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Northern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

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Icebar

New Member
Joined
7 Sep 2026
Messages
2
Location
Manchester
Hi all - I applied 28/08. Completed MAKI assessment on 03/09. Scored 85% overall and the portal updated today to "Invite to Driver Psychometric Assessment".

Will now wait patiently for the date to come through!
 
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RailUK Forums

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Manda2194

Member
Joined
30 Apr 2020
Messages
272
Location
north west
Just to confirm with everyone then it seems the psychometric assessments are before the dmi. The website reads the other way so perhaps things have changed
 
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Cottoneyedjoel

Member
Joined
20 Feb 2025
Messages
19
Location
newcastle
Mine still states "You have met the threshold for the Trainee Train Driver Assessment." Still waiting for it too change, I applied for Newcastle
 
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ChooChoo95

Member
Joined
28 Aug 2026
Messages
7
Location
Doncaster
Mine still hasn’t updated, trying to remain positive but bit disheartening when people who scored less on average are being invited for the psychometric test and I’m not. I applied for Sheffield.
 
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Tacko92

New Member
Joined
7 Sep 2026
Messages
1
Location
Sheffield
ChooChoo95 said:
Mine still hasn’t updated, trying to remain positive but bit disheartening when people who scored less on average are being invited for the psychometric test and I’m not. I applied for Sheffield.
Click to expand...
I’m the same. Also applied for Sheffield.
 
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MH117

Member
Joined
13 Aug 2024
Messages
54
Location
sheffield
Rule of thumb for railway recruitment is don’t feel disheartened about waits or other depots moving faster. If you’ve passed you’ve passed and you will hear something it can just take time
 
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futuremrskerr

Member
Joined
5 Sep 2026
Messages
5
Location
Stockport
Icebar said:
Hi all - I applied 28/08. Completed MAKI assessment on 03/09. Scored 85% overall and the portal updated today to "Invite to Driver Psychometric Assessment".

Will now wait patiently for the date to come through!
Click to expand...
Did you get a date for your psychometric tests? Also, which depot do you apply for?
 
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jstan89

New Member
Joined
30 Aug 2026
Messages
4
Location
Manchester
Finally an update, no email but says invite to psychometric assessment in portal, applied for Manchester Piccadilly, with 83% completed test last Wednesday, incase anyone in similar position
 
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FelixHCH

New Member
Joined
11 Sep 2026
Messages
1
Location
Oldham
Received MAKI assessment invitation on 02/09, clicked on the link and It shown that I was not required to perform the test beacuse I have pass the test in previous application within a 6 month period.

However, today 11/09, when I log-on to the application portal, it shown that my applciation is withdrawn bacause I did not complete the MAKI assessment. MAKI team suggest me to contact Northern and I am still waiting for a reply.

Anyone has this kind of issue before?
 
Driver068

Driver068

Member
Joined
20 Feb 2014
Messages
666
Could I ask a quick question if I can. Do NORTHERN allow you to relocate or do you have to live within 45 min on application

Many thanks
 
Driver068

Driver068

Member
Joined
20 Feb 2014
Messages
666
Cheers for that - didn’t it used to be 60 min or has it changed/always been 45 min?
 
S

splice

New Member
Joined
11 Sep 2026
Messages
1
Location
Newcastle
I applied for Newcastle and still just says I have met the threshold. Could be score dependent with the higher scores being invited first, I got 78%. Not sure how many drivers they are recruiting for the area.

Will just keep my fingers crossed.
 
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Jonners00

Member
Joined
26 Jul 2023
Messages
12
Location
Leeds
I’m on the same course mate
r.t.hollingwor said:
Just got my final offer for Trainee Driver at Sheffield, starting 12/10/26 Contract to arrive in the next 5 days! Anyone else starting in Leeds for training?
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I’m on the same course mate. Well done to everyone who passed all of the tests and interviews. See you all in October!!
 
A

AmyScott2020

New Member
Joined
23 Jun 2025
Messages
1
Location
Newcastle tyne & wear
Has anyone got any good links to maki online assessment ? Preferably something very close to the real thing as I’ve heard a few times that it wasn’t the same on the practice paper as it was for the real thing ! Any help would be fantastic
 
P

PBOC0000

Member
Joined
29 Aug 2026
Messages
10
Location
Sheffield
AmyScott2020 said:
Has anyone got any good links to maki online assessment ? Preferably something very close to the real thing as I’ve heard a few times that it wasn’t the same on the practice paper as it was for the real thing ! Any help would be fantastic
Click to expand...
What practice paper have you done before?
 
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F

futuremrskerr

Member
Joined
5 Sep 2026
Messages
5
Location
Stockport
Got an email this morning to say that even though I passed the maki assessment with 77%, they’re only progressing people with the highest scores. So it’s a no for me this time
 
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Cottoneyedjoel

Member
Joined
20 Feb 2025
Messages
19
Location
newcastle
futuremrskerr said:
Got an email this morning to say that even though I passed the maki assessment with 77%, they’re only progressing people with the highest scores. So it’s a no for me this time
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Basically got the same thing; no idea what they want. Spoke to people I know at Northern, and they keep saying even the recruitment teams don't have a clue what's going on in terms of what direction they are going. If you passed the score needed, hopefully they don't make you wait a year until you can reapply
 
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