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

[Class2ldn]

If you've passed again to standard level it will just be 2 passes at that level.
If you've failed this test it will be 1 fail and will overwrite your previous pass so you'd have to sit it again.
Im not sure how it works with enhanced as in 2 fails or not if its one of the basic tests.

 

[John1986]

If you've passed again to standard level it will just be 2 passes at that level.
If you've failed this test it will be 1 fail and will overwrite your previous pass so you'd have to sit it again.
Im not sure how it works with enhanced as in 2 fails or not if its one of the basic tests.

Thanks for the reply, so by that logic if I have failed this time I could have another go in 12 months not 5 years but if I have passed to national standards I could apply to a different TOC tomorrow if there was a vacancy ?

Thanks again

 

[Class2ldn]

Yeah i believe so but obviously you'd still have to pass any further assessments they require

 

[Twin82]

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 ==


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

Thanks again

Was it the same company you applied to? Did you only do the test that wasn’t high enough or all of part 1? Although you done it last year, did you have to wait 12 months? To me it sounds like a fail at enhanced standard for the second time unfortunately. If that’s the case, you would have to wait 4 years (I think), to apply to that particular company.

As for the standard pass, you would be ok applying to any toc that accepts a standard pass.

I have a pass to enhanced standard but enhanced behind an extra test. I enquired about applying to another TOC which used enhanced pass, enhanced being a higher score on the standard part of the testing (paper and computer test), and was warned should I go ahead and failed and part of the tests, I would risk my pass. Hope that helps.

 

[jamziig]

Was it the same company you applied to? Did you only do the test that wasn’t high enough or all of part 1? Although you done it last year, did you have to wait 12 months? To me it sounds like a fail at enhanced standard for the second time unfortunately. If that’s the case, you would have to wait 4 years (I think), to apply to that particular company.

As for the standard pass, you would be ok applying to any toc that accepts a standard pass.

I have a pass to enhanced standard but enhanced behind an extra test. I enquired about applying to another TOC which used enhanced pass, enhanced being a higher score on the standard part of the testing (paper and computer test), and was warned should I go ahead and failed and part of the tests, I would risk my pass. Hope that helps.

Twin is right, if u pass your first test with a company who dose national standard( thn you are ok to apply but if u did enhance and failed but got national standard thn you did lost an life) and if u failed again u lost an another life!!.

 

[ChooWoo]

Has anyone had any emails on getting through this round of recruitment from last month?

 

[Thegolfer]

How do you know what standard you have passed the Stage 1 OPC tests to?

 

[jamziig]

Has anyone had any emails on getting through this round of recruitment from last month?

I got email last week I live too far so I am out, so I u haven’t got an email u might be in luck

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jun 2026 ==

How do you know what standard you have passed the Stage 1 OPC tests to?

Have u got your feedback from OPC, thy can tell u but if u fail enhances 2 time next time u can take test is 3-5 year, but let’s say u pass everything stage 1 and stage 2 on national in the first 2 time u only can apply for rail which have national standard,

What rail company you took you OPC test for ?

 

[Thegolfer]

I got email last week I live too far so I am out, so I u haven’t got an email u might be in luck

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jun 2026 ==


Have u got your feedback from OPC, thy can tell u but if u fail enhances 2 time next time u can take test is 3-5 year, but let’s say u pass everything stage 1 and stage 2 on national in the first 2 time u only can apply for rail which have national standard,

What rail company you took you OPC test for ?

Was WMT rail company.

Through stage one - now onto stage two. Just didn’t know how people were seeing whether it was standard or enhanced pass.

 

[xenomorth45]

I know some rejections have gone out but has anyone had anything back passing the sift for 2027? Its been a month since I applied and nothing yet.

 

[jimbo1198]

Recieved good news that I have passed my stage 2 +mmi that I did on 12th june. Just after any helpful tips specific to wmt for the dmi

 

[HH24]

Was WMT rail company.

Through stage one - now onto stage two. Just didn’t know how people were seeing whether it was standard or enhanced pass.

WMT use an enhanced standard, so of you've passed them all then it would have been to their enhanced standard on all the tests.

 

[jamziig]

I got email last week I live too far so I am out, so I u haven’t got an email u might be in luck

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jun 2026 ==


Have u got your feedback from OPC, thy can tell u but if u fail enhances 2 time next time u can take test is 3-5 year, but let’s say u pass everything stage 1 and stage 2 on national in the first 2 time u only can apply for rail which have national standard,

What rail company you took you OPC test for ?

Hope this help

 

[Geezertronic]

Hi. I was wondering whether there was a specific criteria for being eligible for being shortlisted for train driver jobs with West Midlands Railway? My son (26) has applied for a second year and has not been shortlisted despite completing the application form, answering all questions, CV attached etc... Not sure what else he could do to be considered for shortlisting?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Make sure he reads the job profile thoroughly. Every answer must prove he has the same set of skills the profile requests. Use Buzz words, otherwise he will never pass that 1st screening test.

That is by far the easiest round of the recruitment process. Maybe he just isn't displaying the skills necessary for the position unfortunately.

 

[Trains101]

So to confirm with this if you’ve passed stage 1 that means national. If you’ve passed stage 2 that’s enhanced?

 

[ChooWoo]

So to confirm with this if you’ve passed stage 1 that means national. If you’ve passed stage 2 that’s enhanced?

Stage 1 is normally the paper tests
Stage 2 is the computer tests
Then interview

Enhanced and national standard are different, they are the pass grades for each test. As in some tocs set their own higher grade, others go off the national standard.

 

[Nella]

I know some rejections have gone out but has anyone had anything back passing the sift for 2027? Its been a month since I applied and nothing yet.

Same for my, applied month ago for application that had closure date 25th May, havent heard anything yet. Which depot have you applied?

 

[HH24]

So to confirm with this if you’ve passed stage 1 that means national. If you’ve passed stage 2 that’s enhanced?

Nope. That's just the different stages needed to pass. You have to pass each stage to enhanced standard for WMT

 

[ChooWoo]

Same for my, applied month ago for application that had closure date 25th May, havent heard anything yet. Which depot have you applied?

Same, went for Wolverhampton. Not heard anything yet

 

[magicflash]

I’ve not had anything back yet, I’m guessing you haven’t had anything either?

Have you sat your stage 1 yet? I don’t know how much revision to do, feel like I am too obsessed with it & causing myself more doubt in my mind if you get me

 

[Jonmanunited]

Same for my, applied month ago for application that had closure date 25th May, havent heard anything yet. Which depot have you applied?

Same, applied for Bletchley but nothing as of yet.

 

[Trains101]

Stage 1 is normally the paper tests
Stage 2 is the computer tests
Then interview

Enhanced and national standard are different, they are the pass grades for each test. As in some tocs set their own higher grade, others go off the national standard.

Hi thanks for that. Is West Midlands travel national or enhanced

 

[itsmejuniior]

Hi thanks for that. Is West Midlands travel national or enhanced

National

 

[BHMGuard]

Incorrect. They’re enhanced.

 

[itsmejuniior]

Incorrect. They’re enhanced.

Im pretty sure they removed the fault finding which was the enhanced part

 

[ChooWoo]

Im pretty sure they removed the fault finding which was the enhanced part

I think there's more than 1 test enhanced level but Im not 100%

 

[BHMGuard]

National

Im pretty sure they removed the fault finding which was the enhanced part

The scores required across the board are all to enhanced level. It’s confirmed by the invigilators at stage 1 and 2.

 

[itsmejuniior]

The scores required across the board are all to enhanced level. It’s confirmed by the invigilators at stage 1 and 2.

I stand corrected

 

[maf]

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

Passed with Chiltern, so enhanced according to that document above