Northern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[PBOC0000]

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== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Sep 2026 ==

Hi just adding to this.
For me it has been a slightly different process, not sure if it varies on where you’re based etc.
For me I had the application, Maki assessment and then an invite to psychometric testing. I enquired about group assessments and for me that’s not a factor in this process.
I was just told I have the psychometric assessment to complete and then if I’m successful, the interview at the end.

What depot did you apply for?

 

[juspassingby]

Hi just adding to this.
For me it has been a slightly different process, not sure if it varies on where you’re based etc.
For me I had the application, Maki assessment and then an invite to psychometric testing. I enquired about group assessments and for me that’s not a factor in this process.
I was just told I have the psychometric assessment to complete and then if I’m successful, the interview at the end.

The interview at the end of the psychometric is an MMi and not the DMi.

The DMi usually after the Maki or right at the end and it depends on the depot.
My DMi interview was the last stage after a group assessment

 

[Adam Bezance]

It's under an hour on the train from Darlington to Leeds. They will not put you up in a hotel but will provide a TPE residential pass for commuting to Leeds

Thanks Hugo.

 

[Saranjan Raja]

Where do I apply for the job ?

 

[grimesy99]

I thought I did pretty well…. I scored 73% overall with only getting 4 wrong in total. Just the last section I had it split between 3/8 correct and 5 partially correct…. The first bit I got 13/15 correct and just 2 wrong on the last section….

 

[jstan89]

i just finished mine,

got 83% overall with 87% on the perceptual speed test, 14 correct, 1 wrong but had between 3 and 4 mins left at the end,

safety was 88% 6 correct 2 partial,

resilience was my weakest test 75% 1 wrong 2 partial 6 correct, I’ll let you know what they say when I get a response

 

[juspassingby]

i just finished mine,

got 83% overall with 87% on the perceptual speed test, 14 correct, 1 wrong but had between 3 and 4 mins left at the end,

safety was 88% 6 correct 2 partial,

resilience was my weakest test 75% 1 wrong 2 partial 6 correct, I’ll let you know what they say when I get a response

It's a pass mate, congrats.
Your weakest one just about on the 75% borderline that's required to pass.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Sep 2026 ==

I am jumping on this here to ask some questions now too. I recently got the first initial successful email for the trainee driver role on Friday just gone.

It said to sit tight and wait for an email for the maki test. How long is normal to wait for this link? I was wondering due to the fact it's been bank holiday weekend.

As a side note, is there any real decent ways to best prepare for the MAKI test or is it one of those where you can't really practice per se

You should have received the Maki login today pal.

 

[cpwaters]

Well just an update guys that I failed the Maki test this evening so that's my application over for another year!
Not very good that my lowest scores were on safety!
Gutted.

 

[adyan]

I got an 83% overall on my MAKI test recently, 91% perceptual speed, 88% safety, and 69% on resilience due to 1 wrong answer.

Although the portal says I have met the threshold, I have a feeling the resilience section may lead to me not being progressed.

 

[Comfy]

The interview at the end of the psychometric is an MMi and not the DMi.

The DMi usually after the Maki or right at the end and it depends on the depot.
My DMi interview was the last stage after a group assessment

I'm told the group assessments have been dropped from the recruitment process now

 

[juspassingby]

I'm told the group assessments have been dropped from the recruitment process now

That could be the case, it was very pointless in my opinion. They are always changing it and very inconsistent in how they do things.
There have been many who only did:

Maki
Psychometrics
Medical
Hired WITHOUT DTM interview

Then there was me:

Maki
Pschometrics
Telephone interview
Group assessment
DTM interview

They just can't make their minds up.

 

[freddie93]

I passed my psychometrics for northern earlier in the year but unfortunately failed at the DMI for trainee train driver. This was for a depot closest to my address.

I applied for an alternative depot for the same role but again different depot and passed the application stage and was told I didn’t need to complete maki tests as they use your previous attempt if completed within the last 6 months.

I have just received and email to say they are withdrawing my application as I’ve interviewed for role with last 12 months.

I cannot see anywhere online where you are excluded or not able to re-apply, especially given this is for a complete different depot.

Anyone had any experience with this? Seems a bit fishy to me, the application window was originally 2 weeks and rapidly reduced to only 5 days, something seems off…

 

[juspassingby]

I passed my psychometrics for northern earlier in the year but unfortunately failed at the DMI for trainee train driver. This was for a depot closest to my address.

I applied for an alternative depot for the same role but again different depot and passed the application stage and was told I didn’t need to complete maki tests as they use your previous attempt if completed within the last 6 months.

I have just received and email to say they are withdrawing my application as I’ve interviewed for role with last 12 months.

I cannot see anywhere online where you are excluded or not able to re-apply, especially given this is for a complete different depot.

Anyone had any experience with this? Seems a bit fishy to me, the application window was originally 2 weeks and rapidly reduced to only 5 days, something seems off…

Used to be 6 months, sadly you can't apply again within a year for the same role.

Also the job ad for Manchester was for 5 days but cut down to 3 days. As soon as they get max number of applicants, they close it. These roles get 20k+ applicants so makes sense as to why they close it sooner.

 

[freddie93]

Used to be 6 months, sadly you can't apply again within a year for the same role.

Also the job ad for Manchester was for 5 days but cut down to 3 days. As soon as they get max number of applicants, they close it. These roles get 20k+ applicants so makes sense as to why they close it sooner.

Same role different depot still applies? Seems harsh to postpone for 12 months for another depot imo. Basically treat the same as someone who has failed their psychometric.

Really struggling to understand the logic behind that one

 

[juspassingby]

Same role different depot still applies? Seems harsh to postpone for 12 months for another depot imo. Basically treat the same as someone who has failed their psychometric.

Really struggling to understand the logic behind that one

Failing psychometric means a year wait too on the new rules since late 2024.

And yeah I did my interview in January and in the email it said if I failed the interview, I couldn't apply again for another year.

 

[Colly103]

Same role different depot still applies? Seems harsh to postpone for 12 months for another depot imo. Basically treat the same as someone who has failed their psychometric.

Really struggling to understand the logic behind that one

Think this is in the application wording somewhere. I googled it and it said that if you fail the DMI it’s normally a year. If you fail earlier stages such as assessment day it’s 6 months. Not sure how true that is but at least you have your psychometric passes - I went for same one and failed the ATAVT so it’s a year for me either way. Best of luck going forward

 

[freddie93]

Failing psychometric means a year wait too on the new rules since late 2024.

And yeah I did my interview in January and in the email it said if I failed the interview, I couldn't apply again for another year.

It said on my failed DMI, something along the lines of, we hope you apply next year. It didn’t state I couldn’t apply for a different depot. Honestly seems abit bizarre to me, a year doesn’t seem a long time but when psychometrics are only valid for 5 years, it really reduces the chances of securing a role

 

[GPR]

That could be the case, it was very pointless in my opinion. They are always changing it and very inconsistent in how they do things.
There have been many who only did:

Maki
Psychometrics
Medical
Hired WITHOUT DTM interview

Then there was me:

Maki
Pschometrics
Telephone interview
Group assessment
DTM interview

They just can't make their minds up.

Hired without a DMI? Are you 100% on that?

I passed my psychometrics for northern earlier in the year but unfortunately failed at the DMI for trainee train driver. This was for a depot closest to my address.

I applied for an alternative depot for the same role but again different depot and passed the application stage and was told I didn’t need to complete maki tests as they use your previous attempt if completed within the last 6 months.

I have just received and email to say they are withdrawing my application as I’ve interviewed for role with last 12 months.

I cannot see anywhere online where you are excluded or not able to re-apply, especially given this is for a complete different depot.

Anyone had any experience with this? Seems a bit fishy to me, the application window was originally 2 weeks and rapidly reduced to only 5 days, something seems off…

If you haven’t passed the DMI to the score that they want then that’s why they’ll have you wait for 12 months, so other applicants get the chance of applying and having a driver manager interview after passing psychometrics.
Ultimately the driver manager is recruiting you and if you haven’t performed to the guidelines they have or an applicant comes across to them as someone that they don’t want, then the wait will mean the applicant doesn’t get another chance straight away as it may be a waste of time for the DTMs and they can interview someone else instead with the limited valued time they have and get paid for.
I’ve been in your position and it’s frustrating but that’s my view. Use the time to look at the questions you were asked and try and gain relevant experience needed to answer the qs or polish up on the experiences you have and the way to deliver them. Obviously other factors come in to also not delivering on the day with interviews too.
Good luck with applying and certainly dont give up.

 

[juspassingby]

Hired without a DMI? Are you 100% on that?

110% sure on that and it wasn't just one person either, they skipped the DMi completely.

 

[GPR]

110% sure on that and it wasn't just one person either, they skipped the DMi completely.

Surprised by that with how big the company is and how many layers and people associated to the process there is.

 

[juspassingby]

Surprised by that with how big the company is and how many layers and people associated to the process there is.

I was surprised myself and thought there was a mistake.. but no mistakes, it was intentional. When they are desperate, they take short cuts but when they have enough that's when they become picky.

 

[ChooChoo95]

Hi, I did my Maki assessment last Friday and got an overall score of 83%.

I’ve signed into my Northern career account and it says “You have met the threshold for the Trainee Train Driver Assessment.”

It’s now been 7 days and I’ve not received any further correspondence, was just wondering if anyone else was in the same boat?

TIA

 

[Blu-rayLoco]

Hi yes, same boat, still paddling hoping for good news.

 

[ChooChoo95]

No news is good news as they say but I’ve seen of people receiving emails to say they haven’t passed and their application won’t be proceeding so would’ve thought we may of gotten something to say they’re still considering us etc.

 

[parky1872]

I completed my Maki assessment last Thursday and got 88% overall

On the application portal it says “invite to Driver psychometric assessment” but not had any emails or phone calls

Is anyone else at the same position?

 

[Accman Scoop]

I completed my Maki assessment last Thursday and got 88% overall

On the application portal it says “invite to Driver psychometric assessment” but not had any emails or phone calls

Is anyone else at the same position?

Yes I am the same changed late today, suspect bank holiday will have delayed things, I completed mine Sunday.
Well played on maki score, I got 78% and thought I might not get through if they took the “best scorers”

 

[ChooChoo95]

Which depot did you apply for and if you don’t mind me asking what did you score for each test? Thanks.

 

[jstan89]

I got an update on the portal saying I’ve met the threshold but no invite to psychometric or hadn’t received any sort of email to say I’d met the threshold, hopefully I’ll still progress once everyone’s finished their tests, my deadline to take the test was tomorrow at 1pm, mine was Manchester Piccadilly

 

[T32D]

The Maki test seems to be another new addition to Northern’s recruitment process.

Has anyone completed it recently for either the Blackburn or Newcastle trainee driver applications that came out a couple of weeks back?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Hiya! I know this reply is so so late, but I did the Newcastle Trainee driver, applied just before the 18th August when it closed early, passed screening but had to wait around 1½ weeks to hear back since they were finishing screening for everyone else, got sent the link for the maki online assessment, completed that on the first day I recieved it and around 2 weeks later, I checked northern by logging in to the candidate portal and saw that I have an invite to the psychometric testing, haven't had any further follow-ups from the team about this though.

 

[futuremrskerr]

Hi all,

I passed my assessments last Friday with 77%. Does anyone know how long it usually takes to get an update after that? TIA