Southern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[discochicken88]

The work isn't great at any southern metro depot but selhurst really is the worst. If you can get into Norwood it would be a better shout.
The shorter commute probably helps it a bit but its always been known for its poor work.

Appreciate the heads up mate, thank you!

 

[sandy111]

Anyone heard from them after the first stage in person assessment?

 

[1stClassAcw]

Just updating to say I passed all of my psychometrics last week! MMI was actually a really good experience, the most laid back thing I’ve done. Just patiently waiting for a date for my DMI now

Just wanted to ask mate, did you sit your MMI at go ahead or in Watford

 

[Purplerain77]

Just wanted to ask mate, did you sit your MMI at go ahead or in Watford

I sat it in Watford at the opc

 

[discochicken88]

Has anybody who did their assessments in go ahead house had their MMI? I did my DMI a few weeks back and passed but I haven't heard anything since. They were pretty keen during the DMI to say there were still spaces on the September and October courses

 

[BigEasy]

Has anybody who did their assessments in go ahead house had their MMI? I did my DMI a few weeks back and passed but I haven't heard anything since. They were pretty keen during the DMI to say there were still spaces on the September and October courses

Have you tried emailing HR to chase them?

 

[1stClassAcw]

Has anybody who did their assessments in go ahead house had their MMI? I did my DMI a few weeks back and passed but I haven't heard anything since. They were pretty keen during the DMI to say there were still spaces on the September and October courses

They said the same to me so I’m guessing they will do it closer to the time

 

[discochicken88]

Have you tried emailing HR to chase them?

Yeah, haven't heard anything back. Going to give it another try next week I think. Happy to wait, but I'd like to know either way so I can book a holiday!

 

[ramsy12]

I did all my assessments with the OPC so yeah it was stage 2 and then MMI immediately afterwards however I do think if you have yours at the go ahead house then you do the MMI and DMI on a later date which can be either way round

Hi Mate, if you could guide me the questions that were asked for MMI at OPC centre. I have mine in couple of weeks.
Appreciate your response.

 

[1stClassAcw]

Has anybody who did their assessments in go ahead house had their MMI? I did my DMI a few weeks back and passed but I haven't heard anything since. They were pretty keen during the DMI to say there were still spaces on the September and October courses

Same boat as you mate

 

[discochicken88]

Anybody on the October 5th course?

 

[Psalms3418]

Anybody on the October 5th course?

Trying to get on it.
Got a call from recruitment, just waiting for all my checks to come back then off to medical in hopes of getting on that course date

 

[discochicken88]

Hi everyone, looking for some advice from Southern drivers based at Victoria and Selhurst and/or Norwood.

What are the earliest and latest shift starts and finishes? And is there any parking at Victoria?

I've searched the forums but the most recent info is a few years old now. Back then it said the early starts weren't as early at Victoria.

I've been offered a place at Victoria, but I'd need to drive in for the earliest starts.

Cheers!

 

[1stClassAcw]

They gave me the option of October or September with Gatwick express and went with Gatwick

 

[Mrworldwide]

Hi Mate, if you could guide me the questions that were asked for MMI at OPC centre. I have mine in couple of weeks.
Appreciate your response.

How did you get on with your MMI?

 

[ramsy12]

How did you get on with your MMI?

I passed my MMI.

 

[JR1]

Hi everyone, looking for some advice from Southern drivers based at Victoria and Selhurst and/or Norwood.

What are the earliest and latest shift starts and finishes? And is there any parking at Victoria?

I've searched the forums but the most recent info is a few years old now. Back then it said the early starts weren't as early at Victoria.

I've been offered a place at Victoria, but I'd need to drive in for the earliest starts.

Cheers!

Hope this helps mate it’s a link 3 rota which is what Victoria trainee driver would follow. Think earliest is 5am if I’m correct. There is parking at Victoria however there is only 10 spaces. However I have heard if they are all taken that the car park attendant may let you park in another space. You contact the uniform chap when you are on your course at Victoria and he will organise a permit for you. You also get 3 other stations on the southern route to nominate with Apcoa parking. So far everyone I spoke to said there is no issues with parking. But you need to remember the congestion charge as you’re not exempt from it. I have been told Victoria is a good depot though with a lot of varied work. Hope this helps mate.

 

[discochicken88]

Hope this helps mate it’s a link 3 rota which is what Victoria trainee driver would follow. Think earliest is 5am if I’m correct. There is parking at Victoria however there is only 10 spaces. However I have heard if they are all taken that the car park attendant may let you park in another space. You contact the uniform chap when you are on your course at Victoria and he will organise a permit for you. You also get 3 other stations on the southern route to nominate with Apcoa parking. So far everyone I spoke to said there is no issues with parking. But you need to remember the congestion charge as you’re not exempt from it. I have been told Victoria is a good depot though with a lot of varied work. Hope this helps mate.

Mate, thank you so much. Absolutely spot on for what I was looking for. Hope you're enjoying the course so far

 

[1stClassAcw]

Hope this helps mate it’s a link 3 rota which is what Victoria trainee driver would follow. Think earliest is 5am if I’m correct. There is parking at Victoria however there is only 10 spaces. However I have heard if they are all taken that the car park attendant may let you park in another space. You contact the uniform chap when you are on your course at Victoria and he will organise a permit for you. You also get 3 other stations on the southern route to nominate with Apcoa parking. So far everyone I spoke to said there is no issues with parking. But you need to remember the congestion charge as you’re not exempt from it. I have been told Victoria is a good depot though with a lot of varied work. Hope this helps mate.

Hello mate, does this apply for gx drivers too?

 

[jackf15]

I passed my MMI.

Congratulations

 

[ramsy12]

Congratulations

Thank You.

 

[SBane]

Hi everyone.

I applied for 2 trainee driver roles back in December 2024. 1 was with Thameslink and 1 with southern. I passed all assessments fairly quickly then had a driver manager interview with Thameslink in July 2025. I failed that interview and had to wait 6 months before reapplying. Luckily when you pass everything you don’t have to redo it all again so I just had to wait out the 6 months then email them and they will book me into a driver manager interview which they did with southern in first couple of days in June 2026 and I managed to pass. Had the MMI interview a week later and also passed that aswell. Got the email saying that I have passed everything and now in a talent pool waiting for a course.

So if you fail something along the way do not give up and think it’s over. Learn from the experience and go again with more knowledge.

Has anyone else here in the talent pool waiting for a email of when a course will be open or how long anyone had to wait for their course?

 

[Twin82]

Hi everyone.

I applied for 2 trainee driver roles back in December 2024. 1 was with Thameslink and 1 with southern. I passed all assessments fairly quickly then had a driver manager interview with Thameslink in July 2025. I failed that interview and had to wait 6 months before reapplying. Luckily when you pass everything you don’t have to redo it all again so I just had to wait out the 6 months then email them and they will book me into a driver manager interview which they did with southern in first couple of days in June 2026 and I managed to pass. Had the MMI interview a week later and also passed that aswell. Got the email saying that I have passed everything and now in a talent pool waiting for a course.

So if you fail something along the way do not give up and think it’s over. Learn from the experience and go again with more knowledge.

Has anyone else here in the talent pool waiting for a email of when a course will be open or how long anyone had to wait for their course?

Many congrats to you sir. Very inspiring story. Can I ask you, as I was told this, whenever you fail at any hurdle applying for the trainee train driver role, did you have to do a fresh application and the online assessments for the company you failed the dmi with? And did you have both applications running at the same time? Best of luck to you moving forward

 

[SBane]

Many congrats to you sir. Very inspiring story. Can I ask you, as I was told this, whenever you fail at any hurdle applying for the trainee train driver role, did you have to do a fresh application and the online assessments for the company you failed the dmi with? And did you have both applications running at the same time? Best of luck to you moving forward

So I applied for 2 trainee driver roles at the same time as they had 2 opening but one was ‘future trainee driver’ and the other was ‘trainee driver’. After I received the email saying I was unsuccessful in my DMI, about a month later I received a email about doing a assessment again for the southern, but straight after I received another email saying I already passed this and didn’t have to go through it again, I just had to wait the 6 months and email HR asking to book me in for another DMI but with southern and they did.

 

[discochicken88]

So I applied for 2 trainee driver roles at the same time as they had 2 opening but one was ‘future trainee driver’ and the other was ‘trainee driver’. After I received the email saying I was unsuccessful in my DMI, about a month later I received a email about doing a assessment again for the southern, but straight after I received another email saying I already passed this and didn’t have to go through it again, I just had to wait the 6 months and email HR asking to book me in for another DMI but with southern and they did.

Which depot are you in the pool for mate?

 

[SBane]

Brighton Depot

 

[NyameNeHene]

Which depot are you in the pool for mate?

Please I’ve got my 1st assessment coming up at go-ahead house and would be glad if anyone could help of what to expect and how to prep (materials). Thank you in advance.

 

[Saadi410]

Please I’ve got my 1st assessment coming up at go-ahead house and would be glad if anyone could help of what to expect and how to prep (materials). Thank you in advance.

Done mine 2 weeks ago, got the pass email 2 days later, feel free to PM.

 

[NyameNeHene]

Done mine 2 weeks ago, got the pass email 2 days later, feel free to PM.

Congrats and thanks for reaching out. Any advice or guidance prior to the day, please? And yeah did you do all 8 tests (including MMI) same day or you did it in stages? Any recommended materials since all I’ve got is the attached material in the invitation email, please? Any question you remember on your pre MMI interview sheet?

 

[Olifant12]

Hi all. I too have applied for driver with Southern. I was wondering if anyone had any information regarding Driver Diagrams? It seems to be impossible to find any from any depot. Any of the London depots would be great to see what they look like. Feel free to drop me a PM if you can help