GWR - Train Manager / Conductor Recruitment and Discussion

[Zugaga]

You're welcome. Thank you for your advice.

No worries!

 

[TheSwarm2012]

As I'm looking to relocate from one area of the UK to another, I've experience of dealing with several TOCs. GWR are a TOC I don't view positively about at all (based on my experiences with their Recruitment team, nothing to do with my actual on train journeys with them).

Last year I was invited to an "Assessment Day" for a place in GWR's Talent Pool for various different Station based Customer Service Assistant jobs, with the day held in Bristol. Despite me already working for a TOC for the last 10+ years in a Ticket Office job and also having passed GWR's online Despatch test, I was asked to leave the Assessment Day as I'd not met the required standard during the Group Exercise.

Strangely the Group Exercise involved us dealing with a mock incident at an Airport.. The GWR Staff even said themselves they'd deliberately not based the exercise on a Railway related subject "in case people who already worked on the Railway got an unfair advantage."

GWR were also insistent that I sent them my medical records when I requested Reasonable Adjustments as I knew I'd struggle with the Group Exercise (I'm Autistic) then never implemented anything.

Of course I'm naturally bitter towards GWR because of this.

Call me paranoid but before the Assessment Day, I'd never failed their Customer Service online assessments (where they tell you about a scenario, give you 4 different ways of dealing with it and you have to pick which option would be the best and which one would be the worst way of dealing with it.)

But since then I've failed every single one.

Thought GWR only did these assessment centres for on board roles. They stopped doing them for a while last year not sure the reason why but recently seem to have restarted them

 

[Zugaga]

Were they similar to my example?
They're not always that quick to reply - either, way you will be notified.
It's usually 1-3 days between tests.

The Numerical Aptitude Test (NAT) I took included the following question:
"if rubber bands are 5 for 70p how much do 6 dozen rubber bands cost?"
The way it was worded made me think you'd have to buy 75 not 72, but the multiple choice options suggested otherwise!
Anyway, I gather that I passed although it seems to be taking longer than usual between tests: I took the NAT on the 26th though I didn't get the OPC invite to do the Ticket Checking Test (TCT) until the morning of the 1st. Went ahead and did the TCT that very day, and now it looks to me as though I'll find out how I did after Easter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

Supplemental to the above:
Got an invite to the RAAT yesterday (the 7th), went ahead and did it. I expect that the next step will be getting the news, good or bad, from GWR.
Can't be sure why I haven't had to do the SCAAT (unless they've shuffled the order for some occult reason?), but my best guess would be that, with another TOC, I covered everything it tests by passing the group Bourdon and then the WAF-V (I'd had to do an online mini SCAAT to get the ball rolling, and the assessment centre practice materials included similar stuff apropos of preparing for the Bourdon).
There is also the question of why I *did* have to do the RAAT: as I say, I don't yet know whether I passed but I must say that I found the TRP2 more challenging (and I do know that I passed that). Perhaps the crux is that although the task is similar RAAT isn't to do with recall, and involves processing more information over a longer period?

 

[McReadie]

The Numerical Aptitude Test (NAT) I took included the following question:
"if rubber bands are 5 for 70p how much do 6 dozen rubber bands cost?"
The way it was worded made me think you'd have to buy 75 not 72, but the multiple choice options suggested otherwise!
Anyway, I gather that I passed although it seems to be taking longer than usual between tests: I took the NAT on the 26th though I didn't get the OPC invite to do the Ticket Checking Test (TCT) until the morning of the 1st. Went ahead and did the TCT that very day, and now it looks to me as though I'll find out how I did after Easter.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

Supplemental to the above:
Got an invite to the RAAT yesterday (the 7th), went ahead and did it. I expect that the next step will be getting the news, good or bad, from GWR.
Can't be sure why I haven't had to do the SCAAT (unless they've shuffled the order for some occult reason?), but my best guess would be that, with another TOC, I covered everything it tests by passing the group Bourdon and then the WAF-V (I'd had to do an online mini SCAAT to get the ball rolling, and the assessment centre practice materials included similar stuff apropos of preparing for the Bourdon).
There is also the question of why I *did* have to do the RAAT: as I say, I don't yet know whether I passed but I must say that I found the TRP2 more challenging (and I do know that I passed that). Perhaps the crux is that although the task is similar RAAT isn't to do with recall, and involves processing more information over a longer period?

December 2023 still allows 8+ months. It could be that by the time you got to any interview those results would have expired?

 

[Zugaga]

December 2023 still allows 8+ months. It could be that by the time you got to any interview those results would have expired?

Hi!

Thanks for replying. You make a good point: I suppose that at interview stage they would want everything still in date (and that if successful you can go into a talent pool for however long, because at that stage the ball is in their court). Bit like how you can only go to certain places with >6 months left on your passport...and you need a photo taken <6 months ago to get the passport in the first place.

Update: turns out that I did need to do the SCAAT after all. Talking of passports, I think it'd be fun if the OPC issued one for assessments. That or a bingo card, except I doubt that any game of bingo anywhere ever went on as long as this!

05/05/26

Thank you for your application for the role of Conductor, reference 029127 with Great Western Railway. We really appreciate the time you have taken and commitment to completing our online application process.

Unfortunately on this occasion you haven't been successful. That doesn't mean you can't apply for another role within Great Western Railway although you'll need to wait six months before applying for the same role again.

Although we can't provide specific feedback at this stage, we do wish you well in the future.


Kind regards,

GWR Recruitment Team

 

[McReadie]

Hi!

Thanks for replying. You make a good point: I suppose that at interview stage they would want everything still in date (and that if successful you can go into a talent pool for however long, because at that stage the ball is in their court). Bit like how you can only go to certain places with >6 months left on your passport...and you need a photo taken <6 months ago to get the passport in the first place.

Update: turns out that I did need to do the SCAAT after all. Talking of passports, I think it'd be fun if the OPC issued one for assessments. That or a bingo card, except I doubt that any game of bingo anywhere ever went on as long as this!

05/05/26

Thank you for your application for the role of Conductor, reference 029127 with Great Western Railway. We really appreciate the time you have taken and commitment to completing our online application process.

Unfortunately on this occasion you haven't been successful. That doesn't mean you can't apply for another role within Great Western Railway although you'll need to wait six months before applying for the same role again.

Although we can't provide specific feedback at this stage, we do wish you well in the future.


Kind regards,

GWR Recruitment Team

Sorry you didn't get through.
Try again next time.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Update: turns out that I did need to do the SCAAT after all. Talking of passports, I think it'd be fun if the OPC issued one for assessments. That or a bingo card, except I doubt that any game of bingo anywhere ever went on as long as this!

Haha I agree with your sentiments.

05/05/26

Thank you for your application for the role of Conductor, reference 029127 with Great Western Railway. We really appreciate the time you have taken and commitment to completing our online application process.

Unfortunately on this occasion you haven't been successful. That doesn't mean you can't apply for another role within Great Western Railway although you'll need to wait six months before applying for the same role again.

Although we can't provide specific feedback at this stage, we do wish you well in the future.


Kind regards,

GWR Recruitment Team

Very frustrating!
I wonder if anything will change next year in regards to the OPC tests and Great British Railways.

I think it's annoying that the obligation to take some (but not always all) of the OPC tests is inconsistent between TOCs recruiting for the same grade job. i.e. Cross Country were only concerned that I'd previously passed the OPC Ticket Checking and Rules tests, they weren't bothered that I'd failed the Concentration one. Yet When I've applied with TPE, TFW and GWR (was considering relocating) the Concentration one is the one I've failed at, preventing me from progressing any further in the process.

 

[McReadie]

Haha I agree with your sentiments.




Very frustrating!
I wonder if anything will change next year in regards to the OPC tests and Great British Railways.

I think it's annoying that the obligation to take some (but not always all) of the OPC tests is inconsistent between TOCs recruiting for the same grade job. i.e. Cross Country were only concerned that I'd previously passed the OPC Ticket Checking and Rules tests, they weren't bothered that I'd failed the Concentration one. Yet When I've applied with TPE, TFW and GWR (was considering relocating) the Concentration one is the one I've failed at, preventing me from progressing any further in the process.

The difference with XC is that the TM's are not safety criticial - that could be a reason.
It is surprising though that they accepted other results from different operators. None of the others do.
Correction : TM's are safety critical.

 

[Mainsideman]

The difference with XC is that the TM's are not safety criticial - that could be a reason.

That just is not correct.

 

[McReadie]

That just is not correct.

You're right.

 

[voyagerdude220]

The difference with XC is that the TM's are not safety criticial - that could be a reason.

Of course they are(!)

 

[Frenchy7119]

Anyone heard any moment ? Or any one been offered any course? Been waiting 2 years now and with the franchise coming to an end guessing I missed the boat lol

 

[D1015]

Not so re franchise ending. I believe that recruitment pools will remain as nationalisation sofar has only been mostly symbolic - recruitment, HR functions etc have remained intact. I have 2.5years left in the pool.

 

[singjungle]

Hi all, do you only get an invite to the next OPC assessment if you have passed the previous one? Or would you need to sit them all and then they let you know at the end whether you have passed/failed?

 

[choochootwain]

I think you get the next one when you have passed the test before. Have you had the next test yet? I did the SCAAT a few days ago and haven’t heard anything

 

[D1015]

Had an update email last week [interviewed November 2025, told same day I was successful.] Essentially that I was still in the talent pool. was I still interested in working for GWR? but no vacancies at this current time. A quick reply stating that I most certainly am was sent back, with a couple of questions but no answer / reply alas. Just got to be patient.

 

[edwin1812]

Had an update email last week [interviewed November 2025, told same day I was successful.] Essentially that I was still in the talent pool. was I still interested in working for GWR? but no vacancies at this current time. A quick reply stating that I most certainly am was sent back, with a couple of questions but no answer / reply alas. Just got to be patient.

What depot's talent pool are you in?

 

[singjungle]

I think you get the next one when you have passed the test before. Have you had the next test yet? I did the SCAAT a few days ago and haven’t heard anything

Hello, sorry, didn't see this. I got an invite to the RAAT a few hours after I did the SCAAT. And then received an email a few days later saying I've passed the Guards Stage 1 assessments.

 

[D1015]

Could anyone tell us what the training course is like please; would it be a residential course if long distance from your home address? How long is it, for TMs and how does it progress - few weeks in class, then few weeks out route learning, then few weeks back in class? Cheers

 

[edwin1812]

Could anyone tell us what the training course is like please; would it be a residential course if long distance from your home address? How long is it, for TMs and how does it progress - few weeks in class, then few weeks out route learning, then few weeks back in class? Cheers

You will have 9weeks classroom training course in swindon, and ~2-3 months route learning depands on what depot are you, then is your rules
what is your start date?

 

[D1015]

You will have 9weeks classroom training course in swindon, and ~2-3 months route learning depands on what depot are you, then is your rules
what is your start date?

I don't have a start date yet but am quietly preparing and hoping for a call soober than later. Thanks for the info regard training

 

[ValleysTM20]

Hey, I’m a qualified train manager for Transport for Wales based in Cardiff. I was thinking of transferring over to GWR eventually as I currently work on the valleys and i wouldn’t mind a change of scenery and traction. Does anyone know if it’s worth it and what would I need to go through as I’m already a qualified train manager? Also any update on any pay deals?
Thanks