TransPennine Trains - Trainee Driver Recruitment Discussion

[garto123]

Could anybody offer some insight into the online test offered after submitting the application form? It says it only lasts 30 mins, is this just an initial screening set of tests?

 

[Bandit_David]

Could anybody offer some insight into the online test offered after submitting the application form? It says it only lasts 30 mins, is this just an initial screening set of tests?

If I remember rightly (it was July last year I applied), it's some online questions and an online chatbot asking questions and then sends you an overview of your ability to: work with others, dealing with pressure, etc.

 

[alliekt]

Thank you and just the tpe recruitment email tpe.recruitment@tpexpress.co.uk

I emailed them yesterday but no response so definitely not looking good

 

[mr92]

I emailed them yesterday but no response so definitely not looking good

It was Thursday I emailed them and only got back to me yesterday

 

[GPR]

It was Thursday I emailed them and only got back to me yesterday

Did they say what would be happening next or just that you were successful at the psychometric stage and to wait for an update?

 

[mr92]

Did they say what would be happening next or just that you were successful at the psychometric stage and to wait for an update?

I was successful and just waiting for dates to be released for manager interview

 

[garto123]

If I remember rightly (it was July last year I applied), it's some online questions and an online chatbot asking questions and then sends you an overview of your ability to: work with others, dealing with pressure, etc.

Thank you, I completed it last night, and today was invited to do another online test, this one lasting 15 mins. I have recently passed the full selection process with Scotrail, bar the medical. I am hoping if I pass this pre-selection stage with TPE, it will qualify me to skip the tests and go straight to the interview.

 

[GPR]

I was successful and just waiting for dates to be released for manager interview

Good news then. I assumed they would be waiting for dates to conduct driver manager interviews to then contact us all.
With the OPC telling everybody 7-10 days for results everybody then thinks ‘how come I haven’t heard, is it the end of the road’ etc when recruitment will just be waiting for things to fall into place to then contact people.

 

[garto123]

Does anybody know if there is a training centre in Scotland, or do new drivers do their training in England and move to the Scottish station once the classroom phase is over?

 

[Northrail127]

I think previously, somewhere on this thread, it’s been said that training is done in Huddersfield. If you live over 1hr 30 away from there, the TOC would put you up in a hotel Mon-Fri. I haven’t seen/heard of any training done in Scotland for TPE. So I’d assume unless corrected, you’d spend 9-12 months training in Huddersfield before heading back to your working depot.

 

[Jedi]

Does anybody know if there is a training centre in Scotland, or do new drivers do their training in England and move to the Scottish station once the classroom phase is over?

The training is done down south and you are put up in a hotel. I've submitted the initial application for the Glasgow vacancies, and have just done the AI questions. I'm still waiting on the next steps email.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I think previously, somewhere on this thread, it’s been said that training is done in Huddersfield. If you live over 1hr 30 away from there, the TOC would put you up in a hotel Mon-Fri. I haven’t seen/heard of any training done in Scotland for TPE. So I’d assume unless corrected, you’d spend 9-12 months training in Huddersfield before heading back to your working depot.

Surely it's only induction and rules done at the training centre!

No way will traction/route/driving hours not be done at local depot.

10-12 weeks in a hotel maybe, never 9 months plus

 

[Northrail127]

That makes more sense in all fairness. 9 months seems a hell of long time doesn’t it.

 

[garto123]

The training is done down south and you are put up in a hotel. I've submitted the initial application for the Glasgow vacancies, and have just done the AI questions. I'm still waiting on the next steps email.

I have sat the chatbot tests and have been invited to take another online test, which I plan to do tonight. I hope that will be the last of the online screening-style tests, and that my current passed ScotRail scores will let me skip a few sections.
My test scores are held on a database that all TCO can access. I was told to complete the online stuff, and then, if I pass them, they will inform me if anything needs to be taken again or what stage I will end up at.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I have sat the chatbot tests and have been invited to take another online test, which I plan to do tonight. I hope that will be the last of the online screening-style tests, and that my current passed ScotRail scores will let me skip a few sections.
My test scores are held on a database that all TCO can access. I was told to complete the online stuff, and then, if I pass them, they will inform me if anything needs to be taken again or what stage I will end up at.

It depends entirely on whether your results for ScotRail are higher than TPEs pass score. TPE do require a higher than usual score, so you may or may not have to resit testing.

 

[garto123]

It depends entirely on whether your results for ScotRail are higher than TPEs pass score. TPE do require a higher than usual score, so you may or may not have to resit testing.

Good to know, I never received a score from ScotRail other than a pass and onto the next stage. I assume being in 2 talent banks is fine to do?. I certainly do not remember ScotRail stating that it was not allowed.

 

[Northrail127]

Good to know, I never received a score from ScotRail other than a pass and onto the next stage. I assume being in 2 talent banks is fine to do?. I certainly do not remember ScotRail stating that it was not allowed.

Absolutely, I’d say so mate. Some people aren’t lucky to be in one let alone two, so it’ll be a cracking effort if you end up in two. It’s just gives you more options, and you can always pull out of one if the other comes along.

I can’t see it being an issue, so good luck with this application.

 

[DennyDriver]

Glasgow advert closed already - 5 days early

 

[garto123]

Absolutely, I’d say so mate. Some people aren’t lucky to be in one let alone two, so it’ll be a cracking effort if you end up in two. It’s just gives you more options, and you can always pull out of one if the other comes along.

I can’t see it being an issue, so good luck with this application.

Cheers mate,
I have only done the first online test for TPE so far, so still a long way off being in 2 banks, but that was my thinking. The "talent bank" was not in the advert for the original ScotRail advert I applied to, back in 2024. It seems they have just changed the goal posts, and everyone who applied in March 2024 just missed the cut-off and has been put in the talent bank.
I saw the advert for TPE and thought that being in 2 banks could only help my odds of a start date.
I would hate to get it wrong and end up jeopardising my progress with ScotRail so far, then fail a test with TPE and end up with nothing.... hopefully that won't be the case

 

[driver9000]

Surely it's only induction and rules done at the training centre!

No way will traction/route/driving hours not be done at local depot.

10-12 weeks in a hotel maybe, never 9 months plus

Correct.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Good to know, I never received a score from ScotRail other than a pass and onto the next stage. I assume being in 2 talent banks is fine to do?. I certainly do not remember ScotRail stating that it was not allowed.

Yeah they never give you a score, just whether you pass their scores.

Unsure if ScotRail are National Standard or Enhanced. If they accept National then you will more than likely need to resit (same happened to me as TfW only require national).

But if you've sat testing before, as least you know what to expect and should find it less stressful than the first time, I certainly did.

 

[garto123]

Yeah they never give you a score, just whether you pass their scores.

Unsure if ScotRail are National Standard or Enhanced. If they accept National then you will more than likely need to resit (same happened to me as TfW only require national).

But if you've sat testing before, as least you know what to expect and should find it less stressful than the first time, I certainly did.

Thanks for the information mate

 

[MrGrumpy90]

I've done the online concentration test for TPE, does anyone know how long it takes for them to get back to you if you passed or not? Application says under review by hiring manager.

 

[garto123]

I've done the online concentration test for TPE, does anyone know how long it takes for them to get back to you if you passed or not? Application says under review by hiring manager.

I think that is the one I am doing tonight. Is it the grey square that turns black test?

 

[MrGrumpy90]

I think that is the one I am doing tonight. Is it the grey square that turns black test?

No, this is the test after the AI chat box interview. This test takes about 15 mins. You have informations at the top box, and you have information on the bottom box. You have to match the information up with the top box, checking to see if the information is correct. For example, the airport is spelled correctly, or the weight in the same. It's multiple choice. So make sure to check everything.

You get 4-5 practice questions. Then you begin the 50 questions which is set at a 10 minute timer.

Good luck.

 

[garto123]

No, this is the test after the AI chat box interview. This test takes about 15 mins. You have informations at the top box, and you have information on the bottom box. You have to match the information up with the top box, checking to see if the information is correct. For example, the airport is spelled correctly, or the weight in the same. It's multiple choice. So make sure to check everything.

You get 4-5 practice questions. Then you begin the 50 questions which is set at a 10 minute timer.

Good luck.

Thanks for the heads up mate. Are you expected to complete the full 50 questions or is it like the 4dot test, and being accurate is more important than the pace?

 

[MrGrumpy90]

Thanks for the heads up mate. Are you expected to complete the full 50 questions or is it like the 4dot test, and being accurate is more important than the pace?

No worries. I am going to assume you don't have to hit the 50 questions, it's more accuracy I think. But I honestly don't know. I'm new to all this. Haha.

 

[GPR]

I've done the online concentration test for TPE, does anyone know how long it takes for them to get back to you if you passed or not? Application says under review by hiring manager.

Personal experience, 14 days.

 

[MrGrumpy90]

Personal experience, 14 days.

Thanks for that. I looked at my application and it says under review from the hiring manager, thought this may have been a hint I did well haha.

 

[GPR]

Thanks for that. I looked at my application and it says under review from the hiring manager, thought this may have been a hint I did well haha.

Hopefully it is quicker for you. The wait is never nice
I had a holiday in the waiting period so that took my mind off it.