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TransPennine Trains - Trainee Driver Recruitment Discussion

MrGrumpy90

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22 Jan 2026
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19
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Glasgow
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.
Haha. It always helps when you have a holiday booked up. Cheers, here's hoping it does come quicker. What stage are you at? You waiting for a start or you already a driver?
 
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MrGrumpy90

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22 Jan 2026
Messages
19
Location
Glasgow
Yup correct.

About 40/45 of them. Have done similar things in the past for other roles both rail and other. Quite enjoy them honestly.
I think I only did about 30. But once I got the hang of it, it was pretty straight forward. I kept double checking to see I did it right. Might have cost me. Hope not haha.
 

chris89

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21 Dec 2009
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Somewhere
I think I only did about 30. But once I got the hang of it, it was pretty straight forward. I kept double checking to see I did it right. Might have cost me. Hope not haha.
If like others. Be more accuracy than anything. Now just the sit and wait game sadly.
 

garto123

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13 Jun 2024
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Dumplinhill@123
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.
I will assume you don't do the 50 questions also !!!!..... That was nuts lol. That was miles harder than anything I've done with Scotrail. I will wait and see what the result is, but I have a feeling I will be becoming a ScotRail Driver lol
 

MrGrumpy90

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I will assume you don't do the 50 questions also !!!!..... That was nuts lol. That was miles harder than anything I've done with Scotrail. I will wait and see what the result is, but I have a feeling I will be becoming a ScotRail Driver lol
How many did you manage to get done roughly?
 

MrGrumpy90

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25 if that, well done to that guy who almost completed it. must be like rain man lol
Reckon you'll be fine, so long as you didn't make any mistakes. It's not a speed race. It's how you preform under pressure is my take. Again, I'm no expert. But the logic to me says if you take your time, get all correct. Compared to nearly finishing all questions but getting a few wrong, as a train driver, they'd prefer the former rather than the latter. Just my opinion
 

garto123

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Reckon you'll be fine, so long as you didn't make any mistakes. It's not a speed race. It's how you preform under pressure is my take. Again, I'm no expert. But the logic to me says if you take your time, get all correct. Compared to nearly finishing all questions but getting a few wrong, as a train driver, they'd prefer the former rather than the latter. Just my opinion
Time will tell, but I would be happy to accept your vote of confidence lol. I have to admit that it took me by surprise.
 

MrGrumpy90

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Time will tell, but I would be happy to accept your vote of confidence lol. I have to admit that it took me by surprise.
Did you get an email AFTER you did the error checking test? Saying it was under review with the hiring manager?

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Also got 30/31 I think - 40 is good going! 15 seconds per question is rapid
Haha. It is indeed. I was cautious and checked and double checked. Definitely cost me time. But I'm confident the ones I did do was all correct. You waiting for more tests or you waiting for a course mate?
 

garto123

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Did you get an email AFTER you did the error checking test? Saying it was under review with the hiring manager?

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Haha. It is indeed. I was cautious and checked and double checked. Definitely cost me time. But I'm confident the ones I did do was all correct. You waiting for more tests or you waiting for a course mate?
Yeah I got an email as soon as the test finished.
 

MrGrumpy90

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Yeah I got an email as soon as the test finished.
Same here. I've been reading the forums, a lot of people say if the hiring manager is reviewing your application after the concentration test, it's a good sign as not everyone gets it. Apparently.
 

SCDR_WMR

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17 Dec 2017
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2,620
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Crewe
Same here. I've been reading the forums, a lot of people say if the hiring manager is reviewing your application after the concentration test, it's a good sign as not everyone gets it. Apparently.
Yeah I believe everyone who gets that email is through to testing. I've applied twice and received that email both times to progress
 

MrGrumpy90

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Yeah I believe everyone who gets that email is through to testing. I've applied twice and received that email both times to progress
Thanks for giving us an insight into your experience. You waiting for a start date?

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By testing, does that mean the 4dots, street scene, hand coordination, flashing box, etc. tests?. Then an MMI and a DMI?
Similiar to Scotrail I would think? Have you done the assessments with Scotrail?
 

garto123

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Thanks for giving us an insight into your experience. You waiting for a start date?

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Similiar to Scotrail I would think? Have you done the assessments with Scotrail

Yeah, I sat them all last year and got word in Jan this year that I had passed my last test (DMI), and I was just waiting on medical and start date. Then out of nowhere, I got an email saying I am in a talent bank and they will check in every 6 months, and if it goes over 2 years, then I may have to sit tests again.
It wasn't how I had expected this year to end up after being so pumped about passing everything.
 

chalkijr

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13 Apr 2023
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Not everyone who gets the hiring manager email makes it through. I've applied twice, had that email twice and got knocked back on one occasion. I think if I remember correctly I managed about 27/28 on that specific occasion when I didn't make it through to psychometrics, but had that email.
 

MrGrumpy90

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Yeah, I sat them all last year and got word in Jan this year that I had passed my last test (DMI), and I was just waiting on medical and start date. Then out of nowhere, I got an email saying I am in a talent bank and they will check in every 6 months, and if it goes over 2 years, then I may have to sit tests again.
It wasn't how I had expected this year to end up after being so pumped about passing everything.
That's quite shocking actually, especially if they made you do a medical. I've applied for the talent pool at Yoker and Airdrie for Scotrail and now this one. I've got a lot of practice material for the main assessments like the dot test etc. I know it's going to be a long process. Just hoping I get something as it's a job I do really want. Haha

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Not everyone who gets the hiring manager email makes it through. I've applied twice, had that email twice and got knocked back on one occasion. I think if I remember correctly I managed about 27/28 on that specific occasion when I didn't make it through to psychometrics, but had that email.
Fair enough. You may have got quite a few wrong in the first test. I'm confident I got the ones I finished I got correct, as I double checked, hence why I didn't get more within the time frame.
 

chalkijr

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That's quite shocking actually, especially if they made you do a medical. I've applied for the talent pool at Yoker and Airdrie for Scotrail and now this one. I've got a lot of practice material for the main assessments like the dot test etc. I know it's going to be a long process. Just hoping I get something as it's a job I do really want. Haha

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Fair enough. You may have got quite a few wrong in the first test. I'm confident I got the ones I finished I got correct, as I double checked, hence why I didn't get more within the time frame.
Maybe, or maybe I got every single one correct and spent too long double checking each answer. There's no way to know really... Either way I'm just stating that I had the email on that occasion too.

They might sift applicants on the highest scorers too, not necessarily on whether you just pass the bench mark. That's obviously why the hiring manager email goes out but then you are manually sifted and the top scorers go through.
 

MrGrumpy90

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Maybe, or maybe I got every single one correct and spent too long double checking each answer. There's no way to know really... Either way I'm just stating that I had the email on that occasion too.

They might sift applicants on the highest scorers too, not necessarily on whether you just pass the bench mark. That's obviously why the hiring manager email goes out but then you are manually sifted and the top scorers go through.
We will never know. But I'm assuming that if you get the email that your application is under review from the hiring manager. You've at least passed the assessments. I agree, you'll be sifted through by the hiring manager to see if you're suitable or not. Good luck to you anyways.
 

afloattoast

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17 Apr 2024
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99
Location
Ayrshire
Yeah, I sat them all last year and got word in Jan this year that I had passed my last test (DMI), and I was just waiting on medical and start date. Then out of nowhere, I got an email saying I am in a talent bank and they will check in every 6 months, and if it goes over 2 years, then I may have to sit tests again.
It wasn't how I had expected this year to end up after being so pumped about passing everything.
I’m in the same situation. Passed all Scotrail assessments by Dec 2025, told they will be in contact when course dates have been finalised. 3 weeks ago received email (along with pretty much everyone who had passed) to say in talent bank.

Applied for TPE 11pm Monday, completed my online AI interview tonight at 7pm, got my personality feedback at 8pm but nothing since
 

Jedi

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18 Mar 2026
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21
Location
Scotland
I’m in the same situation. Passed all Scotrail assessments by Dec 2025, told they will be in contact when course dates have been finalised. 3 weeks ago received email (along with pretty much everyone who had passed) to say in talent bank.

Applied for TPE 11pm Monday, completed my online AI interview tonight at 7pm, got my personality feedback at 8pm but nothing since
I am the same with regards TPE - I haven’t had the next email inviting me to the 15 minutes testing thing others have mentioned. Completed the AI interview and that was that. I did see they have closed the advert early so could it be they are only progressing those who applied earlier?
 

garto123

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13 Jun 2024
Messages
51
Location
Dumplinhill@123
I am the same with regards TPE - I haven’t had the next email inviting me to the 15 minutes testing thing others have mentioned. Completed the AI interview and that was that. I did see they have closed the advert early so could it be they are only progressing those who applied earlier?
I put my application in on Saturday, then I didn't complete the AI test till Monday. I got my email about the 15min test on Tuesday and sat that test last night. Immediately after finishing the test, I got an email saying it's with the hiring manager and give them some time to decide if I make the short list.
That's how it has run for me so far.
 

afloattoast

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17 Apr 2024
Messages
99
Location
Ayrshire
I am the same with regards TPE - I haven’t had the next email inviting me to the 15 minutes testing thing others have mentioned. Completed the AI interview and that was that. I did see they have closed the advert early so could it be they are only progressing those who applied earlier?
Think as long as you applied you’ll still be considered. When did you sit the AI interview?
 

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