CrossCountry - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[43066]

View attachment 181021
Replace the £28,464 with £32,717 and the £37,713 with £43,347. Only after signing a route and a core traction do you move to the first year qualified driver Salary.

Thanks. So as I thought they go onto more than this fairly rapidly, in which case surprising the advert doesn’t mention that, and the eventual amount you progress to, rather than an amount you may be on for 8-12 weeks. A casual reader might think that’s what fully qualified XC drivers get paid! Another misleadingly/badly drafted advert.

Is anyone able to confirm the current 1st year and beyond rates?

 

[transportphoto]

In attempt to trial a move towards TOC driver recruitment being discussed in one thread per company, I’ve merged today’s vacancy into the existing thread from a previous campaign (and changed the thread title to reflect this.) This approach is instead of having a different thread for each vacancy/campaign.

I hope the experience of existing candidates can help those new to the process, etc

 

[PaulRay]

This is the latest info I have, for those interested in the pay/time scales.

Trainee Driver New entrant	£32,717	Induction (week 0)
2	Competent Trainee Driver (without core route and traction)	£43,347	After Passing Formative (week 34)
3	Full Qualified Driver (with core route and traction) 1st year	£63,190	After signing core route (depot specific)
4	Full Qualified Driver (with core route and traction) 2nd year	£68,953	1 year after signing core route
	Full Qualified Driver (with core route and traction) 3rd year	£74,718	2 years after signing core

 

[NSEWonderer]

This is the latest info I have, for those interested in the pay/time scales.

Trainee Driver New entrant	£32,717	Induction (week 0)
2	Competent Trainee Driver (without core route and traction)	£43,347	After Passing Formative (week 34)
3	Full Qualified Driver (with core route and traction) 1st year	£63,190	After signing core route (depot specific)
4	Full Qualified Driver (with core route and traction) 2nd year	£68,953	1 year after signing core route
	Full Qualified Driver (with core route and traction) 3rd year	£74,718	2 years after signing core

Cheers

 

[Ridetherails]

With XC using SHL, am I correct in presuming these are different to OPC results so would need to resit these or are OPC results / lives taken into consideration/ affected?

 

[JH-OB]

SHL? I’m at the end of the process with XC and not come across SHL before.

If it’s a psychometric testing company…the tests are all the same and ‘lives lost’ all count together as the tests are set by the British Rail Safety Board. If you’ve already passed them with OPC you don’t do them again.

Hope that helps

 

[Ridetherails]

SHL? I’m at the end of the process with XC and not come across SHL before.

If it’s a psychometric testing company…the tests are all the same and ‘lives lost’ all count together as the tests are set by the British Rail Safety Board. If you’ve already passed them with OPC you don’t do them again.

Hope that helps

Yeah I’ve already done my OPC’s hence curious about XC using SHL and how that works alongside OPC.

Congrats, when are you starting? Presume you’re doing your training in Derby?

 

[JH-OB]

I don’t have a date, I’m just in the Talent Pool

 

[JDAWC]

Applied for Manchester. First time applying with XC. I understand the phycometrics need to be passed to national standard and not enhanced. What are the actual phychometrics you sit with XC? Obviously dot test, MMI etc. but what are the other ones if anyone happens to know? Cheers

 

[Reactor Scram]

If it's the same as what I did then:

DMI first.

1st test centre visit:
1. Group Bourdon (dots)
2. Comprehension test - read info, retain it then complete questions on the text.
3. Reasoning - a set of rules and apply them to the task. Aka cables and dials.
4. Listening to and counting beeps whilst looking for info in a directory. Aka test of everyday attention.

2nd test centre visit:
1. 30 mins on the computer watching the square flash - vigilance test.
2. Picture memory test on computer.
3. 2 hand control test on computer.
4. MMI

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Pintman]

Yeah I’ve already done my OPC’s hence curious about XC using SHL and how that works alongside OPC.

Which SHL tests are they using? This is the first I'm hearing of it

 

[Ridetherails]

Which SHL tests are they using? This is the first I'm hearing of it

I don’t know, the job advert says SHL testing. I’ve only ever heard of and done OPC hence my question

 

[tiptoptaff]

S

I don’t know, the job advert says SHL testing. I’ve only ever heard of and done OPC hence my question

SHL are widely used in the industry for inital online assessments

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And indeed, many other industries

 

[JDAWC]

If it's the same as what I did then:

DMI first.

1st test centre visit:
1. Group Bourdon (dots)
2. Comprehension test - read info, retain it then complete questions on the text.
3. Reasoning - a set of rules and apply them to the task. Aka cables and dials.
4. Listening to and counting beeps whilst looking for info in a directory. Aka test of everyday attention.

2nd test centre visit:
1. 30 mins on the computer watching the square flash - vigilance test.
2. Picture memory test on computer.
3. 2 hand control test on computer.
4. MMI

Hope this helps and good luck.

Thanks mate really helpful.

Is the picture memory the one where it flashes up for a fraction of a second and you have to say what you saw? Eg.
traffic light, green car, zebra crossing.

 

[Reactor Scram]

Thanks mate really helpful.

Is the picture memory the one where it flashes up for a fraction of a second and you have to say what you saw? Eg.
traffic light, green car, zebra crossing.

Yes, that's right. List what you saw: pedestrian, motor vehicle, bicycle / motor bike, road sign, traffic light. Maybe 20-25 of them to get through.

 

[Lighteight123]

I couldn’t see the age limit on the advertisement. Does anyone know if the age requirement reduction has come into effect?

 

[JDAWC]

I couldn’t see the age limit on the advertisement. Does anyone know if the age requirement reduction has come into effect?

I’m 18 (been on the railway since I was 16) and have applied and haven’t been met with any push back.

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

Yes, that's right. List what you saw: pedestrian, motor vehicle, bicycle / motor bike, road sign, traffic light. Maybe 20-25 of them to get through.

Thanks for the help. How did you find this one? I’ve been practicing psychometrics since they announced the age limit lowering and it’s the only one I’m a bit so so with. Just looking for tips to improve!

 

[softquaser]

I’m 18 (been on the railway since I was 16) and have applied and haven’t been met with any push back.

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


Thanks for the help. How did you find this one? I’ve been practicing psychometrics since they announced the age limit lowering and it’s the only one I’m a bit so so with. Just looking for tips to improve!

I personally found the practice tests online harder than the actual test. Can't really recommend anything other than practice. Personally I found the interview portion the hardest.

 

[TraineeD]

I’m 18 (been on the railway since I was 16) and have applied and haven’t been met with any push back.

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


Thanks for the help. How did you find this one? I’ve been practicing psychometrics since they announced the age limit lowering and it’s the only one I’m a bit so so with. Just looking for tips to improve!

I found looking for roadsigns and traffic lights helped me. I think sub consciously you notice cars and pedestrians.

NEVER mark what you think 'should' be in the image. Only mark what you definitely saw

 

[Reactor Scram]

I’m 18 (been on the railway since I was 16) and have applied and haven’t been met with any push back.

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


Thanks for the help. How did you find this one? I’ve been practicing psychometrics since they announced the age limit lowering and it’s the only one I’m a bit so so with. Just looking for tips to improve!

I'm happy to share my experience on the picture test. I needed two attempts. It was the only psychometric test I failed. Did plenty of reading around the topic and saw the advice over and over about never marking things you think you saw. I took that advice and to be honest I think it made me too cautious.

Like everyone who fails something in this game, I didn't get any feedback but I did buy some software which mimicked the test after I failed and turns out I was pretty bad at it.

Lots and lots of practice and 8 months later, I went again and got through. So I think the advice to not select things you think you saw is sound but ultimately I believe the answer will be wrong if you miss stuff as well.

Like the dot test, there is ways to practice this and parting company with £30-40 for the software is worth it. Some people will naturally be good at it, I was not and had to work at it.

In hindsight should I have practiced harder to avoid the first fail? Yes. Should I have got the software beforehand? Yes - but easy to say now. Everyone is different.

Best of luck with it all.

 

[Jordan1991]

Hi all, first time on this thread. I just wanted to get some info if possible. I’ve been in the talent bank with Avanti for 2 years now so have decided to apply for Manchester with XC.

Being that I have passed all psychometrics to enhanced standard, does that mean I would only have to pass an interview with XC if my application gets shortlisted?

 

[sktt25]

Hi all, first time on this thread. I just wanted to get some info if possible. I’ve been in the talent bank with Avanti for 2 years now so have decided to apply for Manchester with XC.

Being that I have passed all psychometrics to enhanced standard, does that mean I would only have to pass an interview with XC if my application gets shortlisted?

Did you do a CBI or an MMI for your psychometric tests?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Did you do a CBI or an MMI for your psychometric tests?

Hi all, first time on this thread. I just wanted to get some info if possible. I’ve been in the talent bank with Avanti for 2 years now so have decided to apply for Manchester with XC.

Being that I have passed all psychometrics to enhanced standard, does that mean I would only have to pass an interview with XC if my application gets shortlisted?

If with XC you'll need to do the mmi and then dmi as they don't use CBI. Honestly the CBI and MMi thing needs to be standardised into one but thats a topic for another day.

 

[Jordan1991]

If with XC you'll need to do the mmi and then dmi as they don't use CBI. Honestly the CBI and MMi thing needs to be standardised into one but thats a topic for another day.

Thanks, I did the CBI. Does the MMI differ much from the one I did? And the DMI I can’t remember. Is that the telephone call one they do as part of it?

 

[NSEWonderer]

Thanks, I did the CBI. Does the MMI differ much from the one I did? And the DMI I can’t remember. Is that the telephone call one they do as part of it?

No clue about xc process im sure thread earlier on eill mention but as for mmi its similar to cbi yes, just note that any result, overrides your CBI. If you pass, then CBI is replaced with MMI and no longer valid till redone. Vice versa.

 

[Jordan1991]

No clue about xc process im sure thread earlier on eill mention but as for mmi its similar to cbi yes, just note that any result, overrides your CBI. If you pass, then CBI is replaced with MMI and no longer valid till redone. Vice versa.

Thank you. Although I am told that this is common misconception! I have spoken to someone who was in the talent bank for 2 different Tocs, one using and MMI and one using a CBI, and he was made an offer from both at different points. I thought it was interesting because I was always told otherwise

 

[sktt25]

I would say that it would be worth going through the process and if you get that far you could then make a decision. If it does overwrite your CBI what do you think you would do?

 

[Jordan1991]

I would say that it would be worth going through the process and if you get that far you could then make a decision. If it does overwrite your CBI what do you think you would do?

I think I would still go for it because I think my current occupation will always provide me with good answers for any of the interviews.

Plus in all honesty, I don’t think Avanti will ever call me up. I hear they are well staffed for the Manchester depot and I really don’t want my enhanced passes for the psychometrics to go to waste. I’d be happy to wait until the very end if it meant being offered a job with them, but I’m sceptical that they will

 

[JDAWC]

I'm happy to share my experience on the picture test. I needed two attempts. It was the only psychometric test I failed. Did plenty of reading around the topic and saw the advice over and over about never marking things you think you saw. I took that advice and to be honest I think it made me too cautious.

Like everyone who fails something in this game, I didn't get any feedback but I did buy some software which mimicked the test after I failed and turns out I was pretty bad at it.

Lots and lots of practice and 8 months later, I went again and got through. So I think the advice to not select things you think you saw is sound but ultimately I believe the answer will be wrong if you miss stuff as well.

Like the dot test, there is ways to practice this and parting company with £30-40 for the software is worth it. Some people will naturally be good at it, I was not and had to work at it.

In hindsight should I have practiced harder to avoid the first fail? Yes. Should I have got the software beforehand? Yes - but easy to say now. Everyone is different.

Best of luck with it all.

Cheers.

I guess the key is just practice…. and then more practice! Where was your software from? I have one but just wondered if yours was different.

 

[Reactor Scram]

Cheers.

I guess the key is just practice…. and then more practice! Where was your software from? I have one but just wondered if yours was different.

https://traineetraindriverinfo.com/product/atavt-perception-test/?attribute_operating-system=Mac&attribute_delivery-format=Download