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Northern - Maintenance Depot Driver
- Thread starter Andywen
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RailUK Forums
Hi mate, just sent you a message instead as I thought it might be easier
omalleys
Member
When I had the interview for the same role but in Manchester, they said if I was successful I'd be placed into a talent pool but it should progress very quickly. They said they were crying out for positions and actually want to have 5 more new recruits after the round I applied for.
I don't know if it could be similar for the depot you've been at, but that's what was said at the one I applied at.
I don't think being in the talent pool was mentioned in the job listing either. Not that I can remember
Just to put your mind at rest, I was in this position 7 years ago. Heard nothing for almost two months, then one Saturday morning a letter arrived with my contract in and a hotel reservation for the Sunday evening in Manchester for a training course Monday-Friday for 7 weeks!!!!
Taylor-j01
Member
Northern have a vacancy for Maintenance depot driver at Barrow in furness.
I thought Northern depot drivers are just at there train care centres like heaton or Newton heath…
Looks like this is a LMD light maintenance depot advert
Would a depot driver take the trains to larger depots for maintenance or would it just be the above allways keeping on site
Anyone know what the shift pattern is like ?
Grade B+ Shifts…
I thought Northern depot drivers are just at there train care centres like heaton or Newton heath…
Looks like this is a LMD light maintenance depot advert
- Shunting trains and keeping them moving within the TrainCare Centre boundaries, ensuring everything is where it needs to be.
- Fuelling trains & Replenishing water tanks, keeping the essentials topped up.
- Preparing trains for service, making sure they’re safe & ready to hit the tracks.
Would a depot driver take the trains to larger depots for maintenance or would it just be the above allways keeping on site
Anyone know what the shift pattern is like ?
Grade B+ Shifts…
1D53
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
- Messages
- 2,885
Depot Drivers at Barrow just work within the confines of the LMD.
NorthernTech
Member
edit: I found the answer via search 
Last edited:
SoupG886
Member
Hi all,
I was just looking for some advice/ help if at all possible please. I have an assessment day interview with Northern for a maintenance depot driver position.
Has anyone been for an interview for this role recently as I have heard the process has changed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
I was just looking for some advice/ help if at all possible please. I have an assessment day interview with Northern for a maintenance depot driver position.
Has anyone been for an interview for this role recently as I have heard the process has changed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Hi,
How did this go?
Did you get the help you needed?
I just got invited for an online assessment, it’s called Engage Assessment. It’s said it will last for about 16 minutes.
Did you do this?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
I have recently applied for a Depot Train Driver role at Northern and got an invite for an online Engage Assessment which is said to last for about 16 minutes.
Not sure what form it will take and so will appreciate any help I can get.
Hello all - long time listener, first time caller.
Are there any Northern depot drivers on here, just wanted to pick your brains on the T&Cs for depot drivers drivers at Northern, is there any enhancements of such? What is the rest day pattern like?
I am looking at applying for a vacancy, I have over 15 years on the railway in various roles, but this would be something completely new.
Thanks in advance
Are there any Northern depot drivers on here, just wanted to pick your brains on the T&Cs for depot drivers drivers at Northern, is there any enhancements of such? What is the rest day pattern like?
I am looking at applying for a vacancy, I have over 15 years on the railway in various roles, but this would be something completely new.
Thanks in advance
Last edited:
1D53
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
- Messages
- 2,885
East and West have different T&C's but also there were two sets of T&C's at Neville Hill between Northern and EMR, I'm not sure if these have been harnonised.
ld987
Member
Hello
This is my first post. I've recently been invited to an assessment centre in Newcastle for a Maintenance Depot Driver position for Northern at Heaton TrainCare Centre on Thursday 23/07/2026. Anyone who's recently been to an assessment day for the role (even for different depots) in recent months/years, or current MDD's, is there any tips or advice that could be helpful for me or anyone in a similar position to me? Also any assistance on what to expect would be kindly appreciated.
Thanks
Ld987
This is my first post. I've recently been invited to an assessment centre in Newcastle for a Maintenance Depot Driver position for Northern at Heaton TrainCare Centre on Thursday 23/07/2026. Anyone who's recently been to an assessment day for the role (even for different depots) in recent months/years, or current MDD's, is there any tips or advice that could be helpful for me or anyone in a similar position to me? Also any assistance on what to expect would be kindly appreciated.
Thanks
Ld987
Is this assessment as in psychometric or assessment day as in the group thing
ld987
Member
Hi bk42,
It’s a groups assessment day. I believe those that pass the assessment day get processed to psychometrics
That's a strange one I just did a phone screening then straight onto psychometric without the assessment day
ld987
Member
I attended. It appears they've changed the structure of the application process going forward compared to recent years. The assessment day for me involved group and individual tasks aiming to tease both the role responsibilities and the psychometric assessments for those who succeed the assessment day. To clarify, this assessment day did not include an interview or formal psychometric assessments. I've fortunately passed and am set to complete the psychometric tests next month. Hope the above helps any Northern Rail applicants interested in future maintenance depot driver roles.
Are you internal or external?
ld987
Member
Thanks a lot, bk42. What did you think to the psychometric testing when you did it? I'm aiming to treat preparation like it's for mainline for the sake of practice.
I found it easy enough, but I think alot of the failures are people putting too much pressure on themselves whereas I walked in not expecting to pass but wanted to do everything so I knew what to expect next time. The booklet they send you helps alot and can find alot of practice material online
ld987
Member
I'll keep that in mind when preparing and going in. Thanks, bk42.
I’ve got a feeling the assessment day for internal candidates stopped when Matt went driving but I don’t know for certain, I just know of people internal since then who didn’t have to do them and only have interviews.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience.
I was wondering if you could provide a bit more detail about the group exercise and the individual task. What kind of activities were involved in the group exercise, and what did you have to do during the individual task?
Any information or tips from your experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, and congratulations on passing your assessment day.
I didn't, I was telephone screening then straight on to psychometric though I don't know if I avoided all that by a matter of a few days