Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[Trains101]

Hi is there still job roles for the Birmingham depot

 

[HeelBurton]

Hi is there still job roles for the Birmingham depot

Please take a look at the website for information about vacancies.

 

[Mystiq7]

Hi,

Has anyone had a DMI? If so, can anyone kindly share any information on what questions are asked and any advice they can offer?

I have a DMI booked in a few weeks and keen to make a strong impression.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

[Ridetherails]

Hi,

Has anyone had a DMI? If so, can anyone kindly share any information on what questions are asked and any advice they can offer?

I have a DMI booked in a few weeks and keen to make a strong impression.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Pretty similar to your MMI questions except it’s a lot more relaxed and more of a conversation getting to know you whilst probing instead of an interrogation lol.

Plenty of examples in the thread

 

[Penguin80]

Hi everyone. For anyone that applied for trainee train driver role in october 2025, have any of you heard back from them yet. It's nearly been 2 months since I did my application

 

[HeelBurton]

Hi everyone. For anyone that applied for trainee train driver role in october 2025, have any of you heard back from them yet. It's nearly been 2 months since I did my application

Which depot

 

[Henry01]

Hi everyone. For anyone that applied for trainee train driver role in october 2025, have any of you heard back from them yet. It's nearly been 2 months since I did my application

I applied in October for the Birmingham job.
My application is still showing a blank for the 'current stage'.

 

[woody_woods]

I applied in October for the Birmingham job.
My application is still showing a blank for the 'current stage'.

Yeah, same for me.

 

[Subutai001]

I applied for Apprentice Train Driver, Banbury - Talent Pool in October so don't know if different to direct hire for trainee driver, but whilst my application is still showing blank, I have sat the online VSE test and the stage 1 OPC tests and now awaiting those results.

​

 

[Class2ldn]

The reason its a talent pool is it's not definite they are going to need any drivers at banbury depending on whether they get loco work or not.
If not then the vacancies will probably be binned off tbh

 

[Penguin80]

I applied in October for the Birmingham job.
My application is still showing a blank for the 'current stage'.

Same for me too. Hopefully we hear soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Dec 2025 ==

They also want us starting by April 2026 but I can't see that happening unless they speed things up surely

 

[Dippa]

Same for me too. Hopefully we hear soon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Dec 2025 ==

They also want us starting by April 2026 but I can't see that happening unless they speed things up surely

Have you sat your VSE ?

My mate applied in October and already completed his first part of the OPC this week!

 

[Penguin80]

Have you sat your VSE ?

My mate applied in October and already completed his first part of the OPC this week!

No I haven't heard anything unfortunately. Hopefully I hear something soon.

 

[Daveb1664]

I applied in October heard absolutely nothing. No rejection email or invite for further testing. I assume they are not preceeding with my application.

 

[HeelBurton]

I applied in October heard absolutely nothing. No rejection email or invite for further testing. I assume they are not preceeding with my application.

Tests are not as immediate as people would like them to be. The TOC need to contact OPC for availability of tests and they are swamped at the moment. So usually this is done in waves. Most TOCS use OPC in Watford, so it can take sometimes months to get an invite. Also, depot recruitment and establish plays a part in how many get sent to tests at various times. After the initial sift on application details/CV/postcode, VSE is the next step. But usually companies only do this when vacancies arise or predicted to arise. Likewise whilst I've explained this, a "talent pool" means if successful, you sit in this pool until a vacancy arises. Rather than there being "X positions on April course, apply now" etc

It also can mean that although an advert says "for our April course" they sometimes will decide due to limited numbers available for each depot, put you on a further course in the year, or even one closer" business needs are at play here.

My advice would be to apply, and then be patient with the process. Do not apply for more than one position (especially at the same depot!) and ensure you live within the required distance at the time of application, and not look to relocate if successful.

I hope some of this advice helps, I try not to get involved too much in discussions here, but as there's been a few posts of similar nature, I thought id add some advice

 

[Daveb1664]

Tests are not as immediate as people would like them to be. The TOC need to contact OPC for availability of tests and they are swamped at the moment. So usually this is done in waves. Most TOCS use OPC in Watford, so it can take sometimes months to get an invite. Also, depot recruitment and establish plays a part in how many get sent to tests at various times. After the initial sift on application details/CV/postcode, VSE is the next step. But usually companies only do this when vacancies arise or predicted to arise. Likewise whilst I've explained this, a "talent pool" means if successful, you sit in this pool until a vacancy arises. Rather than there being "X positions on April course, apply now" etc

It also can mean that although an advert says "for our April course" they sometimes will decide due to limited numbers available for each depot, put you on a further course in the year, or even one closer" business needs are at play here.

My advice would be to apply, and then be patient with the process. Do not apply for more than one position (especially at the same depot!) and ensure you live within the required distance at the time of application, and not look to relocate if successful.

I hope some of this advice helps, I try not to get involved too much in discussions here, but as there's been a few posts of similar nature, I thought id ad some advice

Thats great advice thank you.

 

[Ridetherails]

Just to reiterate what was said above. A few people who applied for the same advert as myself got processed quicker than me, some slower.

Even after you have passed all your tests the wait continues and then there is the DMI. Even after that, if successful there is a wait for actual course availability.

1000’s of people initially apply and this slowly gets reduced through the testing process to a handful for just a couple of seats. It’s a long long process.

I’ve known people sit in a talent pool for a couple of years before being asked to Dmi, let alone successful onto a course.

Train driver is one of THE hardest jobs to get. From the amount of competition, the complexity of testing, through to the time it takes for a limited number of positions.

Unlike most recruitment, as mentioned, it takes a long time and partially why, if you pass your tests they are valid for 5 years.

When I initially applied I think it was 4 months or so before I heard anything and then each phase was a couple of months between.

I passed my Dmi a month or so ago but still have another 4 months before my course starts. In total approximately 1.5 years from application to starting, and trust me ( currently work for another TOC ), in railway recruitment that’s fast!

Generally speaking no news is good news, sit tight and put it to the back of your mind as stressing won’t change the situation.

 

[HeelBurton]

Just to reiterate what was said above. A few people who applied for the same advert as myself got processed quicker than me, some slower.

Even after you have passed all your tests the wait continues and then there is the DMI. Even after that, if successful there is a wait for actual course availability.

1000’s of people initially apply and this slowly gets reduced through the testing process to a handful for just a couple of seats. It’s a long long process.

I’ve known people sit in a talent pool for a couple of years before being asked to Dmi, let alone successful onto a course.

Train driver is one of THE hardest jobs to get. From the amount of competition, the complexity of testing, through to the time it takes for a limited number of positions.

Unlike most recruitment, as mentioned, it takes a long time and partially why, if you pass your tests they are valid for 5 years.

When I initially applied I think it was 4 months or so before I heard anything and then each phase was a couple of months between.

I passed my Dmi a month or so ago but still have another 4 months before my course starts. In total approximately 1.5 years from application to starting, and trust me ( currently work for another TOC ), in railway recruitment that’s fast!

Generally speaking no news is good news, sit tight and put it to the back of your mind as stressing won’t change the situation.

Thank you sir.

Everyone has a success story. But. A story needs to be told. And sometimes the pages or the chapters are longer than others. You may be a fast reader. But your page will be read in time. Patience here is the key.

All the best in your applications

 

[traintee]

Thank you sir.

Everyone has a success story. But. A story needs to be told. And sometimes the pages or the chapters are longer than others. You may be a fast reader. But your page will be read in time. Patience here is the key.

All the best in your applications

Thanks for the insight it's much appreciated.

 

[sjp2354]

Hi, I have completed all OPC stages and received an email mid-October asking to confirm my interest in joining. It said Chiltern would be taking on new trainees in the new year, and once I had confirmed they would be back in touch with dates for the (MMI) interview.

I responded, confirming my interest, the same morning and have sent a couple of follow up emails to ensure my reply had been received.

I haven’t heard anything since the initial email. I have checked my emails (including junk/spam) thoroughly since. Can anyone advise what step I should take next?

 

[HeelBurton]

Hi, I have completed all OPC stages and received an email mid-October asking to confirm my interest in joining. It said Chiltern would be taking on new trainees in the new year, and once I had confirmed they would be back in touch with dates for the (MMI) interview.

I responded, confirming my interest, the same morning and have sent a couple of follow up emails to ensure my reply had been received.

I haven’t heard anything since the initial email. I have checked my emails (including junk/spam) thoroughly since. Can anyone advise what step I should take next?

did you apply online? Or just say in an email you passed OPC testing?

 

[sjp2354]

did you apply online? Or just say in an email you passed OPC testing?

I applied online and did the OPC assessments as part of this application. The OPC then confirmed with Chiltern that I had passed everything. Chiltern then emailed me saying they were now recruiting for Birmingham and am I still interested.

 

[HeelBurton]

I applied online and did the OPC assessments as part of this application. The OPC then confirmed with Chiltern that I had passed everything. Chiltern then emailed me saying they were now recruiting for Birmingham and am I still interested.

Ok. So you just have to sit tight and be patient. They will be in touch. It’s not the new year yet either. They will contact when spaces become available

 

[Ridetherails]

I was about 4 months or so, maybe longer, from completing my opc and having the same email before I was invited to Dmi

 

[sjp2354]

Ok. So you just have to sit tight and be patient. They will be in touch. It’s not the new year yet either. They will contact when spaces become available

I was about 4 months or so, maybe longer, from completing my opc and having the same email before I was invited to Dmi

Thank you! I was worried the lack of response could mean my email had been missed. However, I do appreciate that the people working on the recruitment department must be extremely busy.

 

[HeelBurton]

Thank you! I was worried the lack of response could mean my email had been missed. However, I do appreciate that the people working on the recruitment department must be extremely busy.

Very. Extremely understaffed for the numbers coming in at the moment, and this is not just Apprentice Trainee Drivers and Trainee Train Managers

 

[Penguin80]

I applied online and did the OPC assessments as part of this application. The OPC then confirmed with Chiltern that I had passed everything. Chiltern then emailed me saying they were now recruiting for Birmingham and am I still interested.

If you don't mind me asking how did you find the OPC assessments

 

[jim3797]

Hi All, new to the site this thread came up when googling information, just trying to understand Chilterns recruitment process have applied For the role of apprentice train driver yesterday and the current status is 1.7 OPC stage 1, is this the “start” of the recruitment process with them as should I be expecting any communication from them in the future?

Thanks
Jim

 

[Ridetherails]

Yes that’s the start. Sit tight, don’t expect to hear anything for a good while as it’s a very slow process

 

[Tubelines1973]

hi all
how do people view their current status stuff? my friend says they can't view that. thanks