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Depot Trainee driver
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Geargrinder
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I believe it will be the same as the mainline train driver assessments. Where do you have to go for the tests ? I thought these jobs had long gone as they advertised a start date in April. It just shows - never give up hope !
Thats what I thought as well! I got no idea on what to expect as Ive neva even sat in the drivers seat on an train before :/
Ive no idea whats involved but i sent my application back in January & they also called me today to attend the assessment
10th June.Just revise & find out as much info as poss.
Beveridges
Established Member
Same psycho tests and SI as mainline drivers. Line manager interview has a different take on it. They're more interested in experience in problem solving, and working as a team.
Sorry Beveridges but you've lost me! :/
notadriver
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He's just saying they are the same psychometric tests that a main line driver takes. At the manager interview it might be best not to say you saw the job as a stepping stone to main line train driving however ....
Geargrinder
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If I remember, the original ad started "calling all aspiring train drivers....." So with EMT never advertising for off the street Trainee Drivers they might well fully expect you to see it as a stepping stone. Only thing that stopped me applying was the original start date which was about 6 weeks after the closing date for applications. Looks like that's been extended by a couple of months!
Beveridges
Established Member
It might be worth bearing in mind that the OP could get the DD job and actually like it, and not want to leave.
So no need to mention anything about using it as a stepping stone... As it may never happen.
All this "stepping stone" stuff never seems to happen in real life from what I see. People want to be an MDD, and that's it.
I consider it a very good role in its own right and is so much more than a stepping stone to be Mainline. It is actually an alernative that probably suits some people better.
I heard it was Derby as well. Think he said it wernt far from the rail station. I havent been emailed anything and nothing has been shoved through the letter box eyther!! :/
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just spoke to Emt. Everything is being e-mailed fairly soon and being rammed in the post as well.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just spoke to Emt. Everything is being e-mailed fairly soon and being rammed in the post as well.
That's good news,I was starting get a bit concerned & considered ringingthem on Monday to see if they had forgotten us.
No not yet,I've phoned them today & they ain't sent nothing out cos theyr still trying contact candidates & will send em all at once,cutting it a bit fine I think,hope trains are more organised.
I spoke to hr today. Should be getting the emails soon (hopefully tomorrow) & it's also going in the post 1st Class.
Wait for the post man to turn up!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Got the e-mail form them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Any one got anything through the post yet??
Wait for the post man to turn up!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Got the e-mail form them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Any one got anything through the post yet??
I spoke to hr today. Should be getting the emails soon (hopefully tomorrow) & it's also going in the post 1st Class.
Wait for the post man to turn up!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Got the e-mail form them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Any one got anything through the post yet??
Nothing yet!,had e_mail though.
They don't need to. They can recruit plenty of qualified drivers. Nice Inter City work on the Midland, and depots in areas where there aren't many driving opportunities on the other bit, like Lincoln, etc.
Geargrinder
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Exactly, I think that's why if you go for a Depot Driver job you have to be sure that you will be happy to remain there for some years, and not assume its a route into mainline driving. What I meant with the post quoted though was that the original ad did suggest it was a way to become a mainline driver.
I know, (before you say anything Beveridges
) that MDD is a decent job in its own right, but I've seen people take conductors, ticket office jobs etc to get on the railway and be in a role they didn't really want. Likewise I know someone who joined the police with ambitions to drive traffic cars etc and 10 years later they are still fighting drunks outside nightclubs on a weekend and hating it...
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notadriver
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I don't understand the depot driving role in terms of whether it is a stepping stone to main line driver or not. In some companies such as East Midlands and Greater Anglia it definitely is. Yet in others it definitely isn't and depot drivers have to go up against internal applicants such as guards etc or even externals.
I was kindly allowed to ride in the cab with a depot driver as he performed a shunt around the yard. Very professional. But the power controller never went beyond notch 2 and 15 mph was the maximum speed achieved once off the yard running into the platform.
I was kindly allowed to ride in the cab with a depot driver as he performed a shunt around the yard. Very professional. But the power controller never went beyond notch 2 and 15 mph was the maximum speed achieved once off the yard running into the platform.
notadriver
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Depot drivers must go for trainee positions and need the full 225 hours handling.qualified drivers don't and can be productive very quickly.
No offence but you seem to have a very negative attitude towards depot drivers. For GA you have to start as a depot driver before you can go mainline, a far as I know we don't even take on qualified mainline drivers. Probably because they can teach to drive how they want you to drive. Plus depot drivers have lots of experience with regards to traction and driving as well. Going from depot driving to mainline takes no time at all really as it is only a couple of weeks rules (most of which you know anyway) and then your 225 hours. Please stop making out that the depot driver route is not a stepping stone to mainline.
notadriver
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I'm not being negative I'm simply stating what happens at my TOC and many others that have depot drivers. Qualified drivers and depot drivers are not equal. Sorry.
I never said they were equal but you said that you didn't understand how the depot driving role was a stepping stone to mainline. A depot driver is a train driver, they drive trains for a living so they are well ahead of any other grade or external applicants already. I don't know of many TOCs who have depot drivers who don't see it as a stepping stone as it seems even First now consider it as a stepping stone.
notadriver
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I actually think it is Dave - and that's my I gave my example of the courtesy and professionalism shown while I was in the cab with one. What confuses me is why some TOCs consider it a stepping stone whilst others don't. There needs to be some clarification on that.
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