Ah! Gotcha.Two interviews , one MMI and the second one is DMI.
Not too sure which is first or second nowadays.
When I had mine I done DMI first , then a few weeks later MMI.
After passing both , there was the medical. Hope it helps
Thanks for the info. If only I knew sooner….
I have mine for Staines next week, was it just the 3 computerise tests (WAFV, ATAVT & 2HAND) highlighted on the email? or was there more additional test after that?
Out of interest when did they advertise for Staines, was that recently?
The closing date was 15 Oct
congrats! was it just the computer test in southampton? or was there a an interview?
Yes it was just the 3 computerised tests yesterday, and it was in Southampton.
nice, i have been also revising for the paper based test too just in case like the group bourdon test
careers.southwesternrailway.com
Trainee Train Driver - Staines
027953
Staines, Middlesex, United Kingdom
Permanent - Full Time
Closing on: Nov 23 2025
Train Driver
*Please note that we are assembling a talent pool for the Trainee Train Driver position, as the selection process is extensive, and an immediate start is not guaranteed.
Who are we?
South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.
Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.
What is it like to be a train driver?
Becoming a train driver at SWR is the start of a rewarding and fulfilling career. You'll sit at the front of our trains and see the world coming towards you, knowing you're a vital part of what makes SWR great.
You'll be taking customers to work, meetings with friends and family, to the beach, historic landmarks and major sporting and entertainment events. You'll also be getting our customers home again safely knowing that you have played an invaluable role in bringing people together to get the most out of life. You'll collaborate with colleagues at all levels to be the team everyone trusts to connect the people and places that matter.
You'll end each day proud, knowing you are part of a fantastic team, working together with care and commitment to make every journey, every day, easy and reliable.
Who needs a 9 – 5 anyway?
Our drivers commit to a varying shift pattern over 24 hours, 7 days a week to keep our services running, so you'll need to be disciplined, punctual, reliable and ready to go at any time of the day! As this role is safety critical, you'll need to be able to get to your depot within a maximum of 60 minutes commute time. Drivers work an average 35 hours over 4 days a week, however, during training you will work 40.5 hours over 5 days a week.
What does it take to be a train driver?
Here at SWR we pride ourselves on the diversity and the versatility of our colleagues. You don't need to have qualifications or prior knowledge of the rail industry to be a great driver, but you do need the dedication, drive, and interpersonal skills to be your very best self every single day.
At SWR our drivers:
Take the initiative, coming up with well-reasoned, informed solutions to help deliver the best service for our customers
Lead by example, carrying SWR values close to their heart and never walking past a problem.
Work well with others, forging strong professional bonds with colleagues from all backgrounds.
Evaluate their own behaviours, constantly seeking to succeed and improve.
Keep themselves up to date with rule changes, operational and business updates.
What do we offer?
We provide an exceptional training programme, designed to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience to help you become a great driver. Much of the training is delivered at our training facility in Basingstoke, but you will undertake hands on training at your local depot.
At SWR we are committed to the progression and development of all colleagues. As part of this, from day one, you'll be working towards a Level 3 Train Driver Apprenticeship, which is delivered by our Operations Training team and partner training provider.
We offer a competitive salary, with Trainee drivers starting on £36,620 per annum plus applicable regional allowances. Our training duration is approximately 14 – 18 months, during which time your salary will rise in increments as you reach key milestones in your learning objectives. The salary for a fully productive driver is £76,986 per annum plus applicable allowances.
We also provide fantastic travel concessions for you and your family, a generous reward and recognition scheme, brilliant opportunities to progress within the company and much more.
The Reward
In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:
Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
75% discount on many other train operating companies
Full training and support with development
Excellent pension scheme
We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.
We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.
We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.
If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.
Neurodivergent & Neurodiversity: Meanings & Examples
Having variation in cognitive functioning makes you neurodivergent. Learn about the different types of neurodivergences, along with what they mean.exceptionalindividuals.com
Neurodivergent: What You Need to Know
Discover how neurodivergent individuals experience and interact with life uniquely, embracing the natural variations in cognitive functioning.www.healthassured.org
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Hi - I have the assessment centre for Staines this week, just confirming it was just the 3x computerised tests mentioned in the email or if there was anything further? Thank you
Yes, whatever is in the email is the contents of the day. If you pass the computer tests you will return on another day for the paper tests.
Brilliant thanks for letting me know!
How did you find the DMI, if you don't mind me asking?
The dmi was pretty good, I made sure I remember stuff like safety critical and just was myself and I was good as I had passed it, it feels horrible not knowing how you've done straight away
Well done. I sat mine this week too in Southampton and thankfully passed it.
careers.southwesternrailway.com
careers.southwesternrailway.com
I guess the nature of this forum is that people post then move on once through their process.
SWR process like most TOCs highly differs from person to person, sadly a case of how long is a piece of string. In my case my assessments were done with another TOC and I applied for SWR, LNER and EMR additionally, got offers for both and went for SWR.Hi everyone, I have only just had my account approved but was reading this forum most of yesterday with interest as I have a story to share and am after advice re SWR... I will start a fresh post beneath this one as I am in the samew process as some of the recent posts above for SWR Driver
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So - I decided that I wanted to leave a very long career in policing (joined age 19) recently and as such I applied to SWR as it is my local rail service and one I have used almost daily since 2000 commuting in and out of London. I understand the process is competitive and to be frank I didn't expect a lot of success. Initially I signed up to the SWR jobs page, sorted all my profile and CV and waited the jobs to roll in. No driver jobs after a few weeks but I did apply for others such as guard, revenue manager and others. Then a role came out for trainee for Staines, and I applied for this and withdrew other applications as I am fully committed to the driver role.
To cut a long story short, that was in November just gone and I have already passed all assessments and interview within a matter of weeks. It has gone so fast that I actually need it to slow down, I mean it's great and I am pleased but I have tried to find out why I have been put through everything so quickly as I want to know whether it is score based or luck based. (I was at Southampton doing my assessments with people who applied in 2024). I can't really get an answer but I am not complaining, the DMI gents said it is part luck part application, the 3 current drivers I have found and am in contact with (that's a different story and part of the preparation I did) tell me it is score based.
I therefore am waiting for MMI interview which I have asked them not to rush, because I can't leave my current role until May 2026 and then I have holiday booked in Summer so realistically I am unable to start training until September 2026 onwards. I have since also applied for Farnham and Woking depots as these are my local stations however I will very much take what I am given as I just want to get my foot through the door and get started in the career. Recruitment have been great on the phone and are well aware/supportive of the depot applications I have made. I am told this is fine and that I will be in a list or pool for each, but at different places in the list based on when I applied. I am in no rush however I don't want to miss out so I do feel I need to tread carefully as and when I start getting training dates next year e.t.c.
I have read a lot about the MMI on here - I feel confident about it, mainly because the DMIs told me after question 1 that I would be very good at it (was surprised they said that so early on in my interview) but also I have spent most of my career in specialist police roles managing risk to life and have a huge array of examples I can draw on where I can articulate threat harm and risk as well as safety critical thinking in line with internal and national policy. That said nothing is a given and I am well aware not to start counting my chickens - but - I look forward to it.
I would be interested to hear about how others that have applied to SWR have found the process - what were your timelines and what actually happens once you are waiting to be called up for training etc?
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I was hoping to hear something back from someone by now
I do wonder when I will be allocated an MMI which for me will be the final stage. If the pace continues as it has so far, I should be looking at the end of January.
Thanks for this - I had my DMI a few weeks ago so MMI will be final piece of the puzzle for me. Interesting you say about the prep work for MM being same as DMI, I never got asked anything about the stats or company valus but I have them all written down and will make sure I have them ready to quote. I thought the MMI was almost like a catch you out type conversation according to reports on here - so planned to answer in a way that evidences safety, rule following, solo working, customer focus and collaboration e.t.c. But the DMI was so laid back it was amazing, literally like a pub conversation.
I mentioned the prep work for the DMI more so will include often what you've already done in mmi, not vice versa. With MMI, plenty on these forums about them, SWRs the same, 6 main questions that ask various questions to test if you have the experience and amplitude needed for the job role.
Well that is really interesting as I am awaiting an MMI and after chasing yesterday with SWR recruitment they told me there were no timelines. I have gone through the rest of the process and had all assessments and DMI within 6 weeks so MMI is the final stage, but it feels like I am now at the "very long wait" stage. My instinct tells me I could be waiting until Spring or early Summer for an MMI. I did my DMI in December, application was start of November 2025.Thought I'd share as I got a call through for an MMI interview today for working in Bournemouth Depot. (Did the other interview in Southampton in October). Problem was the guy on the phone hadn't seen I was planning to relocate. When I told him that he said the turnaround would be too tight between doing the interview/medical and starting (start date for training was beginning of Feb and they need proof of your local address). They said they would need to contact me further down the line for another opportunity (no ETA). So that was a shame to hear but maybe for some of you locally you might hear something through soon. Was nice to know they hadn't forgotten me
Hello mate! Just thought I’d reply as I’ve recently gone through the process myself
Thanks for the info. Not expecting MMI to be a walk in the park but I am lucky in that I can provide pretty unparalleled examples with my background. But getting a position offered does concern me. I know I can't commence training until September this year at the earliest, so if I get offered anything before that I have to decline. My concern then is that I will just get left to fester. If the DMI is only valid for a year then what are people doing that are waiting longer than that - re interviewing?Hello mate! Just thought I’d reply as I’ve recently gone through the process myself
1. It all depends on what depot you have applied for whether you get progressed so there may be no timelines in potential jobs coming up for the depots you have put applications in for.
2. Unfortunately as soon as a job comes up they will invite whoever they have waiting for an MMI and then medical if successful and if you have a holiday booked and can’t commit to the training period then I’m guessing you’ll get replaced for someone who can and then only god knows when the next opportunity will come.
3. I have recently sat my MMI in December and thankfully passed and it has definitely changed recently with the format. Trust me do not think it will be a walk in the park and being from a railway background for a long time already I did not find it easy one bit compared to my mate who sat it 6 months prior and it was nothing like mine at all. Mine also included an extra test along with it aswell which I think is standard with the MMI now.
If you need any help with anything or any questions just let me know I’ll be more than happy to help