Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[traintee]

Have you done the VSE test online and in person? It's part of Chilterns Enhanced standard

 

[Hot rod]

Have you done the VSE test online and in person? It's part of Chilterns Enhanced standard

No since I applied I have not had any meaningful correspondence from Chiltern

 

[traintee]

I would guess they have sent the vse invites out if the status was that but it would be a guess...

 

[Hot rod]

I would guess they have sent the vse invites out if the status was that but it would be a guess...

I’ve been checking my emails religiously for months I haven’t received an email from them regarding a VSE test. Anyway all I can do is wait I guess. By the way good luck on your interview hope they come back with good news for you.

 

[HeelBurton]

I’m hopping so I applied for the Aylesbury position but I have already passed all my OPC assessments with another TOC so I have my fingers crossed that I will get straight to managers interview. When I check my application it says 1.2 VSE not exactly sure what that means. If anyone can explain.

You will have to complete VSE in any case as this is a sifting tool used by Chiltern.

However there’s a huge current list of applicants currently for all depots. So be patient with the process for now.

 

[Ridetherails]

Thank you mate! I feel it went well. Did you apply for the role too?

Yes, conditional offer for 2026 start just waiting to do my medical, but that shouldn’t be a problem

 

[HeelBurton]

Yes, conditional offer for 2026 start just waiting to do my medical, but that shouldn’t be a problem

*tries to work out if I interviewed you…*

 

[Trainguy1997]

Yes, conditional offer for 2026 start just waiting to do my medical, but that shouldn’t be a problem

Congratulations Mate! What station did you go for?

 

[Ridetherails]

*tries to work out if I interviewed you…*

I think you were still on your holidays, but who knows maybe you did lol

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==

Congratulations Mate! What station did you go for?

Moor Street

 

[Trainguy1997]

I think you were still on your holidays, but who knows maybe you did lol

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2025 ==


Moor Street

Well done! That's the one I went for but haven't heard anything back yet. I wonder if there was multiple positions available.

 

[Ridetherails]

Well done! That's the one I went for but haven't heard anything back yet. I wonder if there was multiple positions available.

No news is good news on the railway. No idea how many spots there were as not heard of anyone else

 

[Trainguy1997]

No news is good news on the railway. No idea how many spots there were as not heard of anyone else

That's true. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Ridetherails]

That's true. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Well, you’ve done the hard part and got all your Opc’s done. Fingers crossed for you also and stay positive. Jus remember recruitment on the railway can take forever, but at least you’re in a great position now

 

[Trainguy1997]

Well i had my DMI and was told on friday i was unsuccessful mate. Proper gutted but will try again if the opportunity arises. I know recruitment doesn’t happen often but I’ll keep looking forward. Good luck with your new role mate. You should be proud of yourself

 

[Ridetherails]

Gutted for you and absolutely don’t give up, as I said you’ve done the hard part passing all the opc tests, that alone is a huge achievement, so keep your chin up and eyes open.

 

[HeelBurton]

Well i had my DMI and was told on friday i was unsuccessful mate. Proper gutted but will try again if the opportunity arises. I know recruitment doesn’t happen often but I’ll keep looking forward. Good luck with your new role mate. You should be proud of yourself

Make sure you get the feedback from the interview, have a think to see where it applied to the answers you gave and make the adjustments for the second attempt

 

[Trainguy1997]

Gutted for you and absolutely don’t give up, as I said you’ve done the hard part passing all the opc tests, that alone is a huge achievement, so keep your chin up and eyes open.

Thank you mate.. ill try!

Make sure you get the feedback from the interview, have a think to see where it applied to the answers you gave and make the adjustments for the second attempt

The email they sent telling me I'd been unsuccessful said if I wanted feedback to email (insert email) in the email I got. So the person who sent it me didn't even remember to put a email in for me to request feedback. I've sent a email to the person who sent me the interview details though. Appreciate the messages though people

 

[Tommy1414]

Well i had my DMI and was told on friday i was unsuccessful mate. Proper gutted but will try again if the opportunity arises. I know recruitment doesn’t happen often but I’ll keep looking forward. Good luck with your new role mate. You should be proud of yourself

same as me buddy, failed my DMI last week! just have to go again!

 

[Mystiq7]

same as me buddy, failed my DMI last week! just have to go again!

do you mind if I ask what questions you were asked at your DMI? I am due to attend a DMI soon, and I am nervous as hell and not sure what to expect. Any insight from you, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tommy1414]

do you mind if I ask what questions you were asked at your DMI? I am due to attend a DMI soon, and I am nervous as hell and not sure what to expect. Any insight from you, would be greatly appreciated.

Was pretty casual.

What are your responsibilities in your current role?

A time you have had to challenge a colleague i.e. about safety.

What are the main roles of a train driver.

What are you most proud of? i.e. achievements.

What should you do on your downtime? i.e. get rest etc

 

[HeelBurton]

Thank you mate.. ill try!



The email they sent telling me I'd been unsuccessful said if I wanted feedback to email (insert email) in the email I got. So the person who sent it me didn't even remember to put a email in for me to request feedback. I've sent a email to the person who sent me the interview details though. Appreciate the messages though people

DM Me who did your interview, I may be able to help

 

[traintee]

Well i had my DMI and was told on friday i was unsuccessful mate. Proper gutted but will try again if the opportunity arises. I know recruitment doesn’t happen often but I’ll keep looking forward. Good luck with your new role mate. You should be proud of yourself

Sorry to hear that mate but as others have said with those psychometrics under your belt you are in a fantastic position. Just keep applying and hopefully next time you can get over the line, plenty of time.

 

[Trainguy1997]

DM Me who did your interview, I may be able to help

Thank you for the offer mate but they have replied with my feedback now.. it was positive and I know where I need to improve now

Sorry to hear that mate but as others have said with those psychometrics under your belt you are in a fantastic position. Just keep applying and hopefully next time you can get over the line, plenty of time.

I definitely will mate, thanks for words of encouragement

 

[Tubelines1973]

hi all, first post so hopefully not tagging anything wrong

A friend of mine applied for the Aylesbury apprentice train driver a few weeks back, believe the intake/apprenticeship begins in Feb 2026. Should have they have heard something back by now, any reason the job advert is still up as seems not that much time to do exams/interviews and for applicants to give current employment four weeks notice if the apprenticeship begins in Feb?

Also anyone has any info on the "Store Issuer" jobs that were advertised and now is closed. like when they would hope to fill these positions.

thanks

 

[jaybon92]

hi all, first post so hopefully not tagging anything wrong

A friend of mine applied for the Aylesbury apprentice train driver a few weeks back, believe the intake/apprenticeship begins in Feb 2026. Should have they have heard something back by now, any reason the job advert is still up as seems not that much time to do exams/interviews and for applicants to give current employment four weeks notice if the apprenticeship begins in Feb?

Also anyone has any info on the "Store Issuer" jobs that were advertised and now is closed. like when they would hope to fill these positions.

thanks

They won't be offered the next course. The time between all the bits and bobs can and will take months in between. Best case scenario is from application to training start date a year but that's best case

 

[Tubelines1973]

They won't be offered the next course. The time between all the bits and bobs can and will take months in between. Best case scenario is from application to training start date a year but that's best case

thanks for the response, don't know why they keep the job advert posted/not update it

 

[HeelBurton]

thanks for the response, don't know why they keep the job advert posted/not update it

Me too…

The advert remains up as they are populating other courses throughout 2026. If your friend applied a few weeks ago, probably too early to expect movement. And first they would need to go through the postcode sift before the initial VSE testing

I don’t know much about the store issuer position and when they will fill that vacancy. Out of my position that

 

[Tubelines1973]

Me too…

The advert remains up as they are populating other courses throughout 2026. If your friend applied a few weeks ago, probably too early to expect movement. And first they would need to go through the postcode sift before the initial VSE testing

I don’t know much about the store issuer position and when they will fill that vacancy. Out of my position that

cheers, thanks for the info

 

[Neatro]

They won't be offered the next course. The time between all the bits and bobs can and will take months in between. Best case scenario is from application to training start date a year but that's best case

This isn't entirely true, if the applicant has already completed OPC assessments the time frame can be drastically reduced.

My current role was 3 months from application to conditional offer because I had already completed all the required assessments.

 

[jaybon92]

This isn't entirely true, if the applicant has already completed OPC assessments the time frame can be drastically reduced.

My current role was 3 months from application to conditional offer because I had already completed all the required assessments.

I agree with that but my assumption is that they have not completed any OPC or anything before