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Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

Magarac

Member
Joined
8 Nov 2022
Messages
17
Location
London
Ohhhh so Mate when did you apply for Bletchley vacancy??? Was it the month of April? Do you know the email id of recruitment???

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Mate just to confirm what is the current stage showing on your application as mine says 1.11 DMI.
yes it was about that time Recruitment@chilternrailways.co.uk. Does it say anything on your portal, what status you have?

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yes it was about that time Recruitment@chilternrailways.co.uk. Does it say anything on your portal, what status you have?
Ohhhh so Mate when did you apply for Bletchley vacancy??? Was it the month of April? Do you know the email id of recruitment???

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Mate just to confirm what is the current stage showing on your application as mine says 1.11 DMI.
In your April application does its say September course? They also recruiting for November course. Maybe that is why you didn't hear anything this time.

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yes it was about that time Recruitment@chilternrailways.co.uk. Does it say anything on your portal, what status you have?

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In your April application does its say September course? They also recruiting for November course. Maybe that is why you didn't hear anything this time.
Yes same stage
 
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ramsy12

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2026
Messages
95
Location
Cambridge
yes it was about that time Recruitment@chilternrailways.co.uk. Does it say anything on your portal, what status you have?

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In your April application does its say September course? They also recruiting for November course. Maybe that is why you didn't hear anything this time.

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Yes same stage
Mate I think missed the information about the course. Hopefully should hear from them in sometime also i will mail them to check for any update.
 

IndegoMouse

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2026
Messages
118
Location
Warwickshire
Hi all,

Other than the trainee driver job for Bletchley when did Chiltern last advertise for roles around Warwickshire e.g Banbury, Warwick, etc.? I have been looking for over 6 months and not seen anything come up other than Bletchley and I think Marylebone
 

gatters

Member
Joined
11 Sep 2019
Messages
32
Location
london
Hi all,

Other than the trainee driver job for Bletchley when did Chiltern last advertise for roles around Warwickshire e.g Banbury, Warwick, etc.? I have been looking for over 6 months and not seen anything come up other than Bletchley and I think Marylebone
Banbury driver numbers have been above establishment for quite a while so opportunities have been very limited. Warwick is not a depot
 

Class2ldn

Established Member
Joined
25 Feb 2011
Messages
1,400
Thanks for the response! Is Leamington Spa depot?
Not for chiltern, only have Stourbridge, birmingham,banbury, aylesbury, Bletchley and marylebone.
Banbury has recently recruited some more but this will be the last for a long time I would imagine.
As stated banbury is well over established at the moment.
 

Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
I had my DMI 1 week ago for chiltern at Bletchley depot... my colleagues have heard their results days ago but I am still waiting!! Portal says stage DMI.. but colleagues who have had their interview after me have already found out they were successful but I havent heard a thing... i have emailed chiltern recruitment
 
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sam_996

New Member
Joined
15 Aug 2024
Messages
2
Location
bedford
I had my DMI 1 week ago for chiltern at Bletchley depot... my colleagues have heard their results days ago but I am still waiting!! Portal says stage DMI.. but colleagues who have had their interview after me have already found out they were successful but I havent heard a thing... i have emailed chiltern recruitment
 
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IndegoMouse

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2026
Messages
118
Location
Warwickshire
I have now been contacted today by email saying i am in a talent pool. A colleague of mine who interviewed after me has been offered a course, yet ive been put in a talent pool... surely I should have been offered a course first if i interviewed first and was successful!?? Its abit strange... no time frame for being in the talent pool or when the next courses will take place!?? Just got told ill be contacted as soon as possible when they know what availability they have???
I would imagine like most other TOCs the interview would have been done on a points basis. They must of scored higher than you so further up the list
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
Which is ridiculous because I either passed or I didn't... why would making me wait have anything to do with when I start!!
Yes you passed. But there’s a scoring system based on many of your answers. We do prioritise where we can those who score higher, this is how it works. This is coming from someone who does these interviews from a training academy perspective, who looks from the “can this person handle or will be easy to train” aspect.

Many people were whittled out of the process and always are. Sadly, interviews are competitive. I would be happy I have passed and in the talent pool, rather than upset you have not started immediately, airing this publicly, when you never know who is looking. There are many who do not pass, and cannot ever achieve the goal you are chasing. This is something to bare in mind :)
 

IndegoMouse

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2026
Messages
118
Location
Warwickshire
Yes you passed. But there’s a scoring system based on many of your answers. We do prioritise where we can those who score higher, this is how it works. This is coming from someone who does these interviews from a training academy perspective, who looks from the “can this person handle or will be easy to train” aspect.

Many people were whittled out of the process and always are. Sadly, interviews are competitive. I would be happy I have passed and in the talent pool, rather than upset you have not started immediately, airing this publicly, when you never know who is looking. There are many who do not pass, and cannot ever achieve the goal you are chasing. This is something to bare in mind :)
what a great response!

You have achieved what is a dream for many of us on here and you should be very proud of yourself for securing a position in the talent pool. Your time will come but patience is a must in this industry. There will always be people who feel disapointed that they missed a course start but you should be on the next one!
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
what a great response!

You have achieved what is a dream for many of us on here and you should be very proud of yourself for securing a position in the talent pool. Your time will come but patience is a must in this industry. There will always be people who feel disapointed that they missed a course start but you should be on the next one!
I’ve met many people who have failed these assessments twice who could make really good drivers.

Your time comes and is slightly postponed vs it never will.

You are one step closer to the goal.

Mindset is key. So is patience.
 

IndegoMouse

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2026
Messages
118
Location
Warwickshire
I’ve met many people who have failed these assessments twice who could make really good drivers.

Your time comes and is slightly postponed vs it never will.

You are one step closer to the goal.

Mindset is key. So is patience.
100% I recently failed a DMI for a different TOC but I have learnt so much from it and put a lot of work in to better myself and make sure next time I secure the spot (Talent pool or course!) I am currently into month 4 of waiting for a DMI and feel the extra time is a bonus as gives me even more time to prepare. I only had a week with last DMI from completing stage 2 testing to DMI so it was all quite rushed
 

Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
Yes you passed. But there’s a scoring system based on many of your answers. We do prioritise where we can those who score higher, this is how it works. This is coming from someone who does these interviews from a training academy perspective, who looks from the “can this person handle or will be easy to train” aspect.

Many people were whittled out of the process and always are. Sadly, interviews are competitive. I would be happy I have passed and in the talent pool, rather than upset you have not started immediately, airing this publicly, when you never know who is looking. There are many who do not pass, and cannot ever achieve the goal you are chasing. This is something to bare in
Yes you passed. But there’s a scoring system based on many of your answers. We do prioritise where we can those who score higher, this is how it works. This is coming from someone who does these interviews from a training academy perspective, who looks from the “can this person handle or will be easy to train” aspect.

Many people were whittled out of the process and always are. Sadly, interviews are competitive. I would be happy I have passed and in the talent pool, rather than upset you have not started immediately, airing this publicly, when you never know who is looking. There are many who do not pass, and cannot ever achieve the goal you are chasing. This is something to bare in mind :)
Thankyou foe your response, I am over the moon I really am... was trying to understand how things work with scoring etc.. maybe my text was abit blunt, that wasn't my intention... i was rushing... for a train believe it or not haha
 

ramsy12

Member
Joined
27 Feb 2026
Messages
95
Location
Cambridge
Thankyou foe your response, I am over the moon I really am... was trying to understand how things work with scoring etc.. maybe my text was abit blunt, that wasn't my intention... i was rushing... for a train believe it or not haha
Congratulations Mate for passing the DMI.
 

Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
211
Location
Birmingham
Important thing is you have your OPC passes. That alone is something quite rare!

Add to that you were successful enough to be put into a talent pool and not just rejected!

Friend of mine did their opc with Avanti and sat in the talent pool after their equivalent of a Dmi for 3 years, then decided to apply to other tocs and had a seat within 6months.

The hard part is over, stay positive you are one in a few to make it this far :)
 

Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
Important thing is you have your OPC passes. That alone is something quite rare!

Add to that you were successful enough to be put into a talent pool and not just rejected!

Friend of mine did their opc with Avanti and sat in the talent pool after their equivalent of a Dmi for 3 years, then decided to apply to other tocs and had a seat within 6months.

The hard part is over, stay positive you are one in a few to make it this far :)
Thankyou

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:D
 

HeelBurton

Member
Joined
10 Mar 2014
Messages
441
Location
Wembley
Thankyou foe your response, I am over the moon I really am... was trying to understand how things work with scoring etc.. maybe my text was abit blunt, that wasn't my intention... i was rushing... for a train believe it or not haha
Not a problem. I like to give general advice where I can. But indeed. You have completed the hard part. Its the waiting thing now, and to be frank, you have full OPC. I would recommend anyone in this situation keeps their eyes open in this current climate if something else comes up. You have no allegiance to once TOC, and can apply anywhere within the parameters. Obviously, we would like to to remain patient with us, but we understand being a driver and getting your key is sometimes more important than the place you apply to!
I obviously do not want to say too much about the scoring system here, but this is why it is important to practise interview techniques, do your research about the company, and use credible sources such as https://www.thetraindriversacademy.com/ for tips
 

Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
Not a problem. I like to give general advice where I can. But indeed. You have completed the hard part. Its the waiting thing now, and to be frank, you have full OPC. I would recommend anyone in this situation keeps their eyes open in this current climate if something else comes up. You have no allegiance to once TOC, and can apply anywhere within the parameters. Obviously, we would like to to remain patient with us, but we understand being a driver and getting your key is sometimes more important than the place you apply to!
I obviously do not want to say too much about the scoring system here, but this is why it is important to practise interview techniques, do your research about the company, and use credible sources such as https://www.thetraindriversacademy.com/ for tips
I definately want to be patient and wait for Chiltern, their values and vision align with what and who i would love to work with. Lots of good things are happening with Chiltern and id love to be a part of that :)
 

d44nny

Member
Joined
31 Jan 2023
Messages
73
Location
Birmingham
I definately want to be patient and wait for Chiltern, their values and vision align with what and who i would love to work with. Lots of good things are happening with Chiltern and id love to be a part of that :)
I was in the same boat as you passed my DMI and was placed in a talent pool. I had a call a couple months later offering me a start date. My course started around 8 months later. It's definitely worth the wait and you never know when that phone call will come.
 

IndegoMouse

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2026
Messages
118
Location
Warwickshire
I was in the same boat as you passed my DMI and was placed in a talent pool. I started my course around 8 months later. It's definitely worth the wait and you never know when that phone call will come.
Out of interest how much notice did you get about course start date as assume medical would of had to be done plus serving notice at current job
 

d44nny

Member
Joined
31 Jan 2023
Messages
73
Location
Birmingham
Out of interest how much notice did you get about course start date as assume medical would of had to be done plus serving notice at current job
Think it was nearly 5 months. Longest time of my life tbh . Yes medical was done quite soon after being offered the date.
 

Rohmeric

Member
Joined
6 Jan 2025
Messages
33
Location
Lewisham
Hey guys normally during a DMI how many competency based questions do you normally get asked?

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I had my DMI 1 week ago for chiltern at Bletchley depot... my colleagues have heard their results days ago but I am still waiting!! Portal says stage DMI.. but colleagues who have had their interview after me have already found out they were successful but I havent heard a thing... i have emailed chiltern recruitment
Hey guys normally during a DMI how many competency based questions do you normally get asked?
 

Drivingtales

Member
Joined
7 Oct 2023
Messages
49
Location
Bedford
Hey guys normally during a DMI how many competency based questions do you normally get asked?

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Hey guys normally during a DMI how many competency based questions do you normally get asked?
It differs from each TOC
 

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