC doing this

Northerns group interview stage wouldn’t class as a life in terms of psychometrics. If I was you I’d deffo attend that and see where you lie if you pass it. I have no idea whether you’d have to sit any further psychometrics or would just have to sit the MMI but the fact you’ve been able to pass avantis equivalent should stand you in good stead. I wouldn’t put my life on hold for avanti if it was me, who knows when or if at all that call will come. Good luck with whatever you decide
 
Joined
28 Mar 2023
Messages
65
Location
Wirral
Yeah exactly mate, really tough. Hold out and hope for avanti or try for northern and it would a guaranteed start if I made it through
Yeah definitely mate you’ve passed before so you should be okay for the northern and it’s guaranteed start date avanti nothing is really guaranteed
 

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