DRS Assessment Day Information

[Paul Jordan]

Hello all,

Please be patient with me as I'm new here after been advised to join your site "very informative" I must say but, I'm really looking for advice in regards to the DRS assessment days if anyone has any experience?

A few weeks ago I applied for a "Train Person" role with DRS and have subsequently been asked to attend one of their assessment days next week.

The story so far really is I paid for and passed the Network Rail Train Driver Assessment Course in 2007 in a long targeted plan to achieve my ambition of becoming a Train Driver. I've certainly never been a big "train guy" by any stretch of the imagination but, must confess to having a genuine interest and enthusiasm for logistics on a big scale.

I found the Network Rail Train Driver Assessment interesting and fun to sit but don't really know what to expect from DRS?

I would imagine all TOC's have their own specific things they look for in a candidate with their assessment papers tailored to this goal. Perfectly acceptable as I have often done the exact same thing when employing people for my own business.

So I'll try and get to the point

1, has anybody on the site ever been on a DRS assessment day?
2, if so do you remember the questions or the test produced on the day?
3, was their anything they were particularly keen on?

Any advice to help me on my way would be very gratefully received.

Best regards,

Paul

 

[EastMidsMatt]

Not sure if you have seen the following

https://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http...MD5MQFggWMAU&usg=AOvVaw02WGX0mbZ1M-mZ6tcGja6o

 

[Paul Jordan]

Not sure if you have seen the following

https://www.google.co.uk/url?q=https://www.directrailservices.com/Train%20Person%20Advert%20%20Campaign%20Info%20-%20Dec%2017.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjy8uOQjbTZAhVmJ8AKHdUMD5MQFggWMAU&usg=AOvVaw02WGX0mbZ1M-mZ6tcGja6o

Yes EastmidsMatt I have seen this thank you. What I'm really searching for is an insight into the actual DRS assessment.

It stuck me how different TOC's can be these days so, that's why I'd like to drill down on the assessment day itself!?

If someone has sat it over the last year or so they will probably have some really good info about moving forward.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[EastMidsMatt]

I did mine at EMT so wouldn't be able to help much.

I'd have thought it'd be similar in the sense of: knowing about the company, being a team player, safety first, ability to learn, flexibility, matching your skills and experience to the competencies etc.

The OPC stuff is standard across the board so you can definitely find info on that part of the process on here.

I imagine the general recruitment process is similar all over, with a few tweaks here and there depending on the toc.

Anyway, hope you get the info you're looking for and good luck.

 

[Visualhappy]

I've also been invited to this same role (Carlisle)
I haven't sat DRS assessments but I did sit First Group assessments a few years back. I found that if you practice the example sheets and do some research online you'll do fine, unfortunately I failed the speed awareness reaction test marginally as I panicked near the end.

Good luck.

 

[LRV3004]

I have also been invited to an assessment for this role. Been sent some practice material and must admit a couple of those tests look pretty daunting! I don't fancy my chances but I'm going in with a "nothing to lose" approach as I've just made the talent pool with another operator! Good luck with your assessment; which one are you going to?

 

[Scouse_scott]

I sat an assessment day for DRS about 5 years ago for a trainee driver role.

1st thing that happened when I arrived was a morning of sitting the tests they had sent me to practice. After that we had a lunch break which they provided ( sandwiches and tea+coffee ) next was a team building activity, they put us in groups of six and watched us + took notes. Finally we had 1 on 1 interviews with train managers.

It's a long day so make sure you arrive well rested and focused

 

[Paul Jordan]

I have also been invited to an assessment for this role. Been sent some practice material and must admit a couple of those tests look pretty daunting! I don't fancy my chances but I'm going in with a "nothing to lose" approach as I've just made the talent pool with another operator! Good luck with your assessment; which one are you going to?

0

Hello LRV3004, I'm going to the Crewe assessment on Tuesday morning. Figured I'd get a hotel in the area to save driving as I live near to the York vacancy.

I would imagine the most prudent thing to do is to swat up a bit on the Math and relax. When I sat the Network Rail Train Driver Assessment only 3 of us passed out of 108. This was no way a representative result of the people that went for it. Some people were hysterical with stress and nerves. Not the state of mind to be sitting tests.

Hope you do well pal. Good luck!

 

[Paul Jordan]

I sat an assessment day for DRS about 5 years ago for a trainee driver role.

1st thing that happened when I arrived was a morning of sitting the tests they had sent me to practice. After that we had a lunch break which they provided ( sandwiches and tea+coffee ) next was a team building activity, they put us in groups of six and watched us + took notes. Finally we had 1 on 1 interviews with train managers.

It's a long day so make sure you arrive well rested and focused

Thanks for the info Scouse_scott. Is there anything in particular DRS were keen on or looking for specifically?

Regards,

Paul (SSS)

 

[greatkingrat]

What do you mean by "Network Rail Train Driver Assessment". Network Rail don't employ any train drivers and aren't involved in the assessment process?

 

[Paul Jordan]

What do you mean by "Network Rail Train Driver Assessment". Network Rail don't employ any train drivers and aren't involved in the assessment process?

I sat the Network Rail Train Driver Assessment Course in 2007 at the then EWS Doncaster training center.

My pass certificate clearly states "Network Rail Train Driver Assessment"

Hope this help.

P.s as far as i'm aware Network rail have no drivers...

 

[LRV3004]

0

Hello LRV3004, I'm going to the Crewe assessment on Tuesday morning. Figured I'd get a hotel in the area to save driving as I live near to the York vacancy.

I would imagine the most prudent thing to do is to swat up a bit on the Math and relax. When I sat the Network Rail Train Driver Assessment only 3 of us passed out of 108. This was no way a representative result of the people that went for it. Some people were hysterical with stress and nerves. Not the state of mind to be sitting tests.

Hope you do well pal. Good luck!

You are on the same assessment as me then! I'll look out for you; I take it your forum user name is your actual name?

 

[Paul Jordan]

You are on the same assessment as me then! I'll look out for you; I take it your forum user name is your actual name?

It is yes. Hopefully a few cold ones afterwards lol

 

[LRV3004]

It is yes. Hopefully a few cold ones afterwards lol

Either to celebrate or drown sorrows ha ha! I'm Chris, hope we get chance for a chat at the assessment event!

 

[DrRumack]

Did everyone apply for this on the DRS website directly? I applied for a similar role in Jan but not sure who it was for, it was advertised on railwaypeople through the agency Shorterm .

 

[LRV3004]

Did everyone apply for this on the DRS website directly? I applied for a similar role in Jan but not sure who it was for, it was advertised on railwaypeople through the agency Shorterm .

I applied via the DRS website, after a friend alerted me to the vacancy

 

[DrRumack]

I don't know why they would use an agency anyway you'd think they'd get enough applications from their own website

 

[Kylie88]

How do you guys think it went? I had mine today in Crewe, they said we'd know by the beginning of next week if we were through to the next stage.

 

[train_lover]

How do you guys think it went? I had mine today in Crewe, they said we'd know by the beginning of next week if we were through to the next stage.

Mixed feelings. It was harder than i expected. I have already completed the train driver psychometric tests and I must say I found today more difficult. Not feeling overly positive! How do you feel about it?

 

[Kylie88]

Mixed feelings. It was harder than i expected. I have already completed the train driver psychometric tests and I must say I found today more difficult. Not feeling overly positive! How do you feel about it?

I feel the same! Think I was fine on the maths, verbal reasoning etc but failed on the mechanical test...I did the psychometric tests a while ago too and I thought they were easier. There were a lot more people than I expected there too!

 

[train_lover]

I feel the same! Think I was fine on the maths, verbal reasoning etc but failed on the mechanical test...I did the psychometric tests a while ago too and I thought they were easier. There were a lot more people than I expected there too!

And the SCAAT test at the end of the day was a little cruel. My brain was like putty at that point.

 

[Kylie88]

And the SCAAT test at the end of the day was a little cruel. My brain was like putty at that point.

Haha Yea! I'm pretty sure they did that last on purpose!

 

[LRV3004]

Not sure how I did! I was OK with the verbal comprehension one and not too bad with the numerical reasoning. If I'm going to fail it will be the mechanical test! Not sure how I did with the memory test, but I was OK with the SCAAT one - I actually reached the end on the third and hardest one bizarrely enough!
If I get through, great, if not, it is what it is! Good luck to everyone who gets through!

 

[Bromley boy]

My pass certificate clearly states "Network Rail Train Driver Assessment"

It simply means the tests you have to pass in order to drive trains on network rail infrastructure. As you say, NR itself doesn't employ drivers (drivers of MPVs, leaf busters etc. are contracted from FOCs I believe).

 

[LRV3004]

Has anyone heard back from any of their assessments yet? And how will they let us know? E-mail or letter?

 

[Visualhappy]

I've not heard anything yet, Carlisle depot.

 

[Kylie88]

I haven't heard anything either

 

[Borocarl88]

I havent heard anything yet, they said at the Carlisle assessment that we would find out early this week by email, they also said we can request feedback, Im not too hopeful of passing, but good luck everyone!

 

[Borocarl88]

I have just recieved the email saying I have passed the assessment, now there is hope for everybody, lets hope all of us get a chance to progress, the initial application process was enough hard work for everybody to get a shot! Good luck everyone!

 

[Visualhappy]

I just received my results, unfortunately I failed the assessment, I haven't asked asked for feedback because I know which topic I had failed on. Good luck to everyone who passed.