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Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

Pintman

Member
Joined
13 Dec 2023
Messages
190
Location
The Pub
hey guys just a quick question. On May 6th I passed my stage 2 opc but failed the MMI for Chiltern. Will i eligible to apply again in November the 6th exactly or November 1st?.
This was for the February 2026 training so my opc would have been valid. And does this 6 month waiting period happen will all TOCs. i know arriva dont do an MMI i will be fast tracked to a DMI.
Every TOC does an MMI, it's part of the RSSB standard
 
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Spincity

Member
Joined
23 Nov 2019
Messages
191
Location
London
hey guys just a quick question. On May 6th I passed my stage 2 opc but failed the MMI for Chiltern. Will i eligible to apply again in November the 6th exactly or November 1st?.
This was for the February 2026 training so my opc would have been valid. And does this 6 month waiting period happen will all TOCs. i know arriva dont do an MMI i will be fast tracked to a DMI.
It’s either a minimum of 6 months, so 6th November or it’ll be 6th May next year. It all depends when you say your first assessment. If prior first assessment was in 2025 you’ll be waiting 1 year, if 2024 or earlier it’s 6 months
 

AVMB

New Member
Joined
6 Oct 2025
Messages
2
Location
London
Where do Chiltern train their drivers? Is it in one place or do they have more than one training centre?
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
Where do Chiltern train their drivers? Is it in one place or do they have more than one training centre?
Majority of training takes place at Banbury

Simulator at Aylesbury and other training rooms (Aylesbury can be used quite regularly if needed)

Inductions take place at london, if no rooms there, it goes elsewhere in the business.

On occasions other rooms across the network can be used for training. Depends on room availability.
 

AVMB

New Member
Joined
6 Oct 2025
Messages
2
Location
London
Majority of training takes place at Banbury

Simulator at Aylesbury and other training rooms (Aylesbury can be used quite regularly if needed)

Inductions take place at london, if no rooms there, it goes elsewhere in the business.

On occasions other rooms across the network can be used for training. Depends on room availability.
Thank you so much. That’s very helpful!
 

d44nny

Member
Joined
31 Jan 2023
Messages
73
Location
Birmingham
I don't think its necessary for us but looking at it as a positive that we could hopefully be hearing soon about some progress
 

Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
211
Location
Birmingham
For those who have passed all OPC assessments, Is there any point in applying? Since we are already in the talent pool.
Zero point. If you’ve passed all opc with Chiltern and been told it’s been handed back to them to progress, next stage will purely be a DMI once they are ready to fill a spot on a course as once Dmi completes you should hear very soon with course date etc
 

d44nny

Member
Joined
31 Jan 2023
Messages
73
Location
Birmingham
Birmingham applicants check your emails. Had one this morning confirming they will be taking on trainee's in the new year and to confirm if still interested. Once confirmed we should be getting dates for DMI
 

niveknewo

New Member
Joined
11 Mar 2024
Messages
3
Location
Conwy
Hello
I haven't got any practice materials for
  • TRP1b (Trainability for Rules and Procedures, Part 1b)
  • TRP2 (Trainability for Rules and Procedures, Part 2)
But I can share Group Bourdon and Tea-Occ (Test of Everyday Attention practice materials

Hope this helps
Hi mate,
I've got the paper tests coming up and would be grateful for any help towards Tea-occ
Cheers
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
Birmingham applicants check your emails. Had one this morning confirming they will be taking on trainee's in the new year and to confirm if still interested. Once confirmed we should be getting dates for DMI

Yep. Some movement here. Good news for many
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
Do you know when the next course for Birmingham is due to start? I saw on the most recent application it stated April just wondering if there was one planned before?
April is stated on the application and I cannot talk about any further courses in a public domain but there are various courses throughout the year but it depends on attrition as to where drivers are needed across the company
 

d44nny

Member
Joined
31 Jan 2023
Messages
73
Location
Birmingham
April is stated on the application and I cannot talk about any further courses in a public domain but there are various courses throughout the year but it depends on attrition as to where drivers are needed across the company
No worries thanks for the reply
 

Charlatan79

New Member
Joined
16 Oct 2025
Messages
3
Location
aylesbury
Hi applied to Aylesbury for the role of apprentice train driver in July, have passed the OPC tests & MMI and they have passed back to Ayl for DMI:D.

(I've checked the Chiltern application portal and it's still on 1.2VSE testing)

Does anyone have any ideas how long this process takes?

I've seen an job ad for depot manager @ Aylesbury would this delay the DMI process in the above application?

Any advice on this would be appreciated.
 
Last edited:

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
Hi applied to Aylesbury for the role of apprentice train driver in July, have passed the OPC tests & MMI and they have passed back to Ayl for DMI:D.

(I've checked the Chiltern application portal and it's still on 1.2VSE testing)

Does anyone have any ideas how long this process takes?

I've seen an job ad for depot manager @ Aylesbury would this delay the DMI process in the above application?

Any advice on this would be appreciated.


The process all depends on depot requirements. Sometimes it can be quick. Sometimes long. Lots of moving parts here. Depot vacancies, driver courses being run, Training rooms availability, trainer availability, Depot priority etc. it requires patience.

The depot manager position is more for engineering and not to do with driver training.
 

JJBH

Member
Joined
28 Aug 2023
Messages
11
Location
London
Just received an email with an invite for the OPC stage 1 assessment day in Watford. 31st October. I didn’t think I would get invited as I’ve failed the SJT twice with Arriva but I’m guessing it’s different rules for other train companies.
 

AirAlex

New Member
Joined
2 Sep 2025
Messages
4
Location
South East
Hi applied to Aylesbury for the role of apprentice train driver in July, have passed the OPC tests & MMI and they have passed back to Ayl for DMI:D.

(I've checked the Chiltern application portal and it's still on 1.2VSE testing)

Does anyone have any ideas how long this process takes?

I've seen an job ad for depot manager @ Aylesbury would this delay the DMI process in the above application?

Any advice on this would be appreciated.
I’m in the same boat re. the Aylesbury application. Ive passed everything and the application is back with Chiltern according to the OPC, but the portal still says 1.2 VSE testing.
I wonder if we were at the same stage 2 day at the end of Sept?

The latest advert says there’s a course in Feb next year. Fingers crossed for a DMI soon!
 

Pintman

Member
Joined
13 Dec 2023
Messages
190
Location
The Pub
Just received an email with an invite for the OPC stage 1 assessment day in Watford. 31st October. I didn’t think I would get invited as I’ve failed the SJT twice with Arriva but I’m guessing it’s different rules for other train companies.
If Chiltern don't use the SJT then they won't care how many times you've failed it
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
I’m in the same boat re. the Aylesbury application. Ive passed everything and the application is back with Chiltern according to the OPC, but the portal still says 1.2 VSE testing.
I wonder if we were at the same stage 2 day at the end of Sept?

The latest advert says there’s a course in Feb next year. Fingers crossed for a DMI soon!
You will still have to carry out the VSE as a minimum. It is part of the recruitment process.
 

AirAlex

New Member
Joined
2 Sep 2025
Messages
4
Location
South East
You will still have to carry out the VSE as a minimum. It is part of the recruitment process.

I’ve already done the VSE, both online at home and again supervised at stage 2. I passed stage 2 including MMI a couple of weeks ago now, so waiting on a DMI.
The OPC says that the application has gone back to Chiltern but the online portal still says I’m on 1.2 VSE Testing. I assume it’s just not been updated yet.
 

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