A career as a train driver

[Class2ldn]

Apologies, do you get 3 attempts for each TOC or 3 attempts ever? Thanks

3 fails ever, you can pass it as many times as you want but it's for all companies, not per company

 

[JacksonDay]

You get 3 lives now I waited until I'd been given a date for my assessments, after which they sent through practice materials, and then I did additional practise for those specific tests using some different software over a few weeks. A lot of TOCs use different tests, so I don't think you need to start practising this early

Ah that’s good to know! Just need to get an interview now

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2025 ==

I disagree with the not showing your overly interested, they want to know you and an interest in the railway (bar money) I’d of thought would peak there interest. I’m currently on a course and around half of the people on my course are train spotters/ locative firemen etc, and all told the interviewers this

I’d figured as such and was a bit surprised when I was told this, but thought it a good idea to run it past the forum just in case

 

[SWR_DRIVER]

Apologies, do you get 3 attempts for each TOC or 3 attempts ever? Thanks

3 attempts ever. All TOCs follow the same OPC assesments.

 

[Unobrow]

Apologies, do you get 3 attempts for each TOC or 3 attempts ever? Thanks

3 attempts (under the new rules) full stop until they change the testing which resets the “scoring”.

 

[Ridetherails]

Apologies, do you get 3 attempts for each TOC or 3 attempts ever? Thanks

3 fails in total over all TOCs ever

 

[PaulRay]

Apologies, do you get 3 attempts for each TOC or 3 attempts ever? Thanks

The 3 attempts are across the board - irrespective of the TOC. If you fail 3 times you’re done forever.

 

[PeteBre]

Does anyone have any idea of the numbers involved with a Trainee Train Driver role? (Applications per 1 job)

Let’s say the order was…
Application
Online Test
OPC 1
OPC 2
MMI
DMI

Eg.
Application (1500 applications)
Online Test (500 after sift)
OPC 1 (200)
OPC 2 (50)
MMI (25)
DMI (20)

THE JOB (1)

 

[mimoma]

Does anyone have any idea of the numbers involved with a Trainee Train Driver role? (Applications per 1 job)

Let’s say the order was…
Application
Online Test
OPC 1
OPC 2
MMI
DMI

Eg.
Application (1500 applications)
Online Test (500 after sift)
OPC 1 (200)
OPC 2 (50)
MMI (25)
DMI (20)

THE JOB (1)

I imagine it varies immensely from job to job depending on the TOC, location, pay, etc, but I would assume they would all be in the thousands.

One I applied to posted they received over 4,000 applications, but I don’t know how many open positions they were recruiting for.

 

[Brickz]

Southeasterns intake that started around June last year had 15000 applications this went down to 5000 that made it to progress to the assessment centre and they currently have around 3000 left to get into the assessment centre.

 

[DogTrain]

Thanks Unobrow and AverageJoe! I will keep that in mind

I am a Driver for GWR. Not sure which TOC you will apply for, but ours offers internal hiring as soon as you have completed 6 months probation. I did 5 years as a guard prior, but there are plenty of external hires or internal, with less company time than me, who are qualified drivers now. In my opinion, internal is easier. We receive vacancy emails every Friday, which are filled before going to the general public. However, bare in mind your previous experience and if a trainee train driver role appears first, I would apply for that first.

 

[asrut10]

Does anyone have any info on southeastern trainee driver annual leave? Was told no time off for 3months but hearing it may be longer.

Thanks

 

[FR510]

Does anyone have any info on southeastern trainee driver annual leave? Was told no time off for 3months but hearing it may be longer.

Thanks

You won't be allowed to take annual leave during the classroom rules and traction course, which is about 3 months. Although I do believe there is a weeks break built into the course somewhere now which everyone on the course has to take.

Once you've successfully passed that stage and are with your DI you are encouraged to take the same leave as your DI, but it's not compulsory.

 

[D3WY]

Does anyone have any info on southeastern trainee driver annual leave? Was told no time off for 3months but hearing it may be longer.

Thanks

In with GTR, I can't take any leave for the 6 months of driving school (rules and regs) as a group we get allocated two lots of 1 week leave in that 6 months and from my understanding when we are out with DI's we will take the same leave as the DI (as they are allocated to you)

 

[asrut10]

Hi is

 

[Dragon77]

Hi, I done my assessment day for trainee driver for southern on thurs 17th April and still waiting to hear about results.

I appreciate there has been 2 bank holidays so I'm guessing that's why it's taking longer for a result. The assessor said we should hear back within a week.

Sorry could be me just being impatient.

How long has everyone else waited for their results?

 

[gerg]

Afternoon guys, have my assessment with southeastern on Wednesday.

Have done a fair bit of research both on this thread and elsewhere but I have 4 questions before the big day!

1. I know there’s not an exact answer but I’m hitting 10 lines on the bourdon test with 0 mistakes, 11/12 with 1 or 2 mistakes. Is it the gut instinct of existing drivers this sounds decent, And if I was to pick a pace do I go for the slower with 0 mistakes or faster with 1 or 2?

2. The practice test in the provided pack for the dials and cables section only has 3 dials as opposed to the 4 in the real test and all 3 are ordered in colour priority. On the day I know people are being thrown off by the introduction of numbers to assist ordering. Am I right that the lower numbers are prioritised first on dials with same colour priority?

3. In the MMI is it completely about me and situations I’ve experienced or will I be asked company based questions about lines , ethos etc.. or are those questions to be found in the DMI interview?

4. I was flagged for minor colour deficiency when I was younger, has never been an issue in my day to day life, have seen that the RSSB have found drivers with minor deficeny were being unfairly struck out and as a result TOC’s were changing their test so it only penalises severe deficiencies.

Does anyone know if these new tests have been rolled out or I might be unlucky Wednesday? Also at what point in the assesment do they test? I assume at the get go as to not waste anyone’s time.

Many thanks for any replies before the day, I know it’s last minute but only been introduced to this amazing thread today!

 

[D3WY]

Hi, I done my assessment day for trainee driver for southern on thurs 17th April and still waiting to hear about results.

I appreciate there has been 2 bank holidays so I'm guessing that's why it's taking longer for a result. The assessor said we should hear back within a week.

Sorry could be me just being impatient.

How long has everyone else waited for their results?

I would email them, usualy they are pretty good.....

Time wise can depend realy, when I did mine he said if no email in a week chase it up so if I was you I'd email and just ask.

 

[Dragon77]

I would email them, usualy they are pretty good.....

Time wise can depend realy, when I did mine he said if no email in a week chase it up so if I was you I'd email and just ask.

Ok thanks I pop them a message

 

[FR510]

Afternoon guys, have my assessment with southeastern on Wednesday.

Have done a fair bit of research both on this thread and elsewhere but I have 4 questions before the big day!

1. I know there’s not an exact answer but I’m hitting 10 lines on the bourdon test with 0 mistakes, 11/12 with 1 or 2 mistakes. Is it the gut instinct of existing drivers this sounds decent, And if I was to pick a pace do I go for the slower with 0 mistakes or faster with 1 or 2?

2. The practice test in the provided pack for the dials and cables section only has 3 dials as opposed to the 4 in the real test and all 3 are ordered in colour priority. On the day I know people are being thrown off by the introduction of numbers to assist ordering. Am I right that the lower numbers are prioritised first on dials with same colour priority?

3. In the MMI is it completely about me and situations I’ve experienced or will I be asked company based questions about lines , ethos etc.. or are those questions to be found in the DMI interview?

4. I was flagged for minor colour deficiency when I was younger, has never been an issue in my day to day life, have seen that the RSSB have found drivers with minor deficeny were being unfairly struck out and as a result TOC’s were changing their test so it only penalises severe deficiencies.

Does anyone know if these new tests have been rolled out or I might be unlucky Wednesday? Also at what point in the assesment do they test? I assume at the get go as to not waste anyone’s time.

Many thanks for any replies before the day, I know it’s last minute but only been introduced to this amazing thread today!

You won't be tested for colour deficiency until you go for the medical at Medigold, which is after you get offered a job.

 

[Piper720]

How does it work commuting for example as an LNER driver at Kings Cross on an early start/ very late finish. I’m assuming all drivers don’t live in London so those who commute in from Kent or Sussex say how does it work if you’re to start before the first train can get you there? I know the likes of Eurostar put you in a hotel before a certain time. Does it just mean you have to live on a 24 hour line or within London for working out of a depot there?

 

[transportphoto]

You’re expected to be able to get to the depot without reliance on public transport (e.g. by car).

 

[D3WY]

How does it work commuting for example as an LNER driver at Kings Cross on an early start/ very late finish. I’m assuming all drivers don’t live in London so those who commute in from Kent or Sussex say how does it work if you’re to start before the first train can get you there? I know the likes of Eurostar put you in a hotel before a certain time. Does it just mean you have to live on a 24 hour line or within London for working out of a depot there?

I'd imagine the same as most TOCs, ie you have to live within a certain distance from your home depot and it's down to you to get to your booking on point etc. After booking on most TOCs would supply taxis. Ie if you book on at 3 am and you need to get from book on to a train depot to collect a train (because you are one of the first trains of the day) they would supply transport..

That's how most TOCs work anyway

Alternatively to a taxi they may have early and late staff trains

 

[Piper720]

So in London Depots do they provide parking for drivers?

 

[gerg]

Hi all, passed all my assessments on Wednesday and waiting for my MMI and medical dates, still very anxious about the potential of being flagged for colour deficiency, does anyone know if South Eastern or other TOC’s have accepted the RSSB findings and altered their colour testing?

 

[Piper720]

Hi all, passed all my assessments on Wednesday and waiting for my MMI and medical dates, still very anxious about the potential of being flagged for colour deficiency, does anyone know if South Eastern or other TOC’s have accepted the RSSB findings and altered their colour testing?

They just do the standard Ishihara plate test for testing the colour vision in the medical

 

[Dragon77]

Have just found out I passed the assessments for southern and email saying next steps is dmi interview. I assumed next interview is mmi then dmi or is it the other way round? Had to pre fil mmi interview questions at the assessment centre

 

[D3WY]

Have just found out I passed the assessments for southern and email saying next steps is dmi interview. I assumed next interview is mmi then dmi or is it the other way round? Had to pre fil mmi interview questions at the assessment centre

DMI next, MMI is the very last thing (apart from a medical assuming you pass MMI)

 

[Dippa]

DMI next, MMI is the very last thing (apart from a medical assuming you pass MMI)

Not sure if it’s different for each TOC but for me, DMI is after MMI with Chiltern

 

[nolypops83]

Have just found out I passed the assessments for southern and email saying next steps is dmi interview. I assumed next interview is mmi then dmi or is it the other way round? Had to pre fil mmi interview questions at the assessment centre

MMI is part of the psychometric tests.

 

[gerg]

They just do the standard Ishihara plate test for testing the colour vision in the medical

They? Under new guidance TOC’s will be conducting an additional severity test (maybe a CAD). I’m just trying to establish if TOC’s have started to roll these out already (with the findings only posted a month ago) or whether it would be worthwhile delaying my application until they do..