GWR - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[halfajob]

Sorry yes you have to pass the medical. I am aware it was emptied some years ago but I was told by one of the officials that with the amount of people coming up for retirement they wouldn't do that again as there's the potential for tonnes of drivers to hand their notices in at any given time. I was warned however it could be up to 5 years waiting. If that is false information please do correct me though.

In my depot there are HSS contract drivers who are literally waiting to see if the GOVT give them extra to buy their contract out for a couple of thousand. Once they've had the money hit the bank they are retiring. We would lose I reckon around 20-30 drivers. Many of whom have driven 35+ years and some ex br. Gwr isn't replacing drivers quick enough but they can't keep getting more trainees if people haven't left. Lose lose situation.

 

[LondonRrd]

In my depot there are HSS contract drivers who are literally waiting to see if the GOVT give them extra to buy their contract out for a couple of thousand. Once they've had the money hit the bank they are retiring. We would lose I reckon around 20-30 drivers. Many of whom have driven 35+ years and some ex br. Gwr isn't replacing drivers quick enough but they can't keep getting more trainees if people haven't left. Lose lose situation.

What does ‘buy their contract out’ mean? Could you elaborate?

 

[RobotBen91]

In my depot there are HSS contract drivers who are literally waiting to see if the GOVT give them extra to buy their contract out for a couple of thousand. Once they've had the money hit the bank they are retiring. We would lose I reckon around 20-30 drivers. Many of whom have driven 35+ years and some ex br. Gwr isn't replacing drivers quick enough but they can't keep getting more trainees if people haven't left. Lose lose situation.

Yes this is pretty much bang on the same as I was told. Yeah you can't hire people if you don't need them better to limit services until recruitment catches up.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2026 ==

What does ‘buy their contract out’ mean? Could you elaborate?

One example is on an old contract, Sunday is not part of the working week. They could technically buy them out of that contract and replace it with a new contract that includes Sunday as a working day.

 

[WillPlym]

Yes this is pretty much bang on the same as I was told. Yeah you can't hire people if you don't need them better to limit services until recruitment catches up.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2026 ==


One example is on an old contract, Sunday is not part of the working week. They could technically buy them out of that contract and replace it with a new contract that includes Sunday as a working day.

You would think if they are keen on putting Sundays in to the working week they would issue new contracts with that in place.

My contract came through last week and when I checked it still says Monday-Saturday.

 

[halfajob]

You would think if they are keen on putting Sundays in to the working week they would issue new contracts with that in place.

My contract came through last week and when I checked it still says Monday-Saturday.

One word... Union.

Nothing will change without the union. The Sunday working is with the DFT and we were told they wanted it in before we go over to GBR.

High speed driver contracts are what the old boys are on. They don't have to work Sundays and have a whole load of other terms and conditions that me as a GWR contract driver I don't have. They work a different shift pattern and even get "route refresh" days which they just watch their tablets for an hour and their day is done.

Don't get me wrong GWR contracts aren't too bad!

 

[WillPlym]

One word... Union.

Nothing will change without the union. The Sunday working is with the DFT and we were told they wanted it in before we go over to GBR.

High speed driver contracts are what the old boys are on. They don't have to work Sundays and have a whole load of other terms and conditions that me as a GWR contract driver I don't have. They work a different shift pattern and even get "route refresh" days which they just watch their tablets for an hour and their day is done.

Don't get me wrong GWR contracts aren't too bad!

I understand that and it is good that existing drivers have that protection and backing.

What I meant is for us new drivers who are starting soon you would think they would just make it part of the new contracts being issued. We aren’t part of the union yet or does the union have a say in new starter contracts also?

I didn't mean just issue new contracts to existing staff. Probably didn’t make that clear.

 

[officewalla]

Sorry yes you have to pass the medical. I am aware it was emptied some years ago but I was told by one of the officials that with the amount of people coming up for retirement they wouldn't do that again as there's the potential for tonnes of drivers to hand their notices in at any given time. I was warned however it could be up to 5 years waiting. If that is false information please do correct me though.

That sounds about right. The mutterings from a lot of the very senior drivers lean towards waiting for Sundays to be in the working week which will mean higher pension (based upon final salary). That will take about 12 months to work because of the way the pension scheme works or to take their pension and drop down to part time. Might be a long wait at some depots.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2026 ==

I understand that and it is good that existing drivers have that protection and backing.

What I meant is for us new drivers who are starting soon you would think they would just make it part of the new contracts being issued. We aren’t part of the union yet or does the union have a say in new starter contracts also?

I didn't mean just issue new contracts to existing staff. Probably didn’t make that clear.

It is much bigger than just this. the union controls everything. Without union agreement nothing happens.take that to be good or not so good depending where you stand on such dominant and often quite militant union positions.

 

[RobotBen91]

Yeah its all about the luck of the draw I think with which depot has the bigger turnover rate. Exeter has a slow one I think. Proves its a good one to work at I guess

 

[samdj]

Anyone else starting their training 7th September?

 

[vc99]

Incorrect. You haven’t got the job until you’ve had your medical and signed your contract. Getting to the talent pool isn’t a 100% guarantee you will get a spot.
It may take a while, some people have sat in a pool for a couple of years.
It wasn’t too many years ago, GWR emptied the pool and everybody was back to square one.
Getting to the pool is huge step and well done to those that get there but they aren’t in that driving seat yet!

Exactly my thoughts aswell. Haven't got anything just yet really other than a glimmer of hope on the other side....
On that i didnt know past history of pools being emptied which brings me to my next question of is this a possibility do you think with the nationalisation happening come December? Could it be let's start fresh 2027... and if so how would that impact people's test results valid for the 5 years do you think? (Talking hypothetically here)

 

[flipflopflap]

Hello, could anyone help me please? I recently passed the psychometric testing, the MMI and finally the DMI in April, a week after the DMI I got an email to say I was successful and that I would be placed on the trainee train driver reserve list and someone would be in contact if/when they have vacancies. I then got this email today…

We are writing to advise you that all positions based on our current work force plan for 2026/27 have now been filled. We understand that this news will be disappointing and wish to reassure you that your application is still active and will remain on the Reserve list for the depot/ station that you applied to.

Should there be any changes to this, we will contact you.

Please do not respond to this email or contact the GWR Recruitment team for further information, as we do not have any other information to provide you at this time.

Thank you for your continued patience and we will be in contact when we have another update for you.


Does this mean my chance has passed or is this a common email and I am still in with a chance for 27/28? I don’t want to spend my time hopefully waiting for an email, if this is just their way of letting me down gently.

Thank you

 

[FGW_DID]

Hello, could anyone help me please? I recently passed the psychometric testing, the MMI and finally the DMI in April, a week after the DMI I got an email to say I was successful and that I would be placed on the trainee train driver reserve list and someone would be in contact if/when they have vacancies. I then got this email today…

We are writing to advise you that all positions based on our current work force plan for 2026/27 have now been filled. We understand that this news will be disappointing and wish to reassure you that your application is still active and will remain on the Reserve list for the depot/ station that you applied to.

Should there be any changes to this, we will contact you.

Please do not respond to this email or contact the GWR Recruitment team for further information, as we do not have any other information to provide you at this time.

Thank you for your continued patience and we will be in contact when we have another update for you.


Does this mean my chance has passed or is this a common email and I am still in with a chance for 27/28? I don’t want to spend my time hopefully waiting for an email, if this is just their way of letting me down gently.

Thank you

I read that as: you are still in the talent pool for whichever depot you applied for but don’t expect to be called forward until 27/28 at the earliest.
Your psychometrics are valid for 5 years.

 

[vc99]

Hello, could anyone help me please? I recently passed the psychometric testing, the MMI and finally the DMI in April, a week after the DMI I got an email to say I was successful and that I would be placed on the trainee train driver reserve list and someone would be in contact if/when they have vacancies. I then got this email today…

We are writing to advise you that all positions based on our current work force plan for 2026/27 have now been filled. We understand that this news will be disappointing and wish to reassure you that your application is still active and will remain on the Reserve list for the depot/ station that you applied to.

Should there be any changes to this, we will contact you.

Please do not respond to this email or contact the GWR Recruitment team for further information, as we do not have any other information to provide you at this time.

Thank you for your continued patience and we will be in contact when we have another update for you.


Does this mean my chance has passed or is this a common email and I am still in with a chance for 27/28? I don’t want to spend my time hopefully waiting for an email, if this is just their way of letting me down gently.

Thank you

Which depot you gone for? I would assume you will be looking at 28 before hearing something maybe

 

[officewalla]

GWR overestimated how many drivers would retire and having planned for Sundays in the working week as well have over recruited as a result. Depots are inundated with trainees some of whom are facing significantly longer than usual training pipelines because of resourcing limitations. I spoke with a trainee last week who had been sent out route learning for the last 6 weeks because there are no available instructors at his depot. Other trainees are kicking their heels with the required number of hours and having pass outs put back several months. The landscape is not great currently for new entrants but if you are in the pool then all hope is not lost. I have a mate who spent nearly 5 years in the pool before being pulled out so it can happen to everyone eventually.

 

[MamaPara2]

Good Afternoon,
I have seen lots of people have received the email saying that no positions are available until 27/28.
I thankfully passed psychometric training, MMI and DMI and got told approx a month ago.
I applied for Heathrow Express.
Does anyone have any ideas on timescales for allocating jobs to those of us in the talent pool?
I really would love this and I am happy to wait but don't know if I am pinning all my hopes and dreams on a job that I probably won't start?
Thanks in advance.

 

[traineeyh]

Good Afternoon,
I have seen lots of people have received the email saying that no positions are available until 27/28.
I thankfully passed psychometric training, MMI and DMI and got told approx a month ago.
I applied for Heathrow Express.
Does anyone have any ideas on timescales for allocating jobs to those of us in the talent pool?
I really would love this and I am happy to wait but don't know if I am pinning all my hopes and dreams on a job that I probably won't start?
Thanks in advance.

Hi, mate passed my DMI in jan for HEX. Told there would be a course staring in may, which I wasn’t on and another course starting in August.

 

[Chippychips]

Hi, mate passed my DMI in jan for HEX. Told there would be a course staring in may, which I wasn’t on and another course starting in August.

My mate stated his course in May. May 18th. Hex is different to GWR in terms of depot requirements and they don't have the "Sunday" issue or oversubscribed depot issues that the GWR depots are facing.
However, this may be of use to you and any other Hex applicants, but they tend to put 2 or 3 (max) on a Hex course at a time.
The May group has my mate +1, the Feb course has 2 people and I believe the one before that was 2 people also.

So for example, if there's 8 successful Hex applicants waiting in the pool currently, then its possible to have to wait for the 4th course in line which can be 2027 or beyond as it seems only 2 people are on each Hex course.

 

[traineeyh]

My mate stated his course in May. May 18th. Hex is different to GWR in terms of depot requirements and they don't have the "Sunday" issue or oversubscribed depot issues that the GWR depots are facing.
However, this may be of use to you and any other Hex applicants, but they tend to put 2 or 3 (max) on a Hex course at a time.
The May group has my mate +1, the Feb course has 2 people and I believe the one before that was 2 people also.

So for example, if there's 8 successful Hex applicants waiting in the pool currently, then its possible to have to wait for the 4th course in line which can be 2027 or beyond as it seems only 2 people are on each Hex course.

Thanks for lmk. Very useful to know that.
I don’t think there’s many people waiting on a start date for the HEX. Ive only met one other person on this forum, apart from u waiting for a start date for the HEX.

 

[HZM19]

Thanks for lmk. Very useful to know that.
I don’t think there’s many people waiting on a start date for the HEX. Ive only met one other person on this forum, apart from u waiting for a start date for the HEX.

I'm waiting for a HEX start date too. A couple of other lads are also waiting.

Fingers crossed we hear something very soon.

 

[MamaPara2]

Thanks everyone! Hopefully we do hear something very soon.

 

[AndBon85]

I received this email from GWR last week regarding having an MMI cancelled:

“Due to recent changes within our workforce plans and the high number of applications received for Trainee Train Driver Swansea, a decision has been made to halt the recruitment process until next year, 2027.

The Multi Model Interview, that you have scheduled with GWR has therefore been cancelled, and your application placed ‘On Hold’. “

Does anyone know what the criteria for cancelling applications at this stage for some and not others is as I know interviews are still on going?

Is it a case of not scoring higher than others at the psychometric testing stage? Or maybe as my interview was still a few weeks away they could afford to cancel mine as it wasn’t really that short notice? Or is there another reason?

I was awaiting my DMI having passed all other tests/interviews. I am too now on hold until 2027.

 

[traineeyh]

I'm waiting for a HEX start date too. A couple of other lads are also waiting.

Fingers crossed we hear something very soon.

When did u do your DMI?

 

[HZM19]

When did u do your DMI?

Did my DMI in march.

 

[traineeyh]

Did my DMI in march.

Got a call from GWR earlier today and was given a start date for November!

 

[Bastoo32]

Got a call from GWR earlier today and was given a start date for November!

Congratulations!

 

[electricdreams]

‎

 

[MamaPara2]

Got a call from GWR earlier today and was given a start date for November!

Well done!!!!! Very pleased for you.
Is this for HEX?
When did you do your DMI if you don't mind me asking

 

[amalek]

Got a call from GWR earlier today and was given a start date for November!

Congratulations!! I assume you didn’t get the email that most of us did? Or did you?

 

[traineeyh]

Amazing, well done. If you have any tips for the DMI, it'd be hugely appreciated

It’s worth having a read through the forums as people have shared what came up for them, but it’s mainly about having solid examples ready such as dealing with disagreements with a manager or colleague, handling difficult situations at work, and explaining what you did and what you learned.

Well done!!!!! Very pleased for you.
Is this for HEX?
When did you do your DMI if you don't mind me asking

Late January 2026

Congratulations!! I assume you didn’t get the email that most of us did? Or did you?

This was for HEX, so no

 

[MamaPara2]

It’s worth having a read through the forums as people have shared what came up for them, but it’s mainly about having solid examples ready such as dealing with disagreements with a manager or colleague, handling difficult situations at work, and explaining what you did and what you learned.

Late January 2026

This was for HEX, so no

It’s worth having a read through the forums as people have shared what came up for them, but it’s mainly about having solid examples ready such as dealing with disagreements with a manager or colleague, handling difficult situations at work, and explaining what you did and what you learned.

Late January 2026

This was for HEX, so no

I was successful with everything for HEX but still got the email last week saying no positions available?