Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[d44nny]

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.

Mine is still the same I passed opc in June

 

[Trainguy1997]

Hi everyone,

I also received an email asking if I'm still interested in the Birmingham role after passing the OPC. I wonder when they will email back with DMI dates and times. Good luck everyone.

 

[HeelBurton]

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.

Ok apologies misunderstood.

Not been updated is the logical scenario .

 

[AirAlex]

Ok apologies misunderstood.

Not been updated is the logical scenario .

No need to apologise!

The latest Aylesbury advert says there’s a course in Feb next year, fingers crossed for a DMI invite soon.

 

[rob2210]

I had my DMI last Monday at Aylesbury. Took about a month from hand over from the OPC I think.
Next start date when I asked was the 13th April.
Keeping fingers crossed and then have something to look forward to

 

[d44nny]

I had my DMI last Monday at Aylesbury. Took about a month from hand over from the OPC I think.
Next start date when I asked was the 13th April.
Keeping fingers crossed and then have something to look forward to

How did you find the DMI was it similar style to the MMI

 

[rob2210]

How did you find the DMI was it similar style to the MMI

Very similar yeah. Time for introductions then on to the 10 questions. Then time for any questions for you to ask at the end. I found it more relaxed than the MMI

 

[HeelBurton]

No need to apologise!

The latest Aylesbury advert says there’s a course in Feb next year, fingers crossed for a DMI invite soon.

I think this is full as mentioned above. Recruiting further down the line April and beyond

 

[Ridetherails]

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.

I’m similar, I passed stage 2 in May I think it was ( MMI and handed back to Chiltern ), yet my application says Stage 1.7. Just someone hasn’t ticked a box.

That being said, the TOC I work for still shows my application as pending lol

 

[Charlatan79]

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

I had my DMI last Monday at Aylesbury. Took about a month from hand over from the OPC I think.
Next start date when I asked was the 13th April.
Keeping fingers crossed and then have something to look forward to

rob2210, when did you submit your application? just trying to get an idea if we applied at the same time, I applied in July.

 

[rob2210]

rob2210, when did you submit your application? just trying to get an idea if we applied at the same time, I applied in July.

It was earlier this year. (Can't remember tbh) I had the initial stage 1 assessment invitation for the beginning of June but due to holiday couldn't go. Went back into holding pool then invite again for August. Stage 1 and 2 were within a couple of weeks. Waited then for DMI date and now awaiting the result of that.

 

[Hot rod]

Very similar yeah. Time for introductions then on to the 10 questions. Then time for any questions for you to ask at the end. I found it more relaxed than the MMI

10!!??? You are scaring me I hate interviews. Are they all tell me about a time question?

 

[HeelBurton]

10!!??? You are scaring me I hate interviews. Are they all tell me about a time question?

Yep. Behaviour type questions that ask people to describe past situations to demonstrate skills needed for the role

Use the star method. It is surprising how unprepared people are at these interviews and get caught off guard.

 

[jmes]

I had my DMI with Aylesbury in mid August, was told the next courses were Nov & Feb

I am still yet to be told if i was successful, I chased up a few times via email and was told they are still concluding final interviews.

Not sure what's going on to be honest, I feel like I wouldn't be dragged along this long had I failed the DMI?

 

[HeelBurton]

I had my DMI with Aylesbury in mid August, was told the next courses were Nov & Feb

I am still yet to be told if i was successful, I chased up a few times via email and was told they are still concluding final interviews.

Not sure what's going on to be honest, I feel like I wouldn't be dragged along this long had I failed the DMI?

When was the last time you chased up and to who?

 

[jmes]

When was the last time you chased up and to who?

I was told early September that they were finalising interviews and I should hear something in a few weeks - I didnt hear anything so chased up last week, still nothing. My contact is a member of their recruitment team, dont want to name names on a public forum.

 

[walsh1990]

Anyone who has done the 2 hand- does it beep if the dot touches the outline of the track or does it have to go completely off the circuit for it to beep?

 

[jmes]

Anyone who has done the 2 hand- does it beep if the dot touches the outline of the track or does it have to go completely off the circuit for it to beep?

If I'm remembering correctly its when you go outside of the track/when most of the dot is over the line.

I would recommend getting used to the sensitivity on the start page before clicking continue to start the actual test !

 

[walsh1990]

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

This is for part 3- sorta made this up myself based on what other people had said across the forum. I found a playlist on Spotify called 'alarms, sirens and whistle sound effects'. Think the exact audio I used was called alarm bells/sirens or something along those lines towards the bottom of the playlist. Then, find a print out of something. Maybe even a section of the OPC booklet sent to you. Play the audio and count the alarms (I put my non-writing/dominant hand on the table and counted with my fingers) whilst simultaneously circling any time I saw two letters, numbers or symbols that matched (beside each other). Do this with maybe a page of text. Just kept doing this. Helped me pass and I found it wasn't anywhere as near as daunting as I'd thought.

 

[mcgrindah]

On the subject of tea occ, I used this to practise for a recent assessment which I passed. This test one is actually much harder than what it was like on the day, so I found it pretty easy as I had practised so much on this one.

Low Tones Test Track 1 | Trainee Train Driver Info

traineetraindriverinfo.com

 

[Ridetherails]

Anyone for Moor St heard anything back yet since the email last week asking if still interested?

 

[d44nny]

Anyone for Moor St heard anything back yet since the email last week asking if still interested?

Nothing yet

 

[Ridetherails]

Nothing yet

Thanks at least we’re all in the same boat lol.

 

[topfisher]

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

Hello,
I replied to the email haven't heard anything....so it's a Wait and watch situation.....

 

[walsh1990]

Hello,
I replied to the email haven't heard anything....so it's a Wait and watch situation.....

So you’ve passed stage 2 and they’ve said you’ll get a DMI but they’ve not offered any dates as of yet? And then emailed you to see if you were still interested?

 

[Ridetherails]

So you’ve passed stage 2 and they’ve said you’ll get a DMI but they’ve not offered any dates as of yet? And then emailed you to see if you were still interested?

Yep and if still interested will be arranging interview for intake in the new year.

Railway terminology; in the new year = October lol

 

[topfisher]

So you’ve passed stage 2 and they’ve said you’ll get a DMI but they’ve not offered any dates as of yet? And then emailed you to see if you were still interested?

That's correct....

 

[walsh1990]

A lot of guess work here but they might be waiting to see the results of the next stage 2 so they can do all the DMIs around a similar time? I have stage 2 next week

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2025 ==

Anyone who has done the VSE care to share any tips? I never received the online one so don't really know what to expect. I bought an online one and have it perfected but not sure how similar it is to the real thing and I'm worried that I've almost learnt the program at this point. Mainly part 3- the circuit and the symbols. Are you clicking error if it skips a station and then yes or no with the symbols matching? Or do you have to click on the shapes themselves if they match? Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[d44nny]

A lot of guess work here but they might be waiting to see the results of the next stage 2 so they can do all the DMIs around a similar time? I have stage 2 next week

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Oct 2025 ==

Anyone who has done the VSE care to share any tips? I never received the online one so don't really know what to expect. I bought an online one and have it perfected but not sure how similar it is to the real thing and I'm worried that I've almost learnt the program at this point. Mainly part 3- the circuit and the symbols. Are you clicking error if it skips a station and then yes or no with the symbols matching? Or do you have to click on the shapes themselves if they match? Any help greatly appreciated.

You click error on the track part but its may not just be a missed station so check carefully. Then yes or no for the symbols,

 

[walsh1990]

You click error on the track part but its may not just be a missed station so check carefully. Then yes or no for the symbols,

Thanks