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From what our training group has experienced of the apprenticeship, if you don't have A-C in GCSE Maths, English and ICT, you are obliged to do a week's top-up of classes and sit exams for which you get a City & Guilds qualification. Already had the Maths and English, so was exempt from those...

Just came across this thread. I'm in the same boat (I would say train but haven't been in 1 of those in months!). Barely 20 hours into mainline handling before lockdown happened. The assessments do sound monumental. But from what has been said, they assess you when you're ready. Bit like they...

Bletchley driver training is done in 3 locations. 1st week induction and simulator work is in Birmingham. Classroom work is split between Northampton and Bletchley. If you need any more info @James71 message me.

The application process for this role (at any TOC) is partly luck of the online system & algorithms. After failing final interview with London Overground, I applied to Southern. They didn't even give me a chance at their online SJT, despite having passed all the OPC tests. Ex-colleague drivers...

There was a lot of EMT recruitment for Kettering/Corby wasn't there? The electrification is proceeding apace from Bedford. Training is a lot of info to cram into 4 months of classroom. Induction, Intro to operations, Rules 1, Traction & Low speed handling, Rules 2, Route learning. Then the...

Well I haven't seen this year's applications, but it sounds the same format as last year. The SJT was internal, and Abellio sent a link to shl.com (online assessor) to take the assessment. OPC tests or not, it doesn't matter. You have to pass this first.

This will be the internal SJT. It usually consists as @Sal79 said of a 4 way multiple choice. 15-20 questions. It will be hypothetical driver scenarios. They're looking to see how well you follow rules, stand your ground, be responsible, delegate tasks, prioritise time, preparedness. As I said...

The furthest 1 of our group commutes is 30 miles/55 min. For me it's 20 miles/40 min. But in a bad rush hour that could creep up to 1 hour. Some parts of training were done in Northampton and the odd sim day in Brum. So effectively a commute to Bletchley followed by a train journey on top of...

If the tests were conducted by OPC, then you're allowed to fail twice. Therefore a 3rd go is possible. If a test was done internally by the train operator's own system of tests, then it wouldn't count as an attempt. Does that make sense? You could always contact OPC to find out for sure.

I feel your pain. First time I did OPC tests, I learned afterwards I passed everything but 19/20 for the interview part. I didn't reattempt for 8 years :lol: Cut a long story short, am now a trainee driver. Looking back, I can pinpoint the answer I screwed up and why it wasn't good enough. If...

Well I'm sure it has evolved since I did it 2 years ago. Looks like there's a video interview, which I didn't have. There's still the psychometrics to do of course, likely to an enhanced standard. You can prep with reaction games like Tetris or Bop-It. I used a book & DVD from How2Become -...

Core route is Northampton - Euston. This is what newbies learn. After a year or 2, you could go into a link that does the Watford - St Albans branch. Longer serving drivers work the Bedfords and to Rugby. Northampton is a sub-depot of Bletchley, and a lot more drivers there work to Birmingham...

Having been through the testing process twice, and interviewed by 2 different TOCs, I can say it is tough but don't give up :smile: I'm going through driver training with WMT. If anyone has questions about applying, testing, training, and/or Bletchley depot specific, just pop me a message and...

They're recruiting for 2021 now for Birmingham, Worcester, and Bletchley. I'm a WMT trainee driver from the 2019 intake. If you have any questions, just message me, and I'll try and answer them as best I can. https://apply.abellio.com/vacancies/

Good point. They can be both :smile:

Yup, when people think of railway depots, it's sidings and a big shed full of trains. That's a maintenance depot (or the posh modern term "Traincare facility centre"). Driver depots have signing on points, messroom facilities, maybe managers offices training rooms, lockers, etc. These are...

With Greater Anglia, they also have a depot at Bishops Stortford , which is near to WGC. Would mean a car commute all the time though. Juat have to keep checking GTR & Greater Anglia recruitment sites on a regular basis. Don't rely on job alerts. Vacancies with a 2 week expiry WILL be pulled...

There's a lot of sage advice from everyone here. Have you thought about going back into studying? Enrolling on a college course, or trying some free courses on futurelearn.com or the open university's website? This would show willingness to learn, acquiring new knowledge/skills, and...

So I was told by a E* engineer, there was just no more room on the cab drivers desk or in the power car for any more signalling equipment! Otherwise they would've used them in the Netherlands. Very true. You'd have thought they would've fitted 15kv ac to the 374s form the outset to be...

Yup, 374 Velaros have Dutch signalling and ETCS 2 for the Dutch high speed line. 373s cannot be upgraded with these. Strange really since Thalys sets have it. Also, in the centre of the 373s, they have big luggage holds in R9 & 10. These are used a lot for ski luggage for Alps services, and...