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

[beeurd]

I applied for Worcester last month and just got a rejection email, just in case that helps anybody.

 

[SoT390]

Hi, I've been advised I'll be sitting the Stage 2 OPC assessment at the end of the month, has anyone got any advice on the MMI, e.g. the kind of questions they ask? I found a thread elsewhere on the forum with MMI questions from a couple years back but unsure they'll be the same ones. Thanks.

 

[ChooWoo]

I applied for Worcester last month and just got a rejection email, just in case that helps anybody.

Still not heard anything so Im hoping that no news is good news.
For Wolverhampton that is though, although New St or Cov would work aswell

 

[electricdreams]

I applied for Worcester last month and just got a rejection email, just in case that helps anybody.

Sorry to hear you weren't successful, but thanks for choosing to share, as it's helpful to know they're still working through initial applications.

 

[Jobey]

I also applied for Worcester and got the rejection this morning.

 

[Jonmanunited]

Sorry to hear that mat

Sorry to hear that mate

sorry to hear that, which depot did you apply for?

 

[ChooWoo]

Has anyone heard anything from the Wolverhampton and Birmingham positions yet?

 

[maf]

Has anyone heard anything from the Wolverhampton and Birmingham positions yet?

Nope, applied to Birmingham.

 

[BHMGuard]

Hi, I've been advised I'll be sitting the Stage 2 OPC assessment at the end of the month, has anyone got any advice on the MMI, e.g. the kind of questions they ask? I found a thread elsewhere on the forum with MMI questions from a couple years back but unsure they'll be the same ones. Thanks.

You’ll get the questions if you pass the computer tests. You’ll have to write a sentence answer in the box provided and then elaborate on it in the interview. They’ll keep pushing your buttons and want more of an answer. I honestly think this interview is to see where your breaking point is. I left thinking I utterly butchered it but found out next day I passed. It’s probably the hardest part of the OPC in my opinion. Don’t lie about your answers either, it’s very easy for them to see with the amount of digging they’ll do and you’ll end up messing it up. Just be honest, detailed and follow STAR.

 

[Jonmanunited]

Has anyone heard back from the application sift if they have selected Bletchley as there TOC?

 

[electricdreams]

Has anyone heard back from the application sift if they have selected Bletchley as there TOC?

Coventry for me, but for what it's worth, I haven't heard anything yet.

 

[maf]

Got my rejection for Birmingham today, starting to think passing psychometrics with OPC is a curse, nothing but rejections since...

 

[ChooWoo]

Got my rejection for Birmingham today, starting to think passing psychometrics with OPC is a curse, nothing but rejections since...

Sorry to hear that, Im still waiting on hearing about Wolves with opc passes aswell although my brother had his email a week or so back saying he didn't get through

 

[mr_ixolite]

Got my rejection for Birmingham today, starting to think passing psychometrics with OPC is a curse, nothing but rejections since...

Crazy isn't it? same boat, I thought holding a psychometrics pass would be a surefire foot in the door for any future applications, it's risk free and low cost to them to at least interview, seems toc's would rather pay to put a bunch of new people through opc, complete with the 80% or whatever it is fail rate and lose a load of money

 

[Jonmanunited]

Crazy isn't it? same boat, I thought holding a psychometrics pass would be a surefire foot in the door for any future applications, it's risk free and low cost to them to at least interview, seems toc's would rather pay to put a bunch of new people through opc, complete with the 80% or whatever it is fail rate and lose a load of money

Is there a reason why they are drip feeding emails? Is it because they reviewing each TOC application individually?

 

[ChooWoo]

Is there a reason why they are drip feeding emails? Is it because they reviewing each TOC application individually?

They usually send all the rejection emails out together for most tocs. But WMs seem to be staggering them, must have a different system

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

Crazy isn't it? same boat, I thought holding a psychometrics pass would be a surefire foot in the door for any future applications, it's risk free and low cost to them to at least interview, seems toc's would rather pay to put a bunch of new people through opc, complete with the 80% or whatever it is fail rate and lose a load of money

I have no idea what the cost is per opc test, but I imagine it isnt cheap.
If only 20% get through like you said seems crazy, you'd think more pass

 

[mr_ixolite]

I have no idea what the cost is per opc test, but I imagine it isnt cheap.
If only 20% get through like you said seems crazy, you'd think more pass

That was the figure I read, I could well believe if it's not 80% fail I bet it's not far off

 

[Jonmanunited]

They usually send all the rejection emails out together for most tocs. But WMs seem to be staggering them, must have a different system

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


I have no idea what the cost is per opc test, but I imagine it isnt cheap.
If only 20% get through like you said seems crazy, you'd think more pass

Does a human assess these applications or is it through a computer?

 

[ChooWoo]

Does a human assess these applications or is it through a computer?

No idea, I hope a human

 

[Pintman]

Got my rejection for Birmingham today, starting to think passing psychometrics with OPC is a curse, nothing but rejections since...

You might not have met the WMT standard, and not be eligible to proceed

 

[akaMcMonagle]

Coventry for me, but for what it's worth, I haven't heard anything yet.

Same for myself as well

 

[ad00am]

I thought I’d share the following timeline from my own experience with WMT.

- Oct 25 Applied
- Nov 25 Initial Test
- Jan 26 OPC Stage 1
- Feb 26 OPC Stage 2
- May 26 DMI

 

[ChooWoo]

I thought I’d share the following timeline from my own experience with WMT.

- Oct 25 Applied
- Nov 25 Initial Test
- Jan 26 OPC Stage 1
- Feb 26 OPC Stage 2
- May 26 DMI

Which depot was that?

Still not heard from Wolves, but I'm taking that as a good thing so far

 

[SoT390]

It’s a lengthy process and may take a while to hear anything, I applied for Crewe at the start of the year and have only just gotten to OPC stage 2:

• Jan 2026: Application
• Feb 2026: First email back advising of OPC sift taking place
• March 2026: OPC sift
• May 2026: OPC Stage 1
• June 2026: OPC Stage 2

 

[ChooWoo]

It’s a lengthy process and may take a while to hear anything, I applied for Crewe at the start of the year and have only just gotten to OPC stage 2:

• Jan 2026: Application
• Feb 2026: First email back advising of OPC sift taking place
• March 2026: OPC sift
• May 2026: OPC Stage 1
• June 2026: OPC Stage 2

Thats quite quick for the rail lol!

 

[Nella]

Hello mate
I applied for Bletchley back in October last year. I'm currently waiting for my DMI interview.
My process so far has been
October 2025- filled in online application and found out roughly 2 weeks after that I had been put through into an online sift.
December 2025- completed an online sift. This process asked me such questions as "am I happy to work shift patterns" and "do I like to work for long periods by myself"
Found out I had passed this then was invited to do my stage 1 tests
March 2026- did my stage 1 paper tests. These included four dot test/bleep test etc. For these I did purchase a few books online to help me practice. Next Stop Train driver also helped with these. Found out a week later I had passed this
May 2026- Sat my stage 2 computer tests and MMI Found out I passed these 2 days later.
Now waiting my DMI which if successful I believe its just a medical and then a course date offer.
Good luck with it all mate of you want any other guidance just message me and I'll try to help out

Hello Chris, would you please be able to tell me the names of those books and anything else that helped you practice? Or perhaps I could buy them from you?

 

[Pelican76]

I just got an email for stage 2 for the OIPC. Is there any practice materials for WAFV and QTAVT and the two handed test. What kind of questions are there in the MMI? Very nervous for all these.

 

[Arden]

Hi, I had my stage 1 last week in B'ham (I applied for Leamington Spa) and received notification yesterday I've passed and would be moved forward to Stage 2. I am over the moon. The notification also said Stage 2 might not take place for a while but as soon as they have any further news they'll be in touch. To my surprise I received an email 06:39 today inviting me to book in for Stage 2 - at 9:25 I tried to book in via the booking page but at the bottom of the page it says in an amber box 'Unfortunately there are no longer any interview times available for you to select. Please contact WM Trains to discuss this further.' I tried on my laptop, iPad and iPhone and all show the same message.
I emailed recruitment this morning and I was impressed they replied pretty quickly - but it wasn't exactly helpful - they said 'I'm unsure as to why the link isn't working, as other candidates are booking their slots. I can only suggest at this point to try booking on a different device?'
I've replied asking for further assistance and also replied to the original invitation informing them of the issue (and shared a screen shot). I really hope they can resolve it as I don't wish to fall foul of the two-day response rule.
Has anyone else had this issue?
Thank you.

 

[magicflash]

Evening all, is anyone on here in Birmingham tomorrow for WMR OPS Stage 1 ?

how did you get on?

 

[John1986]

Hi was wondering if anyone might be able to clear something up for me. I applied last year and passed OPC stage 1 to national standard but the TOC I was applying for required enhanced standard. Last week I resat the 1 test I fell short on last year and sadly found I haven’t met the standard again, still waiting for feedback hopefully coming next week.

I was wondering if I have passed these to a national standard again do those results count as my 2 lives or are they classed differently as they are technically not ‘failed’ attempts.

If I have passed to national standard again I think I’ll be applying to a TOC that accepts national standard to boost my odds.

Thanks for any help.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jun 2026 ==

Hi was wondering if anyone might be able to clear something up for me. I applied last year and passed OPC stage 1 to national standard but the TOC I was applying for required enhanced standard. Last week I resat the 1 test I fell short on last year and sadly found I haven’t met the standard again, still waiting for feedback hopefully coming next week.

I was wondering if I have passed these to a national standard again do those results count as my 2 lives or are they classed differently as they are technically not ‘failed’ attempts.

If I have passed to national standard again I think I’ll be applying to a TOC that accepts national standard to boost my odds.

Thanks for any help.

In addition to this if I have failed this time round is that my first fail or second one.

Thanks again