A lot of people I have spoken to have said it has taken them many many attempts to break through into a railway career in general, not just train driving. It is highly competitive. I am yet to breakthrough and have been unsuccessful on 6/6 occasions for various roles. I've since completely reworked my CV to see if this makes any difference. I've worked in fast paced restaurants around food, and have a fair few years experience in high end retail/bike sales - for reference. Definitely just keep applying and trying your best, especially if it is a career you seriously want to pursue.I've been following this thread for months. I applied for Preston. I only got as far as the online test, and I did well enough to not get the immediate same-day brush off email, but after a week or so of hiring manager consideration stage was booted.
I'm gutted for you guys who are just getting the no thanks email, and I'm sat here wondering whether to keep trying for this and other TOCs as they come up.
I've applied for everything in the area with Northern, XC, Avanti WC etc but getting nowhere fast. I know it's competitive and I'm not a quitter by nature, but I get the distinct feeling I'm falling into an "undesirable" category of applicants and wasting my (and their) time. Something in my work/edu history, or something I'm saying/not saying in my answers (for Northern at least) is a red flag in some way and I'm none-the-wiser.
I'm male, 42, coming out of a Construction Industry/Property Development self employment, College level education. It has me wondering what sort of background with work/edu all you applicants who got further are coming from, and whether anyone feels comfortable sharing that? (just general info, nothing private)
For example, my friend drives for Northern. She came to driving out of teaching (I also teach privately in Music at schools and home), is a Uni graduate, female, and got her job pretty much on her first attempt. (I believe it was her second application but the first was still under review when she progressed with her second, so to all intents and purposes she got it on her first try.) I can't even get past the first stage of any Northern application. Through mutual friends I also know a Maintenance Manager at another depot, and a couple of engineers. Ive had them all read my application/cv/answers. They all say there's nothing present/missing that they could see as a problem. I know they're not on the hiring panels but I hoped they'd spot something.
By contrast, on this job for TPE I seemingly survived three sifts before getting the heave-ho.
Does anybody feel like sharing their work/edu background in non-specific terms? Call it market research!
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TransPennine Trains - Trainee Driver Recruitment Discussion
- Thread starter iwasyoungonce
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RailUK Forums
NorthernTech
Member
Hi. Firstly, as you have found out, train driver positions are extremely sought after and I’d imagine many people who are perfectly suitable will unfortunately miss out due to the way TOC’s sift out applications before they can actually physically look at them. I will point you to the master threads at the top of the main page, A Career as a Train Driver and Assessments and Medicals Master Thread. I spent an enormous amount of time reading through these, making notes on what other people had experienced and used the search function to drill down on any specifics I thought I needed.I've been following this thread for months. I applied for Preston. I only got as far as the online test, and I did well enough to not get the immediate same-day brush off email, but after a week or so of hiring manager consideration stage was booted.
I'm gutted for you guys who are just getting the no thanks email, and I'm sat here wondering whether to keep trying for this and other TOCs as they come up.
I've applied for everything in the area with Northern, XC, Avanti WC etc but getting nowhere fast. I know it's competitive and I'm not a quitter by nature, but I get the distinct feeling I'm falling into an "undesirable" category of applicants and wasting my (and their) time. Something in my work/edu history, or something I'm saying/not saying in my answers (for Northern at least) is a red flag in some way and I'm none-the-wiser.
I'm male, 42, coming out of a Construction Industry/Property Development self employment, College level education. It has me wondering what sort of background with work/edu all you applicants who got further are coming from, and whether anyone feels comfortable sharing that? (just general info, nothing private)
For example, my friend drives for Northern. She came to driving out of teaching (I also teach privately in Music at schools and home), is a Uni graduate, female, and got her job pretty much on her first attempt. (I believe it was her second application but the first was still under review when she progressed with her second, so to all intents and purposes she got it on her first try.) I can't even get past the first stage of any Northern application. Through mutual friends I also know a Maintenance Manager at another depot, and a couple of engineers. Ive had them all read my application/cv/answers. They all say there's nothing present/missing that they could see as a problem. I know they're not on the hiring panels but I hoped they'd spot something.
By contrast, on this job for TPE I seemingly survived three sifts before getting the heave-ho.
Does anybody feel like sharing their work/edu background in non-specific terms? Call it market research!
My first couple of applications got nowhere but I soon realised I needed to make my application pass the initial sift, and that my CV and any application details needed to have certain ‘buzz words’ that the job description requires and that a computer sift program would/may be looking for. So I made a big list of all the buzz words such as Team Work, Shift Work, Concentration, etc etc… It was a long list, and who knows exactly which ones were the ones that worked but I started getting past the sifts at that point. It was then that I shifted my focus onto the various assessments, the online ones such as SJT‘s and of course the Driver Psychometric Tests… Again, pages and pages of notes in a note book.
If you are serious about wanting one of these positions then my 2pence worth is to use these forum threads wisely, invest time in reading and researching as may result in further success. It worked for me a few years or so ago. Good luck.
DownboundTrain
Member
Thanks for your responses guys, I’ll regroup and go again!
It makes sence. It’s you’ve said that TPE are one of the highest? Do you mean they are one of the highest amongst enhanced companies or just higher than national.
If they are the highest across all TOCs. How?
will1989
Member
Good luck to all that have sat/are sitting the computer tests this week. For me this is the worst part of the process, waiting to hear back from the results of my MMI. Definitely things I could have said better/differently and one thing I wish I'd said but who knows what the result will be. I managed to convince myself I'd failed both the paper and computer tests and didn't so maybe this is a good sign?!
Hi all,
Newbie to the forums here, firstly best of luck to those who have reached the MMI stage or further, I was able to pass all at an enhanced rate but fell short on the 2 hand co ordination test only getting a national rate.
This is my first try attempting anything in the rail industry and I’m trying to tell myself I gave this a good crack, I was hoping someone could clear up on what this might mean for me going forwards applying towards other TOCs, I’m assuming I now have a national rate pass for the year? And would have to wait until I attempt another which is enhanced.
Many thanks
Newbie to the forums here, firstly best of luck to those who have reached the MMI stage or further, I was able to pass all at an enhanced rate but fell short on the 2 hand co ordination test only getting a national rate.
This is my first try attempting anything in the rail industry and I’m trying to tell myself I gave this a good crack, I was hoping someone could clear up on what this might mean for me going forwards applying towards other TOCs, I’m assuming I now have a national rate pass for the year? And would have to wait until I attempt another which is enhanced.
Many thanks
How do you know you only fell short on the 2 hand coordination? Did they tell you on the day?Hi all,
Newbie to the forums here, firstly best of luck to those who have reached the MMI stage or further, I was able to pass all at an enhanced rate but fell short on the 2 hand co ordination test only getting a national rate.
This is my first try attempting anything in the rail industry and I’m trying to tell myself I gave this a good crack, I was hoping someone could clear up on what this might mean for me going forwards applying towards other TOCs, I’m assuming I now have a national rate pass for the year? And would have to wait until I attempt another which is enhanced.
Many thanks
You can apply to any other TOC's now, and if their pass rate is lower than TPE's then you may stand a chance, for example Northerns enhanced rate is apparently lower than TPE's.
You can certainly apply for operators who use the national standard and if successful in their initial sift would probably only have to sit the MMI/DMI. Wishing you lots of luck
Just submit an application to other TOCs and let them tell you if you can proceed with them or not. I'm surprised they didn't tell you what this means for other applications on the day, I think they normally doHi all,
Newbie to the forums here, firstly best of luck to those who have reached the MMI stage or further, I was able to pass all at an enhanced rate but fell short on the 2 hand co ordination test only getting a national rate.
This is my first try attempting anything in the rail industry and I’m trying to tell myself I gave this a good crack, I was hoping someone could clear up on what this might mean for me going forwards applying towards other TOCs, I’m assuming I now have a national rate pass for the year? And would have to wait until I attempt another which is enhanced.
Many thanks
Yes, the day was set to be split into two parts with the first section being WAFV, ATAVT, 2hand, then the second second being the SJE and MMI.
From the first section at the start we had to have met the requirements in order to do the SJE and MMI, the individual conducting the session explained my results to me and how I just fell short,
Appreciate the information regarding the other TOCs
will1989
Member
If anyone that sat their second stage assessments including MMI is still following this thread, how long did you have to wait to find out your results of that stage of the assessments please? Hoping no news is good news at the moment.
Next course will be March 2026, with interviews usually around early February for those successful.
PJSunderland
New Member
I’m in the same boat mate… currently waiting to hear my results from the MMI. I think the assessor said no more than 10 working days so it should be early next week - latest.
will1989
Member
Hopefully know if we've been successful at MMI before then though!
Good luck mate, hopefully no news means they're looking to get us in for DMIs.
PJSunderland
New Member
Any news yet? @will1989
will1989
Member
Nope, nothing. I emailed them on Monday asking if they'd be able to let me know if I'd passed or not but no reply yet unfortunately.
Have you heard anything?
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What email did you send it to, I sent an email last night asking if I had passed and they got back to me today
will1989
Member
Yeah I got a reply back about 11ish today. Over the moon to have got through. Did you pass too?
Well done! I did, I actually cannot believe it just another waiting game for the interview now
will1989
Member
Congrats to you too! Yeah going to get as much practice in as I can!Well done! I did, I actually cannot believe it just another waiting game for the interview now
Kooch
Member
Was at Manchester Piccadilly yesterday, saw the new trainee drivers with their instructor on Platform 14…2 Manchester, 1 York, and 1 from Glasgow (half the cohort apparently). Best of luck to them!
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Cauley16
New Member
Well done to you both! Currently waiting to hear back myself. Did you email TPE or OPC? ThanksWell done! I did, I actually cannot believe it just another waiting game for the interview now
will1989
Member
I emailed TPE Recruitment and they got back to me a few days later.
I got an email asking for my NI number yesterday after hearing nothing since July!
I guess this means I'll be invited to the psychometric assessments soon?
Cauley16
New Member
I sat my phase 2 & MMI for York on the 28/10. Emailed to ask how I did on the 14/11 and heard back on the 17/11
will1989
Member
Cauley16
New Member
Passed and just waiting on an interview to be set now, so just a waiting game
Chambers4557
New Member
I am slightly confused, if you are invited to an assessment centre, are part one and part two on the same day?