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Avanti - Trainee Train Drivers - Recruitment Discussion

ndjefc82

Member
Joined
5 Sep 2023
Messages
28
Location
Merseyside
New to this forum, just wondering if there are any other 2023 applicants (for manchester & liverpool) still waiting on their DMI?
Last email was march 2025 saying thanks for the patience and "We will be in touch once we have a date for you to come in for interview, however, please note, this may not be for another few months."

Its just concerning that its been a year with no word. I'd be a little more understanding if the process was done and if I'd made it into the talent pool waiting for a course date, but havent had the chance for that yet :(
I dont want to come off as impatient or ungrateful either, just wish there was more communication available.
In exactly the same boat.

Last email received on 24th March 2025 (With the 'r' missing from Driver).
You don't sound ungrateful at all, a quick email every few months is not too much to ask.

You've invested a lot time and effort into the intial application, and psychometric testing, the least you deserve is the occasional email.

I know most will say that 'it's how things work on the railway', but they've led you into thinking you'll have a chance at a job - if it's not the case then just say so!

Bad news is better than no news at all
 
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nalla

Member
Joined
14 Mar 2024
Messages
34
Location
winsford
New to this forum, just wondering if there are any other 2023 applicants (for manchester & liverpool) still waiting on their DMI?
Last email was march 2025 saying thanks for the patience and "We will be in touch once we have a date for you to come in for interview, however, please note, this may not be for another few months."

Its just concerning that its been a year with no word. I'd be a little more understanding if the process was done and if I'd made it into the talent pool waiting for a course date, but havent had the chance for that yet :(
I dont want to come off as impatient or ungrateful either, just wish there was more communication available.
im a 2023 applicant for manchester and liverpool and had my dmi last month, so they are still working through all the applicants.
 

PRZ91

New Member
Joined
17 Mar 2026
Messages
2
Location
Preston
im a 2023 applicant for manchester and liverpool and had my dmi last month, so they are still working through all the applicants.
I appreciate your response, it gives me a little bit of hope that I might get my DMI organised soon/this year, who knows! It's good to know they are still working through them, thank you :)
 

hopetorail

Member
Joined
16 Feb 2026
Messages
30
Location
London
Hi all, I just to inform, in case anyone else is waiting. I just received my OPC invitation for the Euston application. Best wishes to all.
 

ramsy12

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2026
Messages
111
Location
Cambridge
Anyone else got invite for Euston. I did not received yet any mail.
All the best for the ones who got the invite.
 

Sorcerer

Established Member
Joined
20 May 2022
Messages
2,114
Location
Liverpool
Good luck. I'm still waiting. Was it invitation for online tests or invitation to OPC center?
Which OPC test invitation you received??? Is it some situational test and concentration test???
When I did it a few years ago, the OPC asked for a situational judgement tests and ones about you as a person. The first concentration tests would be after that if you passed, but as far as I'm concerned wouldn't count towards your two/three lives. It's a slow process so don't be too put off by not receiving an email just yet. The OPC and recruitment teams at Avanti are small and dealing with hundreds if not thousands of applications already.
 

Zugaga

Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
50
Location
Surrey
Hoping to hear soon for us.
They turned me down, on the grounds that I did not meet their enhanced standard. I can only assume that this standard of theirs is even higher than the enhanced standard at the TOC for which I sat the assessments, because *they* told me I had passed!

Apparently I can reapply in 12 months.
 

ramsy12

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2026
Messages
111
Location
Cambridge
When I did it a few years ago, the OPC asked for a situational judgement tests and ones about you as a person. The first concentration tests would be after that if you passed, but as far as I'm concerned wouldn't count towards your two/three lives. It's a slow process so don't be too put off by not receiving an email just yet. The OPC and recruitment teams at Avanti are small and dealing with hundreds if not thousands of applications already.
Ohhh probably that would be the time taking process. Thanks for the information. Will wait and see what comes up.
They turned me down, on the grounds that I did not meet their enhanced standard. I can only assume that this standard of theirs is even higher than the enhanced standard at the TOC for which I sat the assessments, because *they* told me I had passed!

Apparently I can reapply in 12 months.
Ohhh mate that is very sad to hear. But what is more than enhanced standard probably they have set their own set.
 

Zugaga

Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
50
Location
Surrey
Ohhh probably that would be the time taking process. Thanks for the information. Will wait and see what comes up.

Ohhh mate that is very sad to hear. But what is more than enhanced standard probably they have set their own set.
Thanks, but I am quite sanguine: it was worth a punt, and it makes a change from the standard knock-back from the cookie cutter!

Anyway what they said, which I am beginning to realise is typical of the OPC, is that "Avanti operates to an enhanced standard".

An enhanced standard, you notice...implying that the enhanced standard for Avanti differs from the enhanced standard for [insert name of other TOC].

I don't suppose they can say much more without giving clues to the pass mark(s) for the various assessments, which of course are a closely-guarded secret.
 

ramsy12

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2026
Messages
111
Location
Cambridge
Thanks, but I am quite sanguine: it was worth a punt, and it makes a change from the standard knock-back from the cookie cutter!

Anyway what they said, which I am beginning to realise is typical of the OPC, is that "Avanti operates to an enhanced standard".

An enhanced standard, you notice...implying that the enhanced standard for Avanti differs from the enhanced standard for [insert name of other TOC].

I don't suppose they can say much more without giving clues to the pass mark(s) for the various assessments, which of course are a closely-guarded
Ohhh that can be a possibility Mate that they have own set pass marks. Lets hope for some good news in future.
 

Psalms3418

Member
Joined
17 Dec 2025
Messages
31
Location
London
They turned me down, on the grounds that I did not meet their enhanced standard. I can only assume that this standard of theirs is even higher than the enhanced standard at the TOC for which I sat the assessments, because *they* told me I had passed!

Apparently I can reapply in 12 months.
I got the same email as you. Better luck for us on the next time round!
 

hawkster26

Member
Joined
20 Jan 2026
Messages
95
Location
iver
I’ve passed stage 1 & 2 plus the MMI with GTR. Got an email from avanti saying.

we’re unable to progress your application at this time, as candidates are not able to complete the MMI and CBI within a short timeframe of each other.

Bit disappointing. Surely they would want people that have already passed the tests
 

Zugaga

Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
50
Location
Surrey
I’ve passed stage 1 & 2 plus the MMI with GTR. Got an email from avanti saying.

we’re unable to progress your application at this time, as candidates are not able to complete the MMI and CBI within a short timeframe of each other.

Bit disappointing. Surely they would want people that have already passed the tests
It boils down to that wait-six-months-for-this-role-or-a-similar-role malarky, doesn't it. Never understood the logic, except of course narrowing down application numbers.
Ohhh that can be a possibility Mate that they have own set pass marks. Lets hope for some good news in future.
Indeed!
I got the same email as you. Better luck for us on the next time round!
If at first you don't succeed, try try try again.
 

scotsman82

Member
Joined
2 Mar 2025
Messages
51
Location
Scotland
There’s someone on here that has two applications open one with avanti and one with Scotrail didn’t think it was possible myself but he knows better
 

genziu8181

Member
Joined
19 Oct 2020
Messages
85
Location
London
Thanks, but I am quite sanguine: it was worth a punt, and it makes a change from the standard knock-back from the cookie cutter!

Anyway what they said, which I am beginning to realise is typical of the OPC, is that "Avanti operates to an enhanced standard".

An enhanced standard, you notice...implying that the enhanced standard for Avanti differs from the enhanced standard for [insert name of other TOC].

I don't suppose they can say much more without giving clues to the pass mark(s) for the various assessments, which of course are a closely-guarded secret.
I have the same answer... did tests in 2019 and they did expire already... Thought I could go again but they said in 12 months time. I will give a ring on Monday to OPC to understand exactly the process and what I can/can not do.
 
Joined
28 Mar 2023
Messages
65
Location
Wirral
Hello everyone,

I have just had the phone call 29th June in Crewe.

Was not expecting that, good luck to everyone still waiting.
 
Last edited:

Sorcerer

Established Member
Joined
20 May 2022
Messages
2,114
Location
Liverpool
Thanks mate and yeah Liverpool depo
Very nice! Saw that you've been gunning for a start date for a while now so this is a big win for you, especially when further upthread there was mention of Liverpool having enough spares most days already!
 

Zugaga

Member
Joined
2 Mar 2026
Messages
50
Location
Surrey
Thanks mate and yeah start date 29th June at Crewe

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Thanks mate and yeah Liverpool depo
Fabulous, boss...best of everything with it.

All together now:

Oh Mister Porter, what shall I do/
I wanted to go to Birmingham but they've taken me on to Crewe...
 

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