Chiltern Railways - Apprentice Train Drivers - Multiple Locations (26/01/23)

[12LDA28C]

Got it. However they did ask in the form if I had applied to other locations and also which ones. They also advise on the email to only submit the form once. A little confused… I might just fill it in anyway and see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Mar 2023 ==

Has anyone received an invite for any assessments for Marylebone yet? Still waiting...

If say you applied for Marylebone, Aylesbury and Banbury, you would most likely get sent the form from each Depot, regardless of whether you mentioned on the form you were applying for other depots.

As for Marylebone and Aylesbury, I believe the rejection emails have all been sent out so if you haven't received one of those you are most likely still in the process and should receive the second questionnaire very soon.

 

[atruetennisfan]

If say you applied for Marylebone, Aylesbury and Banbury, you would most likely get sent the form from each Depot, regardless of whether you mentioned on the form you were applying for other depots.

As for Marylebone and Aylesbury, I believe the rejection emails have all been sent out so if you haven't received one of those you are most likely still in the process and should receive the second questionnaire very soon.

Thanks 12LDA28C. Comforting to know. I'm also in the process for another TOC as well so I'm hoping to make better progress this year with my applications.

Whilst I've got you, do you know what the follow up questionnaires are? Hopefully I've still got active passes for those as I've done a fair few assessments in the last year but I know there are many different versions.

I tried applying to a FOC last year and got as far as the DMI - however the DMI was put on hold because they had filled all the places available. Trainee spots for FOC's seem to be few and far apart...

Appreciate the help.

 

[12LDA28C]

Thanks 12LDA28C. Comforting to know. I'm also in the process for another TOC as well so I'm hoping to make better progress this year with my applications.

Whilst I've got you, do you know what the follow up questionnaires are? Hopefully I've still got active passes for those as I've done a fair few assessments in the last year but I know there are many different versions.

I tried applying to a FOC last year and got as far as the DMI - however the DMI was put on hold because they had filled all the places available. Trainee spots for FOC's seem to be few and far apart...

Appreciate the help.

Without sharing too much information on here, I believe it's a situational judgement questionnaire, as has already been mentioned in this thread a couple of pages back. If you are successful at getting through that stage, you may well be invited to take an online VSE test.

 

[atruetennisfan]

That is what they try and do. As long as your scenarios/answers are genuine and you can go into the required detail it's fine. I've sat 2 MMIs since 2020 and passed both. 1 was intense, 1 was more relaxed

Bit late to the conversation but my thoughts on this. The MMI interview can be intense however they don't try to trip you up even though that's how it may appear. Part of the objective is to find out if you've been truthful, and then to try and elicit the correct response if you're struggling to articulate what you're trying to say. For example, if the interviewer knows what you are trying to say but are having trouble saying it, they'll ask the same question a few different ways to try and get the answer out of you. There's nothing sneaky about it and it's a very detailed and thought out process to get the best candidates.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Mar 2023 ==

Without sharing too much information on here, I believe it's a situational judgement questionnaire, as has already been mentioned in this thread a couple of pages back. If you are successful at getting through that stage, you may well be invited to take an online VSE test.

Got it. Some TOC's are more open about the process. I'm not interested or asking for the actual questions, more just the process. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Unknockable]

Just been rejected for aylesbury, don’t know what these guys want

Good luck to the rest of you!

 

[atruetennisfan]

Just been rejected for aylesbury, don’t know what these guys want

Good luck to the rest of you!

Sorry to hear that. I think we’ve all been there at some point. Good luck going forward.

 

[d44nny]

Just been rejected for aylesbury, don’t know what these guys want

Good luck to the rest of you!

Gutted for you. Can I ask if you did the questionnaire that had the 9th March deadline?

 

[Unknockable]

Gutted for you. Can I ask if you did the questionnaire that had the 9th March deadline?

Gutted for you. Can I ask if you did the questionnaire that had the 9th March deadlin

No worries, Nah I didn’t have to do that one I think.

I done the questionnaire where they ask you about where you live etc and then I got invited to do the VSE. You might be talking about the 2nd questionnaire some of the other applicants might have got.

 

[SuperS16v]

Sorry to hear that, have you got any more irons in the fire?

Were you unsuccessful on the VSE?

 

[Unknockable]

Sorry to hear that, have you got any more irons in the fire?

Were you unsuccessful on the VSE?

Well I’ve applied for Avanti, not really expecting to be successful with them due to my location (outside 1 hour) and how much more competitive it is compared to any other TOC. If that don’t work I’m just gonna have to stick to maintaining points and signals ha. And yes I believe I might have failed the VSE, I really didn’t think I done that bad on it. They didn’t specify why they’re not progressing with my application on the rejection email

 

[atruetennisfan]

Well I’ve applied for Avanti, not really expecting to be successful with them due to my location (outside 1 hour) and how much more competitive it is compared to any other TOC. If that don’t work I’m just gonna have to stick to maintaining points and signals ha. And yes I believe I might have failed the VSE, I really didn’t think I done that bad on it. They didn’t specify why they’re not progressing with my application on the rejection email

It would be a safe bet that it was related to the VSE. Sorry for you mate.

 

[Archvile]

Well I’ve applied for Avanti, not really expecting to be successful with them due to my location (outside 1 hour) and how much more competitive it is compared to any other TOC. If that don’t work I’m just gonna have to stick to maintaining points and signals ha. And yes I believe I might have failed the VSE, I really didn’t think I done that bad on it. They didn’t specify why they’re not progressing with my application on the rejection email

Ironically I've been rejected three times by other TOCs but have made it to DMI with Avanti...

 

[atruetennisfan]

Ironically I've been rejected three times by other TOCs but have made it to DMI with Avanti...

Congrats. What location? I assume you’ve passed all the previous assessments?

 

[SuperS16v]

Well I’ve applied for Avanti, not really expecting to be successful with them due to my location (outside 1 hour) and how much more competitive it is compared to any other TOC. If that don’t work I’m just gonna have to stick to maintaining points and signals ha. And yes I believe I might have failed the VSE, I really didn’t think I done that bad on it. They didn’t specify why they’re not progressing with my application on the rejection email

VSE is a tricky one. I would have thought they would have given you a reason when you got rejected, especially if you failed the VSE.

 

[Archvile]

Congrats. What location? I assume you’ve passed all the previous assessments?

Liverpool mate and yes, straight to CBI as I'd met their standard with my previous passes. I feel that their process is fairer in that they set the bar higher, but if you can pass to their level then you definitely will get an interview with them eventually. First two TOCs I applied for were DMI first and I literally never heard back after initial sift, no idea why as I met all the criteria and it felt like pot luck tbh.

Also I live 1 hr 5 mins from Liverpool and my application got progressed so I'd say to the other guy not to worry.

 

[TFL_Rocks]

I’ve completed the questionnaire but I’ve not heard anything back as of yet?

 

[Unknockable]

Liverpool mate and yes, straight to CBI as I'd met their standard with my previous passes. I feel that their process is fairer in that they set the bar higher, but if you can pass to their level then you definitely will get an interview with them eventually. First two TOCs I applied for were DMI first and I literally never heard back after initial sift, no idea why as I met all the criteria and it felt like pot luck tbh.

Also I live 1 hr 40 mins from Liverpool and my application got progressed so I'd say to the other guy not to worry.

Nice, good to know. Just done the SJT for Avanti yesterday just waiting on those results. Also, congrats on making it to that stage.

 

[atruetennisfan]

Liverpool mate and yes, straight to CBI as I'd met their standard with my previous passes. I feel that their process is fairer in that they set the bar higher, but if you can pass to their level then you definitely will get an interview with them eventually. First two TOCs I applied for were DMI first and I literally never heard back after initial sift, no idea why as I met all the criteria and it felt like pot luck tbh.

Also I live 1 hr 40 mins from Liverpool and my application got progressed so I'd say to the other guy not to worry.

Amazing. Well done mate.

 

[SuperS16v]

I’ve completed the questionnaire but I’ve not heard anything back as of yet?

I don’t think anyone has heard anything yet, I would imagine it will be this week or the next.

 

[12LDA28C]

And yes I believe I might have failed the VSE, I really didn’t think I done that bad on it. They didn’t specify why they’re not progressing with my application on the rejection email

If you took the VSE and then received the rejection email then you will have failed the VSE unfortunately. Chiltern wouldn't be informed exactly why that was, only OPC keep those details.

 

[atruetennisfan]

I’ve completed the questionnaire but I’ve not heard anything back as of yet?

Which location?

 

[12LDA28C]

I’ve completed the questionnaire but I’ve not heard anything back as of yet?

I assume you mean the initial questionnaire about location etc? If you've heard nothing back then you should still be in the process and will most likely receive the second questionnaire next week, assuming you haven't previously taken any OPC tests for any TOC / FOC.

 

[Unknockable]

If you took the VSE and then received the rejection email then you will have failed the VSE unfortunately. Chiltern wouldn't be informed exactly why that was, only OPC keep those details.

Fair enough. I must say on the VSE where you do both exercises at the same time, be sure to prioritise the 1st exercise rather than the 2nd.

It does inform you on this before you start but it did slip my mind whilst doing it!

Also, would this count as one of my lives gone?

 

[12LDA28C]

Fair enough. I must say on the VSE where you do both exercises at the same time, be sure to prioritise the 1st exercise rather than the 2nd.

It does inform you on this before you start but it did slip my mind whilst doing it!

Also, would this count as one of my lives gone?

Yes, you would have 'lost a life' as a result of failing the VSE.

 

[Effnjeff]

I have just submitted my initial questionnaire for Banbury, and reading through the thread above I believe I may get sent a VSE next, as I have already passed the national OPC tests in November 2022 for the DB Cargo Junior/Trainee Driver role at Didcot. Hopefully I have understood the thread correctly.
Thank you to 12LDA28C for taking the time to explain the detail to the newbies like me!

 

[Brum_AVFC]

Yes, you would have 'lost a life' as a result of failing the VSE.

This is where I’m a bit unsure of what counts as ‘lives’.

I failed one of the Vienna tests at OPC 2 years ago, obviously lost a life there. I’ve just done OPC online questions with Avanti as part of the sifting, if I failed that would that count as a life? I was of the understanding that you only lost live’s when you attend the OPC centre?

 

[12LDA28C]

This is where I’m a bit unsure of what counts as ‘lives’.

I failed one of the Vienna tests at OPC 2 years ago, obviously lost a life there. I’ve just done OPC online questions with Avanti as part of the sifting, if I failed that would that count as a life? I was of the understanding that you only lost live’s when you attend the OPC centre?

As I understand it, you get two attempts at the train driving assessment process, whether the tests are online or in person.

 

[Brum_AVFC]

As I understand it, you get two attempts at the train driving assessment process, whether the tests are online or in person.

I would have avoided Avanti if that was the case, their online process is far more difficult than Chiltern, hope I haven’t messed up Chiltern because of Avanti, thanks for clearing it up

 

[Class2ldn]

The 2 lives in general is the official opc tests conducted in a test environment.
However for companies that use extra tests to sift people at the start you may only have limited chances to apply for them if you fail these tests more then twice. If you fail the vse you'd probably get another chance at Chiltern but fail it again and they might not let you apply again, it won't atop you applying for other companies especially if they don't use these extra sifting tests.
The main 2 lives rule is the official tests that would bar you from all companies, so the group bourdon and other similar tests, any enhanced tests would be operator specific and even if you fail them won't necessarily stop you applying to other companies that don't use enhanced testing.

 

[Brum_AVFC]

The 2 lives in general is the official opc tests conducted in a test environment.
However for companies that use extra tests to sift people at the start you may only have limited chances to apply for them if you fail these tests more then twice. If you fail the vse you'd probably get another chance at Chiltern but fail it again and they might not let you apply again, it won't atop you applying for other companies especially if they don't use these extra sifting tests.
The main 2 lives rule is the official tests that would bar you from all companies, so the group bourdon and other similar tests, any enhanced tests would be operator specific and even if you fail them won't necessarily stop you applying to other companies that don't use enhanced testing.

That was my understanding