East Midlands Trains Depot Drivers?

[JonnyH]

Hi Guys, been reading these forums for ages now and find it a great place to source info regarding railway careers so I thought I would sign up!

Like so many of you on here, I am hoping to land my dream job as a train driver! Easy right?

I have applied to EMT for the last three years when they have had recruitment for Trainee Depot Drivers. The first two attempts I didn't get past the application stage, then last year I made it through to the stage 1 tests but unfortunately I failed the Group Bourdon test.

After 6 months, I applied for the trainee driver jobs at Northern in Sheffield, made it through, had a manager interview first, then passed all the tests and was placed in their talent pool ready for a start date. Then I moved house!

I had moved just outside what they considered to be a commutable distance and the job offer was withdrawn as I was no longer eligible. Gutted!

I am living in Derby now and really hoping that East Midlands have another intake, hopefully in the near future, so I can apply to them again and hope to make it in there eventually.

Does anybody have any idea if this is likely? I keep checking their website and see that they are currently advertising for qualified mainline drivers which has concerned me as surely this will mean new depot vacancies will not likely be coming up.

Also, I have read somewhere else on this forum that EMT have a very high standard required on the tests to be considered for a job. Does anybody know if there is any way I can find out if my scores are good enough for the standards required for a specific TOC?

Any advice that anyone may be able to give would be massively appreciated. For me, the clock is now ticking on my results and I have used both lives....

 

[donpoku]

You've only used one life which was bourdon with EMT as you pass everything incl. bourdon in your second attempt with northern. So I fail to understand how you've used up your 2 lives.

EMT is one of if not the highest enhanced pass mark requirement, so next time will be your last life with them.

 

[JonnyH]

Thanks for your reply donpoku. What I meant was that I will be unable to retake the tests for a third time if I am not able to secure a job before my 'pass' results expire

 

[Tomnick]

Thanks for your reply donpoku. What I meant was that I will be unable to retake the tests for a third time if I am not able to secure a job before my 'pass' results expire

Why? You've failed them once. If you fail again, it's game over. Otherwise, though, you can take the tests as often as you need to - as long as you pass them every time.

 

[Max287]

Why? You've failed them once. If you fail again, it's game over. Otherwise, though, you can take the tests as often as you need to - as long as you pass them every time.

Really? I never knew that, I always thought if somebody had taken the tests twice that counted as both lives gone. Very useful to know!

 

[Tomnick]

Really? I never knew that, I always thought if somebody had taken the tests twice that counted as both lives gone. Very useful to know!

Only (unless I'm very much mistaken!) unless you fail them both times! You only use a 'life' on each occasion if you don't pass (to the national standard?).

 

[stjimmy87]

Are there any Derby or Nottingham EMT depot drivers that can give a picture of what the shift patterns, training, and general shifts are like?

 

[Tomnick]

Are there any Derby or Nottingham EMT depot drivers that can give a picture of what the shift patterns, training, and general shifts are like?

Training takes around 4-5 months: 11-12 weeks in the classroom (full rules course, followed by the mother of all written exams, plus traction) then 5-6 weeks' practical training and finally a week or two for passing out and sorting out loose ends.

The shift pattern at Notts is (currently) based around a long weekend (Fri - Tues) every third weekend, with two rest days (Wed - Thu) and the odd Sunday off in between. Just under 4.5 days worked per week on average, but with quite a few runs of '7 on, 2 off, 7 on'. I don't really know about Derby's pattern.

The busiest period for shed drivers at Notts, each day, is early evening through to the early hours of the next morning, and there's a cluster of turns to cover that period. Other than that, they're spread fairly evenly through the day with start times from early morning to mid-afternoon, plus two (relatively short) proper night turns.

(Mon-Sat: 0001, 0030, 0400, 0615, 0800, 1000(SO), 1200, 1430, 1630, 1730, 1800, 2000 plus spare turns)

Derby's different again in this respect - most of their work is on nights, with only a handful of daytime turns.

 

[stjimmy87]

Training takes around 4-5 months: 11-12 weeks in the classroom (full rules course, followed by the mother of all written exams, plus traction) then 5-6 weeks' practical training and finally a week or two for passing out and sorting out loose ends.

The shift pattern at Notts is (currently) based around a long weekend (Fri - Tues) every third weekend, with two rest days (Wed - Thu) and the odd Sunday off in between. Just under 4.5 days worked per week on average, but with quite a few runs of '7 on, 2 off, 7 on'. I don't really know about Derby's pattern.

The busiest period for shed drivers at Notts, each day, is early evening through to the early hours of the next morning, and there's a cluster of turns to cover that period. Other than that, they're spread fairly evenly through the day with start times from early morning to mid-afternoon, plus two (relatively short) proper night turns.

(Mon-Sat: 0001, 0030, 0400, 0615, 0800, 1000(SO), 1200, 1430, 1630, 1730, 1800, 2000 plus spare turns)

Derby's different again in this respect - most of their work is on nights, with only a handful of daytime turns.

Thanks for your response

So not as many nights as I thought then. Is 2 days off in a row the most you get or are there any 3 or 4 days in a row off? Also, If you fail the mother of all written exams do you get a chance to try again or is it one time only?

Nottingham eastcroft is the depot I would like to work at (I would take Derby if offered of course). Do you tend to work with the public much or is it pretty much sign on work in the depot and do the jobs?

Gonna defiantly try for the job when it comes up next time, hoping I get past the DMI this time

 

[Tomnick]

Thanks for your response

So not as many nights as I thought then. Is 2 days off in a row the most you get or are there any 3 or 4 days in a row off? Also, If you fail the mother of all written exams do you get a chance to try again or is it one time only?

Nottingham eastcroft is the depot I would like to work at (I would take Derby if offered of course). Do you tend to work with the public much or is it pretty much sign on work in the depot and do the jobs?

Gonna defiantly try for the job when it comes up next time, hoping I get past the DMI this time

Sorry, didn't make it clear - the long weekend (every third weekend) is five consecutive rest days. I'm not sure whether anything's changed with the exam, but there certainly used to be one opportunity to fail it without being sent down the road! That's definitely the toughest part of the process, but the training's very good and certainly everyone on our course got through.

The majority of work at Notts involves the station at some point, and the booking-on point, messroom and other facilities are all on the station too, so there's lots of interaction with the public. It's rare to spend any more than a couple of hours on Eastcroft before returning to the station (again, it's very different at Derby - they do go up to the station, but spend most of their time on Etches Park).

All in all, it's not a bad job at all - good luck!

 

[Max287]

Sorry, didn't make it clear - the long weekend (every third weekend) is five consecutive rest days. I'm not sure whether anything's changed with the exam, but there certainly used to be one opportunity to fail it without being sent down the road! That's definitely the toughest part of the process, but the training's very good and certainly everyone on our course got through.

The majority of work at Notts involves the station at some point, and the booking-on point, messroom and other facilities are all on the station too, so there's lots of interaction with the public. It's rare to spend any more than a couple of hours on Eastcroft before returning to the station (again, it's very different at Derby - they do go up to the station, but spend most of their time on Etches Park).

All in all, it's not a bad job at all - good luck!

Thanks for that info Tomnick, less nights than I thought also. Like Stjimmy87 and JohnnyH, I am also hoping to get trough at EMT myself. Fingers crossed we will all get there eventually.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Training takes around 4-5 months: 11-12 weeks in the classroom (full rules course, followed by the mother of all written exams, plus traction) then 5-6 weeks' practical training and finally a week or two for passing out and sorting out loose ends.

The shift pattern at Notts is (currently) based around a long weekend (Fri - Tues) every third weekend, with two rest days (Wed - Thu) and the odd Sunday off in between. Just under 4.5 days worked per week on average, but with quite a few runs of '7 on, 2 off, 7 on'. I don't really know about Derby's pattern.

The busiest period for shed drivers at Notts, each day, is early evening through to the early hours of the next morning, and there's a cluster of turns to cover that period. Other than that, they're spread fairly evenly through the day with start times from early morning to mid-afternoon, plus two (relatively short) proper night turns.

(Mon-Sat: 0001, 0030, 0400, 0615, 0800, 1000(SO), 1200, 1430, 1630, 1730, 1800, 2000 plus spare turns)

Derby's different again in this respect - most of their work is on nights, with only a handful of daytime turns.

Interesting insight, thanks!

 

[stjimmy87]

Ive heard rumours that EMT still need to use the talent pool from last year as well as giving jobs to some redundant DB schenker drivers. So there might be some vacancies before the end of the year?

 

[Raul_Duke]

There's still quite a few in the talent pool.

The previous course finished a few weeks ago I believe.

I understand EMT are having a planning meeting next week where they will decide what they are doing this year RE: Recruitment and talent pools.

 

[donpoku]

There's still quite a few in the talent pool.

The previous course finished a few weeks ago I believe.

I understand EMT are having a planning meeting next week where they will decide what they are doing this year RE: Recruitment and talent pools.

Cheers keep us updated thanks.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

There's still quite a few in the talent pool.

The previous course finished a few weeks ago I believe.

I understand EMT are having a planning meeting next week where they will decide what they are doing this year RE: Recruitment and talent pools.

Spoke to a driver manager in December who said the "February course" would almost certainly empty the talent pool and they would once again look to fill it. However, I apreciate that he may not have been fully in the know. Also, he wasn't sure that the February course would actually start in February!

However, and don't shoot the messenger, I was also told by a driver that of the recent promotions from depot driver to mainline, many have "not done all that well" (polite rephrasing of his exact words) and a "special" link had to be created for them so this may slow EMT's attitude to future recruitment. Personally this sounded like a driver giving it the Billy big b*ll*cks and anyway, what would constitute a "special" link?! Easy turns only?!

 

[JonnyH]

Spoke to a driver manager in December who said the "February course" would almost certainly empty the talent pool and they would once again look to fill it. However, I apreciate that he may not have been fully in the know. Also, he wasn't sure that the February course would actually start in February!

However, and don't shoot the messenger, I was also told by a driver that of the recent promotions from depot driver to mainline, many have "not done all that well" (polite rephrasing of his exact words) and a "special" link had to be created for them so this may slow EMT's attitude to future recruitment. Personally this sounded like a driver giving it the Billy big b*ll*cks and anyway, what would constitute a "special" link?! Easy turns only?!

I have heard this also. I was told that they are now training depot drivers to mainline on the 15's, Matlock, Crewe etc, following a series on incidents with new drivers who have gone straight onto Sheffield/Nottingham/Derby - London, though don't quote me on that!

 

[Tomnick]

Sounds like the messenger's been fed a load of nonsense to me! It's not at all unusual for new drivers to go into a 'starter' link with a more limited route card, to get them productive more quickly. A lot depends on the needs of the business at the time: which work they're struggling to cover.

 

[ExMover]

Sounds like the messenger's been fed a load of nonsense to me! It's not at all unusual for new drivers to go into a 'starter' link with a more limited route card, to get them productive more quickly. A lot depends on the needs of the business at the time: which work they're struggling to cover.

Tomnick's right, the last drivers went to that link because that's where the business need was, the next lot could well be back on MML duties. It just depends where the gaps are.

 

[stjimmy87]

So speaking to the relation of a driver within EMT. I am told that there are a few EMT drivers who are transferring elsewhere and so there might be a shortage of drivers there soon. Good news for a potential intake of people. Of course it could also be rubbish...eyes open though.

 

[magic man]

I've been in the talent pool since June, hear all sorts of rumours about courses etc. My advice would be take it all with a pinch of salt and when you get the nod appreciate the fortunate position you'll be in.

Good luck all!

 

[JonnyH]

So speaking to the relation of a driver within EMT. I am told that there are a few EMT drivers who are transferring elsewhere and so there might be a shortage of drivers there soon. Good news for a potential intake of people. Of course it could also be rubbish...eyes open though.

Lets hope there is some truth to it

 

[LaBlade]

Has anybody currently in the talent pool (as I am!) heard any news regarding courses for this year yet? As it stands I've been in the talent pool for over 12 months now. Keen to get started but haven't had any positive feedback as yet for course dates.

 

[magic man]

Has anybody currently in the talent pool (as I am!) heard any news regarding courses for this year yet? As it stands I've been in the talent pool for over 12 months now. Keen to get started but haven't had any positive feedback as yet for course dates.

I've been in the talent pool since June 2016. Started the process November 2015. Seems to be just a waiting game, accepted that we'll be waiting a while yet

 

[Spankthemonkey]

I've been in the talent pool since June 2016. Started the process November 2015. Seems to be just a waiting game, accepted that we'll be waiting a while yet

Heard last week that 30 depot drivers would be trained up in 2017. Not sure how many of them are left in the pool.

 

[Raul_Duke]

Heard last week that 30 depot drivers would be trained up in 2017. Not sure how many of them are left in the pool.

Where did you hear that?

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Where did you hear that?

Emt employees. There is a large drain on the depot pool to mainline at the moment caused by the number of drivers who have opted in to the Sunday inclusive package.

 

[Max287]

Hi guys. I recently enquired to emt regarding future vacancies and I was told that it was likely there would be three courses this year. Initially filled by people currently biding their time in the talent pool and any extra spaces being filled by a new intake of applicants later in the year. No info as to when this might be though.

 

[Raul_Duke]

I'm in the talent pool currently, HR (when they reply) have pretty much said they're looking for qualified drivers currently and they're not sure if there will be a place for everyone currently in the talent pool.

 

[magic man]

I'm in the talent pool currently, HR (when they reply) have pretty much said they're looking for qualified drivers currently and they're not sure if there will be a place for everyone currently in the talent pool.

I've heard this too