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West Midlands Trains (inc. LNWR) - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

DaveChooChoo

Member
Joined
5 Nov 2024
Messages
19
Location
Crewe
I have received the attached email for the next stage at Crewe. Does anyone know what tests I should expect in this OPC online sift?
 

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Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
Good Morning,

I have a DMI this week for London Northwestern (west midlands trains) Has anyone attended a DMI recently for this company?
Just wondering what to expect? The sort of questions that were asked?
Ive done alot of my own revising and want to male sure im focusing on the right areas.

Many thanks
 

SCDR_WMR

Established Member
Joined
17 Dec 2017
Messages
2,610
Location
Crewe
Similar to the MMI you sat at the OPC, but expect some questions about what you know about the company and standard interview questions.
 

chris2288

Member
Joined
12 Nov 2025
Messages
15
Location
Bedford
Thank you! From what I remember, in no particular order:

- when is a time you’ve had to persevere learning something new
- what is a role you perform that’s similar to that of a train driver
- when is a time you’ve followed rules and procedures
- describe a time you’ve had to make sure you don’t make a mistake

There were a couple more I can’t remember but if I do manage to remember I’ll let you know! They’re on the forum in other groups if you have a look x
Cheers bud. Yeah I've had a look on here and they seem to be the same. Just was wondering if there was any new ones thrown in! When do you hear the results?
 

cwww

Member
Joined
1 Oct 2025
Messages
58
Location
Luton
Cheers bud. Yeah I've had a look on here and they seem to be the same. Just was wondering if there was any new ones thrown in! When do you hear the results?
This week!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Just found out I passed stage 2! Just interview now. Thank you to everyone that has helped me on this forum :) Has anyone had their interview with WM yet? Any tips
 
Last edited:

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
This week!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Just found out I passed stage 2! Just interview now. Thank you to everyone that has helped me on this forum :) Has anyone had their interview with WM yet? Any tips
I've had mine last week mate and passed - much more relaxed but definitely research WMT and prepare for similar questions to the MMI.
 

mrsnickers

New Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
3
Location
Wolverhampton
Guys, I applied for the Trainee Train Driver role in Wolverhampton back in Dec, I received an email (attached), I've been checking my inboxes everyday (spam and main) but I've still not received anything from OPC. Anyone help me out here? 1772466437668.png
 

tadhg1999

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2025
Messages
31
Location
Birmingham
I've had mine last week mate and passed - much more relaxed but definitely research WMT and prepare for similar questions to the MMI.
Congrats mate!!! Is it just the medical for you now?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Guys, I applied for the Trainee Train Driver role in Wolverhampton back in Dec, I received an email (attached), I've been checking my inboxes everyday (spam and main) but I've still not received anything from OPC. Anyone help me out here? View attachment 199379
HI, I think it varies as to how long they take to send you the OPC online sift stuff. Mine was a month or two if I remember rightly. They will send it eventually!
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
Congrats mate!!! Is it just the medical for you now?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


HI, I think it varies as to how long they take to send you the OPC online sift stuff. Mine was a month or two if I remember rightly. They will send it eventually!
Yes mate, hopefully sooner rather than later.
 

mrsnickers

New Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
3
Location
Wolverhampton
Congrats mate!!! Is it just the medical for you now?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


HI, I think it varies as to how long they take to send you the OPC online sift stuff. Mine was a month or two if I remember rightly. They will send it eventually!
Thanks for replying.

What tests came up in the online sift?

I've been practicing the group bourdon online with the dots and have built up to a pass mark.

Can you recommend where I can practice the other stuff?
 

tadhg1999

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2025
Messages
31
Location
Birmingham
Thanks for replying.

What tests came up in the online sift?

I've been practicing the group bourdon online with the dots and have built up to a pass mark.

Can you recommend where I can practice the other stuff?
Group bourdon test is in Stage 1 OPC in person. When you are prepping for that, definitely do dot tests rather than the provided practice which use letters - you can train yourself to recognise the dots. I bought a practice book by How2Become, it has 100 sample tests in so it’s good. Hope that helps
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
What’s the pass mark, and how do you know what it is?
Not necessarily checking for a pass mark I believe mate, it’s more about being as accurate as possible whilst covering as many lines as quickly as you can.

Having said that, covering lots of lines whilst making a few mistakes is worse than covering fewer lines but being more accurate.

Ultimately they’re checking for consistency of your accuracy at pace.
 

Owen Morris

Member
Joined
3 Feb 2016
Messages
11
Location
Worcester
Thanks for replying.

What tests came up in the online sift?

I've been practicing the group bourdon online with the dots and have built up to a pass mark.

Can you recommend where I can practice the other stuff?
The group bourdon is a mixture of speed and accuracy in all honesty. When I sat stage 1 which I passed, I reckon I got through about 9 completed lines per sheet and that was enough to pass that particular test with basically no errors. With regards to other stuff, the practice material that will/has been sent to you is more than a good enough guideline for what to expect imo.
 

Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
I've had mine last week mate and passed - much more relaxed but definitely research WMT and prepare for similar questions to the MMI.
Can you shed some light On questions about WMT? I have a good knowledge of the company but want to make sure im focusing on the correct areas.
What did they ask you?
 

Unobrow

Member
Joined
19 Nov 2024
Messages
221
Location
Manchester
Not necessarily checking for a pass mark I believe mate, it’s more about being as accurate as possible whilst covering as many lines as quickly as you can.

Having said that, covering lots of lines whilst making a few mistakes is worse than covering fewer lines but being more accurate.

Ultimately they’re checking for consistency of your accuracy at pace.
Yes I’m aware of that thanks. I just wanted to know how Mr Snickers knows what the pass mark was they’d built up too and where they got the info.
 

tadhg1999

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2025
Messages
31
Location
Birmingham
Just got back from my Stage 1 OPC in Birmingham (I was the long haired guy at the front in the purple shirt if anyone of you were there)! Was anyone else from here there? I think it went well overall though a heads up for anyone else going to sit it, the beep test is much harder the practice ones you may find online in that the tones play much quicker. Good luck all!
 

UTV1982

Member
Joined
18 Feb 2026
Messages
24
Location
Birmingham
I was in the group from this morning. Hope all went well for you. Yeah the speed of the beeps caught me out too especially when combined with the double symbol search.
 

tadhg1999

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2025
Messages
31
Location
Birmingham
I was in the group from this morning. Hope all went well for you. Yeah the speed of the beeps caught me out too especially when combined with the double symbol search.
Ah! Likewise mate. I didn’t find it too bad whilst doing the symbols as it wasn’t differentiating tones just counting. I’d like to think I’ve passed but don’t want to preempt. If anyone has Stage 1 coming up, feel free to ask for advice on it!
 

itsmejuniior

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2026
Messages
18
Location
Rugby
Ah! Likewise mate. I didn’t find it too bad whilst doing the symbols as it wasn’t differentiating tones just counting. I’d like to think I’ve passed but don’t want to preempt. If anyone has Stage 1 coming up, feel free to ask for advice on it!
Hi mate, I have mine coming up in a couple of weeks? Anything you recommend me to do in particular? What do you use/do to practice? What to expect?
 

Teather

Member
Joined
9 Dec 2025
Messages
6
Location
Hatfield
Hi mate, I have mine coming up in a couple of weeks? Anything you recommend me to do in particular? What do you use/do to practice? What to expect?
I practiced the dots test a lot, make sure you practice the dots as that's what you get on the day not the letters.

I would strongly recommend working out how you are going to memorise the information for the memory test, I did very badly on it in practice before I took it more seriously, its like revising for a GCSE exam in 6 mins. I did active recall by going through and trying to memorise each question but each to their own.

The only question which could be described as a "trick" is you have to do the finding information on a page test at the same time as counting bleeps, the practice material does not get you to practice this.

None of the questions are harder than the practice, its just longer TBH.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Ok my turn to ask the obvious question,
I got through to stage 2 for Bletchley,
:lol:
, is there anyway to pratice the PC tests?
Also slightly odd question, but if any of you are CS gamers, am I reading this right that these tests are pretty similar to kovaks/aimlabs in terms of skills you need? (reaction time, processing speed, hand to eye coordination) It reads like it to me anyway.
Thanks everyone :D
 

mrsnickers

New Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
3
Location
Wolverhampton
Group bourdon test is in Stage 1 OPC in person. When you are prepping for that, definitely do dot tests rather than the provided practice which use letters - you can train yourself to recognise the dots. I bought a practice book by How2Become, it has 100 sample tests in so it’s good. Hope that helps
What tests came up in the online sift assessment?
 

itsmejuniior

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2026
Messages
18
Location
Rugby
I practiced the dots test a lot, make sure you practice the dots as that's what you get on the day not the letters.

I would strongly recommend working out how you are going to memorise the information for the memory test, I did very badly on it in practice before I took it more seriously, its like revising for a GCSE exam in 6 mins. I did active recall by going through and trying to memorise each question but each to their own.

The only question which could be described as a "trick" is you have to do the finding information on a page test at the same time as counting bleeps, the practice material does not get you to practice this.

None of the questions are harder than the practice, its just longer TBH.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Ok my turn to ask the obvious question,
I got through to stage 2 for Bletchley,
:lol:
, is there anyway to pratice the PC tests?
Also slightly odd question, but if any of you are CS gamers, am I reading this right that these tests are pretty similar to kovaks/aimlabs in terms of skills you need? (reaction time, processing speed, hand to eye coordination) It reads like it to me anyway.
Thanks everyone :D
Thank you!!
 

cwww

Member
Joined
1 Oct 2025
Messages
58
Location
Luton
Got my email on Monday saying that I’m on the list waiting for my DMI, how long did it take other to get their DMI booking link? Thanks!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I practiced the dots test a lot, make sure you practice the dots as that's what you get on the day not the letters.

I would strongly recommend working out how you are going to memorise the information for the memory test, I did very badly on it in practice before I took it more seriously, its like revising for a GCSE exam in 6 mins. I did active recall by going through and trying to memorise each question but each to their own.

The only question which could be described as a "trick" is you have to do the finding information on a page test at the same time as counting bleeps, the practice material does not get you to practice this.

None of the questions are harder than the practice, its just longer TBH.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Ok my turn to ask the obvious question,
I got through to stage 2 for Bletchley,
:lol:
, is there anyway to pratice the PC tests?
Also slightly odd question, but if any of you are CS gamers, am I reading this right that these tests are pretty similar to kovaks/aimlabs in terms of skills you need? (reaction time, processing speed, hand to eye coordination) It reads like it to me anyway.
Thanks everyone
Rail prep is super good they have computerised tests that’re really accurate. https://www.railprep.co.uk/our-products
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
Got my email on Monday saying that I’m on the list waiting for my DMI, how long did it take other to get their DMI booking link? Thanks!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Rail prep is super good they have computerised tests that’re really accurate. https://www.railprep.co.uk/our-products
Got the invite 10-days after receiving confirmation I'd passed stage two for me mate.
 

Penguin80

Member
Joined
13 May 2025
Messages
65
Location
Coventry
In people's opinions who have done both stages which one did you find harder, stage 1 or stage 2.
.I have my stage 2 coming up and I'm so nervous about the photo memory one. I keep practicing but I just feel I'm going to struggle
 

cwww

Member
Joined
1 Oct 2025
Messages
58
Location
Luton
In people's opinions who have done both stages which one did you find harder, stage 1 or stage 2.
.I have my stage 2 coming up and I'm so nervous about the photo memory one. I keep practicing but I just feel I'm going to struggle
I found Stage 2 harder for sure and though I had failed the computer tests especially the photo memory one lol that’s the one I thought oh I defo have messed this up and I just rushed through it but I magically passed. Don’t overthink it and literally just stare at the pics and answer as quickly as you can so your brain doesn’t start adding things you didn’t see. The flashing grey square thing was fine the time flew and the joysticks were difficult but again just go as quickly as you can and you should be okay.
 

Penguin80

Member
Joined
13 May 2025
Messages
65
Location
Coventry
When you say go as quickly as you can, do you get timed on how long it takes you to answer what you saw in the photo.

With the joy stick one.. is this moving a ball around shapes?
 

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