Assessments & Medicals discussion

[Hypelegendz]

Yeah railways seem to go slow at recruitment unfortunately. Which company & depot have you applied for? What was your results

Bristol depot unfortunately I failed the scaat on this occasion so now have to wait six months for my resit

 

[Horizon22]

Hi I’m treated with tablet metformin I’ve had it for around 4 years and my current employer I told as I drive for them didn’t really bother and are a country wide firm.
I’ve never had a problem touch wood and have regular eye screening and check ups.
Thanks.

That should be OK as there are people with diabetes in safety-critical roles. However the only confirmation you will definitely get will be at a medical and unfortunately this tends to be at the end of the application process after a conditional offer.

 

[username182]

That should be OK as there are people with diabetes in safety-critical roles. However the only confirmation you will definitely get will be at a medical and unfortunately this tends to be at the end of the application process after a conditional offer.

Thank u I will just have to wait fingers crossed.

 

[DavidAtkin]

Hi guys just looking for some guidance on the medical itself.

What does it consist of ?

The standard breath test
urine sample
Eye test
Weight ect ?

 

[greeny14888]

Hi guys just looking for some guidance on the medical itself.

What does it consist of ?

The standard breath test
urine sample
Eye test
Weight ect ?

Depends what role for, driver was as follows:

Health questionnaire
Blood pressure
ECG
Close reading vision
Distance vision
Colour Blindness test
Hearing test
Breathalyser
Urine sample
BMI
Flexibility tests
Balance tests
Physical examination of neck, shoulders and back.
Stethoscope on heart, lungs and arteries.

For conductor it was a lot less. Drugs and alcohol, hearing and sight and general health will be present on most medicals

 

[DavidAtkin]

Thanks for that mate appreciate the info.

 

[Alfpp]

Thanks for that mate appreciate the info.

What position you gone for?

 

[DavidAtkin]

Trainee driver role. Not at medical stage yet currently waiting for assessment2 and possibly MMi on same day.

Passed first assessment & DMI

 

[Alfpp]

Trainee driver role. Not at medical stage yet currently waiting for assessment2 and possibly MMi on same day.

Passed first assessment & DMI

Ah fair play, well good luck with the next part of the recruitment. From applying to this now how longs it been?

 

[DavidAtkin]

Thanks same to you.

Nearly a year applied March last year. Test of patience that’s for sure

Ah fair play, well good luck with the next part of the recruitment. From applying to this now how longs it been?

 

[Alfpp]

O

Thanks same to you.

Nearly a year applied March last year. Test of patience that’s for sur wow I’ve heard of it been like upto 6months but not upto nearly 12months.

Wow nearly 12months, I’ve heard of them taking aslong as to 6month but never that long before. Well your patience has paid off eh, fingers crossed for you

 

[Pcoftw]

Can anyone help with DFFT?

Is there always a fault?
Do you need to do the faults in a particular order?
How much time do you get to complete the questions? 45 minutes?
How many questions are there? 20?

Any tips and tricks on completing it? I’ve searched the forum and don’t see many threads about it.

 

[Pintman]

Can anyone help with DFFT?

Is there always a fault?
Do you need to do the faults in a particular order?
How much time do you get to complete the questions? 45 minutes?
How many questions are there? 20?

Any tips and tricks on completing it? I’ve searched the forum and don’t see many threads about it.

You do need to do the faults in a particular order, that will be explained in the instructions. Make sure you understand, ask questions if you're not sure

 

[Pcoftw]

You do need to do the faults in a particular order, that will be explained in the instructions. Make sure you understand, ask questions if you're not sure

So if there is two faults. I.e blinds and washers, we mark them both on location of the fault but focus on the one with the higher priority when solving the fault code?

 

[Neatro]

So if there is two faults. I.e blinds and washers, we mark them both on location of the fault but focus on the one with the higher priority when solving the fault code?

You're overthinking it, you should have been given practice material (not the actual test) that'll be quite similar. Then the rest will be explained on the day on how/what order.

 

[Pcoftw]

You're overthinking it, you should have been given practice material (not the actual test) that'll be quite similar. Then the rest will be explained on the day on how/what order.

Are you given the fault finders guide in the actual test? Or is it all memory?

 

[Pintman]

So if there is two faults. I.e blinds and washers, we mark them both on location of the fault but focus on the one with the higher priority when solving the fault code?

All of this will be explained at the start of the test. If you go in with preconcieved ideas of what to do you risk confusing yourself and making a mistake in the actual test. Listen to the instructions, make sure you understand, and do as instructed.

 

[redjj]

I'm ex police too. PTSD also related to police related issue. I really wouldn't be too worried about it. Especially if its now being classed as stress.

Thanks for the reassurance!

I am only worried as it states PTSD on global health record - it doesn't have notes attached to say it is now treated as stress etc, just the initial PTSD.

 

[Quincy]

Are there generally any Medicals for Depot work, Apprenticeships at GWR, and if so, are they intense or just basic stuff such as alcohol, drug, eyesight and hearing?

Thanks

 

[kinkywinpat]

Hello everyone
I applied for GTR (Thameslink) trainee driver and have passed my SJT and mini scat. I have been told I would go in for driver assessment at a centre. Anyone who has done theirs recently or who has an idea what I should be expecting and how many test it would be on that day, so I can start practicing.
Thank you

 

[Burrowl]

I declared on my application form that I wanted reasonable adjustments.
They didn't offer me reasonable adjustments for the MMI .
Is that a cause for complaint?

 

[43066]

I declared on my application form that I wanted reasonable adjustments.
They didn't offer me reasonable adjustments for the MMI .
Is that a cause for complaint?

It probably depends what you asked for?

 

[Spincity]

I declared on my application form that I wanted reasonable adjustments.
They didn't offer me reasonable adjustments for the MMI .
Is that a cause for complaint?

Which TOC was it with

Did you ask for ‘reasonable adjustments’ through the rest of the process. What medical conditions required this.


I’m interested as it’s a verbal interview, what reasonable adjustments are required.

 

[Blondie2020]

I have just applied to become a trainee Train Conductor and have successfully passed my first interview and I was over the moon to say the least.
On doing some research about the next steps I looked deeper into the medical and the eye sight requirements and have some concerns.
My eyesight isn't the best but wearing glasses/contact lenses I am perfectly OK, especially as a postal worker which requires driving and constantly reading throughout the day. Does the conductor sight test take into consideration your better eye balancing out the worst eye. I have noticed some posts in the previous years and hoping for some information that's quite recent in 2024/25.
Most information online makes reference to train drivers as opposed to the conductors

Thanks

 

[Neatro]

I have just applied to become a trainee Train Conductor and have successfully passed my first interview and I was over the moon to say the least.
On doing some research about the next steps I looked deeper into the medical and the eye sight requirements and have some concerns.
My eyesight isn't the best but wearing glasses/contact lenses I am perfectly OK, especially as a postal worker which requires driving and constantly reading throughout the day. Does the conductor sight test take into consideration your better eye balancing out the worst eye. I have noticed some posts in the previous years and hoping for some information that's quite recent in 2024/25.
Most information online makes reference to train drivers as opposed to the conductors

Thanks

I recently had a medical for a driver role. My left eye (my bad one) is +3.5 and my right eye (my good eye) is +0.5 and I passed the eyesight test.

I made it more nervous in my head than it actually was. I'm sure you'd pass also unless your eyesight was really bad.

 

[Horizon22]

Are there generally any Medicals for Depot work, Apprenticeships at GWR, and if so, are they intense or just basic stuff such as alcohol, drug, eyesight and hearing?

Thanks

Yes medicals for depot work would be likely.

 

[Blondie2020]

I recently had a medical for a driver role. My left eye (my bad one) is +3.5 and my right eye (my good eye) is +0.5 and I passed the eyesight test.

I made it more nervous in my head than it actually was. I'm sure you'd pass also unless your eyesight was really bad.

Is that your prescription strength?
I am great with lenses/glasses but have read they test each eye separately and they is a minimum standard on each eye. For driving a car they take both eyes into consideration but think Northern don't do that.

 

[Neatro]

Is that your prescription strength?
I am great with lenses/glasses but have read they test each eye separately and they is a minimum standard on each eye. For driving a car they take both eyes into consideration but think Northern don't do that.

That is my prescription strength.

They tested my left and right eye separately with a standard eye test chart seeing how far down I could read down. Then they tested together and then with glasses.

There was also a paragraph I had to read as small as I could aided and unaided.

 

[Blondie2020]

That is my prescription strength.

They tested my left and right eye separately with a standard eye test chart seeing how far down I could read down. Then they tested together and then with glasses.

There was also a paragraph I had to read as small as I could aided and unaided.

I bet you were so relieved to have passed
My right eye is not the best and I am long sighted.
I read an article stating that corrected vision needed to be a maximum of 6/12 each eye.
My optician said with glasses I am
Left 6/4.5
Right 6/15
Contacts are not as good as my glasses.
Anything over 12 was a possible fail but I am not sure
Do you get your medical before your next interview? I couldn't imagine going through all the stress and then failing the medical

 

[Neatro]

I bet you were so relieved to have passed
My right eye is not the best and I am long sighted.
I read an article stating that corrected vision needed to be a maximum of 6/12 each eye.
My optician said with glasses I am
Left 6/4.5
Right 6/15
Contacts are not as good as my glasses.
Anything over 12 was a possible fail but I am not sure
Do you get your medical before your next interview? I couldn't imagine going through all the stress and then failing the medical

The 6/12 goes off the Snellen test which is the standard "letters" test you get at the opticians and 6/12 applies roughly to the 5th line down from the top.

So if you're 6/4.5 wouldn't that mean able to read all letters? And 6/15 would be somewhere between 4th and 5th line.

I don't wear contacts I wear glasses but only corrected in my left eye.

No for my assessment medical is at the end, so for eyesight related it was the standard eye test and colour vision tests.

But yeah as I said, I made it more stressful than it actually was, so I'm sure you'll be fine.