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CrossCountry - Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

Lg_

Member
Joined
29 Jun 2023
Messages
44
Location
Lancashire
Do you mean the initial online sift tests, or the psychometrics?

It seems strange that some here have already been contacted and others haven’t

I think those contacted have been for depots that didn't recruit in the last cycle, therefore it's more of a priority to get people in training given the lead time before a new driver is productive.
 
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Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
I think those contacted have been for depots that didn't recruit in the last cycle, therefore it's more of a priority to get people in training given the lead time before a new driver is productive.
I applied for Manchester and there is someone else further down the thread I think who also applied there but was given a call for the next stage
 

chalkijr

Member
Joined
13 Apr 2023
Messages
188
Location
Crewe
I applied for Manchester and there is someone else further down the thread I think who also applied there but was given a call for the next stage
Yeah I noticed this also. Maybe after contacting a few applicants they've decided to check if people have done and passed their psychometrics, in which case they've deemed it not necessary to contact them people until the psychometrics stage is done with. Only thing I can think of what it may be...
 

Jordan1991

Member
Joined
25 Sep 2022
Messages
216
Location
Poynton
Yeah I noticed this also. Maybe after contacting a few applicants they've decided to check if people have done and passed their psychometrics, in which case they've deemed it not necessary to contact them people until the psychometrics stage is done with. Only thing I can think of what it may be...
Yes potentially, but that wouldn’t account for those here who haven’t done their psychometrics and also haven’t been contacted
 

chalkijr

Member
Joined
13 Apr 2023
Messages
188
Location
Crewe
Yes potentially, but that wouldn’t account for those here who haven’t done their psychometrics and also haven’t been contacted
That's true, but has anyone on here stated that they are still pending but haven't done any psychometrics at all previously?
 

chalkijr

Member
Joined
13 Apr 2023
Messages
188
Location
Crewe
Yes I believe so, but that's only half of it. I think you go up a band after week 34 without core route and traction, but then after signing core route and being fully qualified it goes up again substantially. It then goes up twice more after a year of being signed off and then a second year.
 

Manda2194

Member
Joined
30 Apr 2020
Messages
271
Location
north west
Yes I believe so, but that's only half of it. I think you go up a band after week 34 without core route and traction, but then after signing core route and being fully qualified it goes up again substantially. It then goes up twice more after a year of being signed off and then a second year.
Sounds complicated haha. If anyone has the numbers it will be greatly appreciated. I have been on the look out for vacancies and just working out if I can afford the drop
 

chalkijr

Member
Joined
13 Apr 2023
Messages
188
Location
Crewe
Sounds complicated haha. If anyone has the numbers it will be greatly appreciated. I have been on the look out for vacancies and just working out if I can afford the drop
This is from earlier in the thread.
 

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GPR

Member
Joined
16 Oct 2011
Messages
232
Location
Liverpool
Sounds complicated haha. If anyone has the numbers it will be greatly appreciated. I have been on the look out for vacancies and just working out if I can afford the drop
Just apply for any mainline vacancies that come come up in your area.
Changes are slim of being successful and there’s only a handful of vacancies in an area each year when there are 5-10,000 people applying so you would only be shooting yourself in the foot by not applying.
A bit different if you are on £70k now and it’d be 2 years before nearly reaching that wage again but train driving is becoming harder and harder to be successful in getting a role as the years go by so there’s no time like the present.
The more young people apply with degrees, the more females who apply who the TOCs want, the more diversity quotas they want to hit, the competition is becoming more and more competitive every recruitment drive.
 

Manda2194

Member
Joined
30 Apr 2020
Messages
271
Location
north west
Just apply for any mainline vacancies that come come up in your area.
Changes are slim of being successful and there’s only a handful of vacancies in an area each year when there are 5-10,000 people applying so you would only be shooting yourself in the foot by not applying.
A bit different if you are on £70k now and it’d be 2 years before nearly reaching that wage again but train driving is becoming harder and harder to be successful in getting a role as the years go by so there’s no time like the present.
The more young people apply with degrees, the more females who apply who the TOCs want, the more diversity quotas they want to hit, the competition is becoming more and more competitive every recruitment drive.
Appreciate the advice mate.

At the moment I’m a signaller and trying to get over to driving. Grade 6 money so it’s decent and trying to work out if I can justify the drop.

Completely agree on your diversity point too
 

SuperS16v

Member
Joined
14 Jul 2022
Messages
276
Location
England
Ah very interesting. So you go up to 63k after 38 weeks essentially?

Yes that’s correct, it’s a very odd you get another pay rise so quickly!

If you take long then 20 days to learn your first route the pay gets back dated to when you completed 20 days.
 

Pabl007

Member
Joined
6 Jul 2025
Messages
40
Location
London
I’m still pending and already did the psychometric tests with GWR last year….
Hi, have you had the MMI and/or DMI yet? What depot have u applied to? I done my assessment day for GWR last week and had the MMI after all the tests. Got the results 2 days later and then an email the same day to book a DMI. From a slow process which started in April with the initial application its seems to have sped up substantially!
 
Joined
8 Jul 2014
Messages
394
Not had anything yet, but I already did the psychometric tests/MMI already last year with another TOC and passed so I should sail to DMI as long I passed the original sift. Applied at my current depot (Plymouth).
 

DN72

New Member
Joined
16 Sep 2025
Messages
3
Location
Plymouth
I had a phone call from HR last week I’m booked in for psychometric tests in Manchester next month, I applied for Plymouth
 

Pabl007

Member
Joined
6 Jul 2025
Messages
40
Location
London
Not had anything yet, but I already did the psychometric tests/MMI already last year with another TOC and passed so I should sail to DMI as long I passed the original sift. Applied at my current depot (Plymouth).
Good luck, hope it comes through soon for you
 

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