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A career as a train driver
- Thread starter Thornaby
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RailUK Forums
I2026
On Moderation
- Joined
- 22 Dec 2025
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- 77
Its more of a pool you will be in with SWR. If you passed your application you will get called for assessment at some point. They seem to put out a fair few trainee driver roles recently and I think its all for the pool.
I've got day 1 assessment in a few weeks down in Southampton.
Appreciate if I pass that along with day 2 and interview etc, I still could be in a talent pool for months/years but I am happy to wait!
GTR vs LNER vs ARL london overground
Hi, i really need help with deciding which application to go ahead with; gtr great northern, lner or london overground. Im in a very lucky position where all 3 applications are steadily progressing after having passed the psychometrics. I want to know which toc is better to work for in terms of Pay, RDW, sundays on/off, shift patterns, overtime, t&c’s etc. and the differences between them. Please help
Hi, i really need help with deciding which application to go ahead with; gtr great northern, lner or london overground. Im in a very lucky position where all 3 applications are steadily progressing after having passed the psychometrics. I want to know which toc is better to work for in terms of Pay, RDW, sundays on/off, shift patterns, overtime, t&c’s etc. and the differences between them. Please help
- Joined
- 21 Jan 2010
- Messages
- 5,554
This feels like a no brainer - go with LNER - InterCity is generally considered better than commuter work. I’ll let others elaborate the finer details.
Have you got offers from all 3? If not I’d stay in the running for all of them and only withdraw from the others when you have a firm offer
lewisricekrisp
New Member
Hi there, i'm seriously considering applying to become a train driver in the future, and was wondering what the Rough time that it could take from applying for a trainee train driver role to starting training? Or how long did it take sone people? I've read that it takes a while, so what sort of time frame? 3 months, 6 months, a year or longer?
Think you
Think you
"How long is a piece of string?" is the answer to this one I'm afraid! The actual training is normally around 9-12 months, but there is an indeterminate time between applying and actually being offered the job and starting depending on your location/depot, company, whether there was a talent pool, training dates and availability, notice periods etc.
Apply and sit back and wait.
I applied June 2024, psychometric testing was within a week but then had to wait till November 2025 for actual assessment day, then I just had my DMi this week.
Fingers crossed I can get on the April course or it’ll be best part of 2 years before I start trainee school
whoosh
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Sep 2008
- Messages
- 1,884
Which part of GTR is it?
Southern?
Gatwick Express?
Thameslink?
Or Great Northern?
There is a difference in pay and Sunday arrangements at GE/Southern, compared to Thameslink/Great Northern.
There is a difference in shift patterns at Thameslink compared to Great Northern.
its great northern, so I need to choose from gn or lner but gn doesn't have Sundays included so after Sundays the pay is roughly about the same
Most people will say that LNER has much better guarded, inter-city work with fewer stops, whereas Great Northern is likely to be a more intensive stopping, metro DOO service. Ultimately there are other issues like the roster, commute time, start/finish times and other T&Cs, but this will certainly be a key element.
do you know how I can find the details for roster, commute times, start/finish, t&c's etc for lner. also I heard the pay is similar after you include Sundays for GN
Almost everything on there you will have no way of finding out unless some one has offered that information voluntarily - on these forums - as an internal colleague. You could search the LNER recruitment thread which has numerous pages which may have some insight.
Commute time is something you can work out - just Google Maps from your home to the relevant depot at various times of day to get an average.
It very much depends, most TOC's recruitment takes forever from what I've gathered, however, not all. I have been super lucky in that I applied on 2nd October, passed everything including medical by the 15th December and had my contract with start date before Christmas. I start in April, but could have started February although I have a 4 month notice period, hence the long delay this side.
Psalms3418
Member
Hi
I’m currently going through the application process with GTR. In the process of booking my DMI.
I’ve got the chance to be with Southern or Great Northern (most likely Southern), what information about what you’ve said can you give me? Or can you point me in the right direction to find it?
In regards to:
- Difference in shift patterns
- Sunday working obligations
- Difference in pay
- How do the start/finish times differ
Thanks in advance!
northernbadger
Member
I applied with Northern at the beginning of September, went for psychometrics/interview in October, medical in November and start in Feb.
That is incredibly fast! Were you offered the job shortly after interview?
northernbadger
Member
There and then. She told me I'd been successful at the end of the MMI, then asked me to wait for a few minutes while they did a bit of paperwork, then called me in to book onto a training course date. I was surprised it was all so fast!
Benjiman
New Member
Hi was wondering if the training opportunities for becoming a driver are mostly or always conducted in Ashford or Tonbridge for people living in the south? I live in Eastbourne and was wondering if there is the possibility if any local jobs appearing?
Neatro
Member
It can be anywhere from really fast to really slow, there's no way of telling.
I applied in October 24 and started January 2025.
But others on my course had been in talent pools for the same position for over a year.
Ashford is only for Southeastern. Eastbourne is covered by Southern and I’m not sure where their training centre/s is/are. I had a look and an older post says Selhurst, but I’m not sure if that’s changed, so hopefully someone else who knows better can help you out!
I've applied for various jobs at Balfour Beatty (MVP trains) in various area around South East. Is pay similar to TOC train drivers or less due to not working with public and probably more at night time also! A southern driver told me it's actually paid better!! Wonder if anyone in the know as more info?
Psalms3418
Member
Could someone let me know the pro’s/con’s of working for Southern vs LNER.
Shifts, pay, routes, Sunday working obligations, class 377/387 vs intercity etc
Thanks
Shifts, pay, routes, Sunday working obligations, class 377/387 vs intercity etc
Thanks
jrayfield21
Member
Had an interesting day at work, been told I have got 1 month left before getting the boot. I am 22 years old and am thinking of a possible career change, I live in Rugby which I know has a few rail places nearby. Been doing IT for a few years and an office job doesn't quite do it for me, any advice or information about these kinds of jobs would be appreciated. I understand that I require training and experience before I get put anywhere near a train's controls. Thanks
Jacob
Jacob
AndySV1K
Member
Main thing initially is to manage your expectations regarding recruitment. It can take a very long time to get a driving job on the railway. Over 3.5 years for me from initial application to start day. It’s not always that long but it is notoriously slow!
Otherwise though go for it! I drive passenger service but both are great jobs.
Otherwise though go for it! I drive passenger service but both are great jobs.
jrayfield21
Member
Thanks, I heard some people start driving after 1-2 years.
AndySV1K
Member
Definitely and some probably quicker than that. It will be company dependent and how their talent pool sits.
For info I spent around 14 months in training before the 2 weeks of ‘passing out’. But you want the training to be really thorough as there’s a huge amount to learn. I’m from an IT related background so have some commonality with you.
If you think it’s something you’d like to do there’s nothing to lose in going for it and put your name in the hat. I have absolutely no regrets and think it’s an amazing job.