A career as a train driver

[amalek]

I've got my DMI on Wednesday. If anyone could pass on some advise would be great. What kind of questions? I've been told by a family member who is now a train driver that it's more of an informal talk?

 

[Terry844]

I've got my DMI on Wednesday. If anyone could pass on some advise would be great. What kind of questions? I've been told by a family member who is now a train driver that it's more of an informal talk?

Never treat it as an informal talk, in my opinion the DMI is what a normal job interview is. It is less demanding and more relaxed than the MMI but still just as important because this is where you prove yourself to the TOC/FOC and they decide if they want you to work for them.

 

[BigEasy]

Never treat it as an informal talk, in my opinion the DMI is what a normal job interview is. It is less demanding and more relaxed than the MMI but still just as important because this is where you prove yourself to the TOC/FOC and they decide if they want you to work for them.

It may just be me but I found the DMI much more challenging than the MMI - at least with the MMI you have a good idea about what they're going to ask you. My DMI lasted nearly two hours - my MMI only took 40 minutes. Do all your research and practise the STAR method and you will be fine, though. Best of luck @amalek

 

[amalek]

Thanks appreciate the advice. My MMI was around 2 hours. Left with a banging migraine after.

 

[mickeyC]

I've got my DMI on Wednesday. If anyone could pass on some advise would be great. What kind of questions? I've been told by a family member who is now a train driver that it's more of an informal talk?

My DMI was pretty relaxed.
Before going in I read about company values, future projects and awards won, also researched the CEO and a little company history.
I was sent a list of 30 questions that I could be asked prior to my interview and they only asked me 6.
As mentioned previously, I do think it’s about the station manager and train manager sussing you out if your a fit for the team.
Oh and remember to think of some decent questions to ask at the end.

Good luck tomorrow.

 

[amalek]

My DMI was pretty relaxed.
Before going in I read about company values, future projects and awards won, also researched the CEO and a little company history.
I was sent a list of 30 questions that I could be asked prior to my interview and they only asked me 6.
As mentioned previously, I do think it’s about the station manager and train manager sussing you out if your a fit for the team.
Oh and remember to think of some decent questions to ask at the end.

Good luck tomorrow.

I never received anything other than what to show up with. I've figured I think it does depend on the manager... From what I've heard some are relaxed and more informal and some are actual interview question

 

[Madisuperstar]

I've got my DMI on Wednesday. If anyone could pass on some advise would be great. What kind of questions? I've been told by a family member who is now a train driver that it's more of an informal talk?

Hi which TOC is it for if you don’t mind to tell please

 

[WillAlf]

Hi,
Could anyone give me some tips of how the interview process for trainee train drive works?

I have passed the psychometric tests and I have been told the next stage is the interview process.

Has anyone gone through it recently?

Many thanks!

 

[mcgrindah]

Hi,
Could anyone give me some tips of how the interview process for trainee train drive works?

I have passed the psychometric tests and I have been told the next stage is the interview process.

Has anyone gone through it recently?

Many thanks!

Have you been for the MMI yet? If not, you'll do that, then the DMI and assuming you pass them both then hopefully you should get offered a position.

 

[Brickz]

SWR - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

Hi all, I'm looking for a bit of advice . I applied for a few roles as a trainee train driver, Yeovil/Bournemouth /Salisbury. I have passed the assessment's. I have just been invited for an interview for SWR for the Yeovil position. I live in Hampshire and would have to relocate if successful. I...

www.railforums.co.uk

Have a read through this thread I believe your find some people have described their experience of it all and hopefully give you the answers you are looking for.

 

[WillAlf]

Have you been for the MMI yet? If not, you'll do that, then the DMI and assuming you pass them both then hopefully you should get offered a position.

Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
I haven’t been for the MMI yet.
That helps a lot, thank you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2026 ==

SWR - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

Hi all, I'm looking for a bit of advice . I applied for a few roles as a trainee train driver, Yeovil/Bournemouth /Salisbury. I have passed the assessment's. I have just been invited for an interview for SWR for the Yeovil position. I live in Hampshire and would have to relocate if successful. I...

www.railforums.co.uk

Have a read through this thread I believe your find some people have described their experience of it all and hopefully give you the answers you are looking for.

Thank you, that was gold!

 

[Mgees]

I've got my DMI on Wednesday. If anyone could pass on some advise would be great. What kind of questions? I've been told by a family member who is now a train driver that it's more of an informal talk?

How did you get on? Any idea when you’ll get your results?

 

[trainnewbie25]

I’m currently in a talent pool for avanti after passing all tests/interviews last year,but thinking of applying for a freight position to give me a second chance if you like of getting a start.
Has anyone previously done this?
Or would avanti look at this negatively?

 

[Horizon22]

Avanti would have absolutely no idea you had applied for the job at a freight company. Nor would any other company - albeit with a very very unlikely chance a TOC sharing the same parent company noticed - know about any other company, unless you told them.

 

[trainnewbie25]

Avanti would have absolutely no idea you had applied for the job at a freight company. Nor would any other company - albeit with a very very unlikely chance a TOC sharing the same parent company noticed - know about any other company, unless you told them.

I was thinking more about the testing side.I would obviously have to point out I’ve recently passed the tests with another TOC in the past year?
I presume they would be able to verify if I got to that stage via a database as opposed to me having to ask for proof from Avanti.
I’m just aware how hard it can be to get a foot in the door so to speak so I want to maximise my chances.

 

[Zugaga]

I was thinking more about the testing side.I would obviously have to point out I’ve recently passed the tests with another TOC in the past year?
I presume they would be able to verify if I got to that stage via a database as opposed to me having to ask for proof from Avanti.
I’m just aware how hard it can be to get a foot in the door so to speak so I want to maximise my chances.

I believe they look you up using your National Insurance number, which is why they ask for proof thereof alongside your photo ID when you sit the tests. It is possible that a given FOC might ask you to sit a test that Avant-garde-a-cluei did not though: there were people in my cohort in such a position.

 

[Madisuperstar]

I've got my DMI on Wednesday. If anyone could pass on some advise would be great. What kind of questions? I've been told by a family member who is now a train driver that it's more of an informal talk?

Hi there please let me know how is it been and share some info thanks

 

[md81]

I havnt seen EMR advertise any trainee driver positions for at least a year. Where do they get their trainees?

 

[jaybon92]

I havnt seen EMR advertise any trainee driver positions for at least a year. Where do they get their trainees?

They stated between i think November and January. I've been keeping in touch with the recruitment team and its been delayed. They will have more info this month. Its the main TOC im waiting for

 

[apjs87]

I applied to GWR in August 2024. Got into a talent pool in September 2025. Still in that pool.

Same here. Been in the Plymouth Pool since July 2025. I've bumped into a few drivers in my current role and one mentioned he'd been waiting 3 years!

 

[RobotBen91]

Same here. Been in the Plymouth Pool since July 2025. I've bumped into a few drivers in my current role and one mentioned he'd been waiting 3 years!

One of the others at my assessment day in June 2025 had originally applied for Plymouth in August 2024. I've been in the reserve list for Exeter since September. Think we're all as keen as each other to get started!

 

[CarineNoctua]

Good afternoon, pending a successful medical I start in the classroom in June for a trainee driver job at Waverley for ScotRail. I’ve read all the tips regarding taking plenty of notes, listening and asking questions, revising, and not reading ahead. I’m just wondering about the kit drivers get issued with and if there’s anything outside it I ought to think about other items worth investing in?

 

[RiverDon]

I’m just wondering about the kit drivers get issued with and if there’s anything outside it I ought to think about other items worth investing in?

Congratulations! With ScotRail you will be issued with your kit bag at your home depot when you start and you need to take it with you to the Training Academy every day. It has all the equipment you'll need for driving in it already:

• hi-vis vest
• watch
• set of train keys
• leather key holder for your belt
• fancy torch
• notebook
• blue gloves
• hand sanitiser
• spare battery for torch

I'd suggest writing your name clearly on the outside of your bag when you get it, otherwise you'll struggle to pick it out when it's stashed in a big pile at the Training Academy or on the rack in the bothy.

They'll give you a Samsung tablet at the training academy and you also have you have take that with you to the Academy or on train. In your first week at the Academy they will produce an ID card and give you a temporary travel pass but it can take a few weeks/months for the staff travel smartcard to arrive. You'll be sent a uniform request sheet before you start and whatever you order will either be posted directly to your house or be waiting for you when you start in Glasgow. You'll probably pick up a few extra bits of kit or uniform as you go through the course.

I started a thread last year asking about what extra stuff experienced drivers found handy to carry because my wife wanted to buy me something useful to celebrate my new job. There were lots of suggestions but the only things I've actually added to my everyday kit are a nice insulated Contigo coffee cup, camping knife/fork/collapsible bowl set for food, a folder for keeping paperwork neat and some antibac wipes for cleaning the filthy cab controls. Everything you put in your bag adds to the weight and it becomes a pain (literally!) to carry round.

*Edit* this is the thread - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/driver-bag-essential-kit.292484/

 

[CarineNoctua]

Congratulations! With ScotRail you will be issued with your kit bag at your home depot when you start and you need to take it with you to the Training Academy every day. It has all the equipment you'll need for driving in it already:

• hi-vis vest
• watch
• set of train keys
• leather key holder for your belt
• fancy torch
• notebook
• blue gloves
• hand sanitiser
• spare battery for torch

I'd suggest writing your name clearly on the outside of your bag when you get it, otherwise you'll struggle to pick it out when it's stashed in a big pile at the Training Academy or on the rack in the bothy.

They'll give you a Samsung tablet at the training academy and you also have you have take that with you to the Academy or on train. In your first week at the Academy they will produce an ID card and give you a temporary travel pass but it can take a few weeks/months for the staff travel smartcard to arrive. You'll be sent a uniform request sheet before you start and whatever you order will either be posted directly to your house or be waiting for you when you start in Glasgow. You'll probably pick up a few extra bits of kit or uniform as you go through the course.

I started a thread last year asking about what extra stuff experienced drivers found handy to carry because my wife wanted to buy me something useful to celebrate my new job. There were lots of suggestions but the only things I've actually added to my everyday kit are a nice insulated Contigo coffee cup, camping knife/fork/collapsible bowl set for food, a folder for keeping paperwork neat and some antibac wipes for cleaning the filthy cab controls. Everything you put in your bag adds to the weight and it becomes a pain (literally!) to carry round.

*Edit* this is the thread - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/driver-bag-essential-kit.292484/

Thank you for such a comprehensive answer. I’m internal so I’ve got my pass (I remember the wait). I’m now off to read that thread!

 

[RyanMD]

Afternoon all,

I have my medical on Thursday and I'm due to start in June.

I'm just wondering what the take is on supplementation usage, Creatine, Zinc etc. Do any of you guys take them and have you ever had any issues re: flagging up on drug tests.

 

[Madisuperstar]

Afternoon all,

I have my medical on Thursday and I'm due to start in June.

I'm just wondering what the take is on supplementation usage, Creatine, Zinc etc. Do any of you guys take them and have you ever had any issues re: flagging up on drug tests.

Sorry mate can’t help with this but which company is it for

 

[electricdreams]

Afternoon all,

I have my medical on Thursday and I'm due to start in June.

I'm just wondering what the take is on supplementation usage, Creatine, Zinc etc. Do any of you guys take them and have you ever had any issues re: flagging up on drug tests.

Neither will be appearing on any drug panel mate, they're completely legal supplements and your body produces both naturally - so they won't be appearing as "external" in any test.

 

[Zugaga]

Afternoon all,

I have my medical on Thursday and I'm due to start in June.

I'm just wondering what the take is on supplementation usage, Creatine, Zinc etc. Do any of you guys take them and have you ever had any issues re: flagging up on drug tests.

I used to take creatine, which led to my seeing a consultant urologist who told me that just because people with a lot of muscle tissue will have elevated levels of the metabolic by-product creatine, it does not follow that introducing creatine into one's system will lead to increased muscle mass. He took the view that the supplement industry is a racket and you're better off with a glass of milk. I stand to be corrected, but zinc is a mineral (i.e. inorganic) of which any reasonably good diet will provide enough.

Regarding drug tests, well...you can't be too careful can you. My understanding is that a lot of people these days take pre-workout powder which contains creatine among other things that may or may not show up. There was an article in RMT News not long ago about an unfavourable result of a drug test being contested; others on here may know more about that case than I. What I can say for sure is that there were advisory notices on the noticeboards at the TOC where I used to work which strongly advised against using CBD, which is of course legally available in supermarkets and the like. The legality of the substance, then, is not necessarily the issue.

 

[johndominic]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been invited to a Trainee Train Driver Assessment Day with Great Western Railway, and I’m currently preparing for the psychometric tests.

The assessments include:

• Group Bourdon (GBD)
• TEA-Occ
• TRP 1 & 2
• WCT
• WAFV
• ATAVT
• 2Hand Coordination
• SJE

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who have taken these assessments before, especially for the Group Bourdon test.

At the moment I’m averaging around 6 rows per minute with few mistakes, and I’m trying to understand whether that pace is competitive enough or if I should focus more on improving speed while maintaining accuracy.

Any tips on:

• pacing strategy
• concentration techniques
• common mistakes to avoid
• realistic pass-level performance
• or how the actual assessment day feels

would be massively appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[WeGoAgain]

Afternoon all,

I have my medical on Thursday and I'm due to start in June.

I'm just wondering what the take is on supplementation usage, Creatine, Zinc etc. Do any of you guys take them and have you ever had any issues re: flagging up on drug tests.

Creatine is naturally forming. AFAIUI mainly found in the highest quantities in Red Meat. It also is not known as a drug neither have I come across any information to suggest it negatively affects cognitive function. - If you really want a definitive answer, try calling a TOC Medical examiner. BUPA have been known to carry out (at least initial) Driver Medicals.