EMR Senior Conductor & Train Manager - Recruitment Discussion

[TROTMAC96]

Hello all .

I have an Assessment Day with EMR on June the 4th for a 'On Train Customer Service - Senior Conductor Apprenticeship'.
Does anyone have any insight to what I can expect? I've scoured the forums all ready to gather as much information as I can, now I'm just wondering if anyone has any info for Assessments on this role in particular and if anything has changed with the assessments recently?

Thank you and much appreciated .

 

[transportphoto]

Good morning,

The day will be in two halves, with some sent home at lunchtime.

The morning will be group activities, and other individual assessments (of a lively nature, not written), followed by an interview for those who survive the midday cull.

Revise things such as company values, other facts about the company/Transport UK Group, what you understand about the role, etc.

Use the STAR model for answering the competency based questions in the interview

TP

 

[TROTMAC96]

Good morning,

The day will be in two halves, with some sent home at lunchtime.

The morning will be group activities, and other individual assessments (of a lively nature, not written), followed by an interview for those who survive the midday cull.

Revise things such as company values, other facts about the company/Transport UK Group, what you understand about the role, etc.

Use the STAR model for answering the competency based questions in the interview

TP

Hello .

Thank you very much for the response. This is all great information.

Are you able to go into more detail about what the activities will be? And the assessments also?
How many people on average are there? Half of them getting sent home half way through sounds brutal ....

What kind of competency based questions will they ask?

Thank you very much again for taking the time to answer my questions .

 

[transportphoto]

Not really, no. It’s been a few years I’m afraid.

 

[AKaium]

I am applying for the job at East Midlands Railway as Senior Conductor.

They have asked me for a virtual interview.

They say: “Your application has been shortlisted and we would like to invite you to complete a video interview.


We’d like to get to know you better – and that’s why before you go any further in this process we'd like you to complete a short video interview to show us why you would be the perfect candidate to join our team”.

They say “This is your chance to impress, stand out from the crowd and show that you are committed in your desire to work with East Midlands Railway”.

Does anyone have any experience with this form of interview? What sort of questions will I be asked? How should I approach this so they will be interested in me? Any key points you suggest?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[AKaium]

Hello all .

I have an Assessment Day with EMR on June the 4th for a 'On Train Customer Service - Senior Conductor Apprenticeship'.
Does anyone have any insight to what I can expect? I've scoured the forums all ready to gather as much information as I can, now I'm just wondering if anyone has any info for Assessments on this role in particular and if anything has changed with the assessments recently?

Thank you and much appreciated .

Have you done the video assessment?

 

[thelongestroad]

Unless it has changed, I did not enjoy the EMR video interview the time I did it. You have to download a 3rd party app and you are presented with the question and then answer it within a certain amount of time. I guess other people would be okay but I just do not like the format.

 

[liamwilkinson3]

Hello all .

I have an Assessment Day with EMR on June the 4th for a 'On Train Customer Service - Senior Conductor Apprenticeship'.
Does anyone have any insight to what I can expect? I've scoured the forums all ready to gather as much information as I can, now I'm just wondering if anyone has any info for Assessments on this role in particular and if anything has changed with the assessments recently?

Thank you and much appreciated .

Hi, I have the same assessment on the 4th! looking forward to it just find it harsh they send people home at lunch. Seems a lot of work to do to then be thrown out

 

[butterflywolf]

Hi all!
I was recently shortlisted as an EMR senior conductor apprenticeship. They told me to wait for further information. While I am incredibly enthusiastic to work towards this job, I feel a bit confused as to what will likely be my next steps. I want to be well prepared for the assessments. If there is anyone who has been through the process, I'd love to know what happens next and how I can best prepare.

I've read through all the threads I could find but only got a vague idea of what's next (online assessment, online interview, assessment day, puzzles, saat, medical). What order does this happen? And how do I prepare?

 

[RWL2001]

I have gained a position for EMR Lincoln depot as a senior train conductor apprenticeship role and have been placed in the hold pool. Does anyone know how long I expect to be in the hold pool for?

 

[thelongestroad]

I have gained a position for EMR Lincoln depot as a senior train conductor apprenticeship role and have been placed in the hold pool. Does anyone know how long I expect to be in the hold pool for?

For up to a year. The whole point of the pool is they do not know.

 

[CBD123UK]

I have gained a position for EMR Lincoln depot as a senior train conductor apprenticeship role and have been placed in the hold pool. Does anyone know how long I expect to be in the hold pool for?

Congrats on making it thru to the pool! I'm in the process for the same role in Nottingham, didn't realize the apprenticeship roles would go into a hold pool. So now you just wait? Any advice for me on the SAT OCP assessment? Did you click on the super obvious hazards like stairs, escalators and stiles? I'm sure I'm over thinking this, but want to pass! TIA, and congrats again.

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

Hi all!
I was recently shortlisted as an EMR senior conductor apprenticeship. They told me to wait for further information. While I am incredibly enthusiastic to work towards this job, I feel a bit confused as to what will likely be my next steps. I want to be well prepared for the assessments. If there is anyone who has been through the process, I'd love to know what happens next and how I can best prepare.

I've read through all the threads I could find but only got a vague idea of what's next (online assessment, online interview, assessment day, puzzles, saat, medical). What order does this happen? And how do I prepare?

How did you fare in the process? I'm going thru now also for the same role, in Nottingham too. At the SAT assesment step, which I'm anxious about. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[tsyxa]

Train Manager Apprenticeship - Kettering

Has anyone else applied yet?

 

[tsyxa]

Sorry for the double post

I’ve been sent an email saying that I’ve been shortlisted and to await further information. I just wanted to know regarding psychometric testing, does this take place on one day only, or is it flexible? What happens if you’re on holiday on the date they give?

 

[CBD123UK]

Sorry for the double post

I’ve been sent an email saying that I’ve been shortlisted and to await further information. I just wanted to know regarding psychometric testing, does this take place on one day only, or is it or is it flexible? What happens if you’re on holiday on the date they give?

Hi! The psychometric testing will likely be offered online, and they give you a deadline by when it needs to be done. The first SCAAT test was about a week, and then the safety one there was a few days. At least this was my experience!

 

[tsyxa]

Hi! The psychometric testing will likely be offered online, and they give you a deadline by when it needs to be done. The first SCAAT test was about a week, and then the safety one there was a few days. At least this was my experience!

Okay brilliant thank you

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jul 2025 ==

Has anyone else been through the recruitment process for a TM apprenticeship at EMR before? Would you be able to tell me how long after the SAT takes place would I be invited to interview if I was successful? Also, how does the interview date play out? Is it a group type thing followed by one on one interviews for the people the passed the first half? What are the sorts of typical questions they ask?

The interview date listed was next friday (11/7)- which seems awfully close to the SAT deadline (on Monday). I’d like to start preparing for the interview ASAP in case I do succeed the SAT, so any advice would be welcome!

 

[spinningout]

Hi all,

I wondering what the longest has anyone waiting in a talent pool before being offered a role?

I ask as I went through the stages, and placed in a talent pool back in February.

I was notified that there is no “time limit” to which it will end, just the fact that if it hasn’t been within 12 months, it’ll just renew.

Since then I’ve had an email stating that there are no new vacancies available, and should there be no available space next year (they haven’t specified a date) - and that it’s over 12 months since your successful application, I will be removed from the talent pool and have to start again.

It’s concerning as I was told that the longest anyone has waiting (for my area) was 3 months.
Now that this dreaded 12 months is looming, I’m unsure as to what to do.

Thanks all.

 

[travel_geek83]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about applying for a trainee conductor position at EMR. Can anyone explain the booking holiday policy? I presume it's same across the board within the railway industry?

In my current role if I want a holiday, I just book in my preference and wait approval, depending how many are already on leave anyway.

I was reading something online that 4 or 5 of your annual leave weeks are planned into the rota rather than giving you the choice, is this correct? My wife is a teacher so we would never be able to go on holiday together if I didn't have some flexibility to choose my own annual leave weeks.

I appreciate it's a very demanding role, so any advice is very much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Seehof]

As a former driver on the rostered holiday system I never had a problem swapping my holiday weeks. There are always people wanting to swap for quieter cheaper times. I cannot speak for EMR but I am sure it would be no different there. Good Luck with the application.

 

[LowLevel]

EMR senior conductors receive 8 "application days" where you book them ad hoc and 4 leave weeks per year. The leave weeks are allocated to you, but you can swap them either into weeks that don't have the maximum number of people booked off or exchange them with another willing person.

Obviously leave in school holidays is at high demand but most people manage to make it work.

At a larger depot it is easier to swap (Nottingham, Lincoln, to an extent Derby). The smaller depots at Norwich and Boston can be more tricky, but then again with fewer people there's more scope for personal arrangements.

You can tell what your leave will be in future years the way the system works.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2025 ==

Also - for your first year your leave is whenever you need it/any prebooked things will be honoured, subject to the proviso that you can't take it when in training.

 

[Horizon22]

It’s not exactly the same across the board. However most crew roles operate in the same manner with a certain number of annual leave ‘weeks’ and then some as hoc days. It can get quite complicated but it basically ensures that at peak times there aren’t too many people off and ultimately trains don’t get cancelled. Swaps are common.

Not every system works this way though, some have a “maximum of X people off at any one time” as opposed to set weeks, although this is rarer. And outside of train crew, annual leave tends to work normally.

 

[baz962]

EMR senior conductors receive 8 "application days" where you book them ad hoc and 4 leave weeks per year. The leave weeks are allocated to you, but you can swap them either into weeks that don't have the maximum number of people booked off or exchange them with another willing person.

Obviously leave in school holidays is at high demand but most people manage to make it work.

At a larger depot it is easier to swap (Nottingham, Lincoln, to an extent Derby). The smaller depots at Norwich and Boston can be more tricky, but then again with fewer people there's more scope for personal arrangements.

You can tell what your leave will be in future years the way the system works.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Oct 2025 ==

Also - for your first year your leave is whenever you need it/any prebooked things will be honoured, subject to the proviso that you can't take it when in training.

Did you leave out London on purpose. Shocking

 

[LowLevel]

Did you leave out London on purpose. Shocking

You don't have any conductors at the Capital's premier traincrew depot

 

[baz962]

Ah silly me

 

[CBD123UK]

Hiya, I'm not sure where to post this so hopefully it ends up in the right place. I've been pulled from the talent pool for a conductor apprenticeship with EMR out of Notts, and am trying to wrap my head around what the schedule/shifts/turns/roster will actually look like. I read shift work is great, yes earlies and lates, time off in a row etc but being an hour away from the depot it just adds that much more time out of my day.

Can someone help pls understand:
- how do you book your time off? Ie if I have tickets to a concert, I can't work that night, and wouldn't want to work a 4 am start the following morning...
- do you have to work 'mandatory overtime'? Is that just when the train is delayed etc or do you have to work on your scheduled rest days?
- how many days in a row at most do you have to work, and how often does that happen? I've read 7-8 days and also 13.
- can you request multiple (7 day weeks) off, ie to take a two week holiday?
- how early before your scheduled time/shift do you need to be at the depot?

Any other input is appreciated, I am a planner and this is a big gap in my info that I feel is important before I accept the role, and not sure how clear the contract will be. Thank you in advance!

 

[Horizon22]

Hiya, I'm not sure where to post this so hopefully it ends up in the right place. I've been pulled from the talent pool for a conductor apprenticeship with EMR out of Notts, and am trying to wrap my head around what the schedule/shifts/turns/roster will actually look like. I read shift work is great, yes earlies and lates, time off in a row etc but being an hour away from the depot it just adds that much more time out of my day.

Some of these will be better answer by your line manager, union rep or colleagues, but I will endeavour to answer in turn. I'm afraid you may not like some of the answers though...

- how do you book your time off? Ie if I have tickets to a concert, I can't work that night, and wouldn't want to work a 4 am start the following morning...

You will normally have some ad-hoc days allocated where you request a day off in advance. This is of course subject to coverage. There's no guarantee you will get it. Ultimately doing shifts does have an impact on your personal & family life and sometimes you will be unable to do things, such as go to a concert. That's just the way it goes.

- do you have to work 'mandatory overtime'? Is that just when the train is delayed etc or do you have to work on your scheduled rest days?

When a train is delayed, it does depend somewhat on the circumstances and EMR / your depots T&Cs. If you train is delayed / trapped / stranded and unable to proceed and you're due to book off then yes, that would be mandatory overtime which very rarely happens, but you might need to be prepared for. Other times, you would liaise with your resourcing / crew coordinator for your diagram where amendments to service or spare resources may be utilised. It's a case by case basis.

You won't need to work scheduled rest days unless you choose to. The only exception to this is some TOCs / depots / roles and Sundays where you have a "committed Sunday option" but someone from EMR might be able to assist better.

- how many days in a row at most do you have to work, and how often does that happen? I've read 7-8 days and also 13.

Ultimately depends on the roster for you depot. It's hard to comment on this without going into specifics but I would suggest for a conductor it's probably the lower end of the scale that you listed.

- can you request multiple (7 day weeks) off, ie to take a two week holiday?

Not normally. A lot of annual leave is rostered, by which you get given a 1 week block in autumn/winter, a 1 week block in spring, and a 2 week block in summer. This is given to you in advance. You may be able to swap as required, but there's no guarantee especially if you want the peak summer holidays period off.

- how early before your scheduled time/shift do you need to be at the depot?

You will be given a book on time for your diagram. That's the time you need to be physically ready to sign on (remotely by phone/app or physically with a coordinator, dependent on your depot). So if you are a 0457 book on, you need to be ready to start your shift (normally with allowances for collecting equipment, reading notices) for 0457. You will then need to prepare you route accordingly to be ready to go for that time, and most people would suggest a 15 minute buffer or so in case of traffic, roadworks etc.

Any other input is appreciated, I am a planner and this is a big gap in my info that I feel is important before I accept the role, and not sure how clear the contract will be. Thank you in advance!

These are some generic answers, but others may be able to give more specifics.

 

[LowLevel]

Hiya, I'm not sure where to post this so hopefully it ends up in the right place. I've been pulled from the talent pool for a conductor apprenticeship with EMR out of Notts, and am trying to wrap my head around what the schedule/shifts/turns/roster will actually look like. I read shift work is great, yes earlies and lates, time off in a row etc but being an hour away from the depot it just adds that much more time out of my day.

Can someone help pls understand:
- how do you book your time off? Ie if I have tickets to a concert, I can't work that night, and wouldn't want to work a 4 am start the following morning...
- do you have to work 'mandatory overtime'? Is that just when the train is delayed etc or do you have to work on your scheduled rest days?
- how many days in a row at most do you have to work, and how often does that happen? I've read 7-8 days and also 13.
- can you request multiple (7 day weeks) off, ie to take a two week holiday?
- how early before your scheduled time/shift do you need to be at the depot?

Any other input is appreciated, I am a planner and this is a big gap in my info that I feel is important before I accept the role, and not sure how clear the contract will be. Thank you in advance!

Hiya, I'm not sure where to post this so hopefully it ends up in the right place. I've been pulled from the talent pool for a conductor apprenticeship with EMR out of Notts, and am trying to wrap my head around what the schedule/shifts/turns/roster will actually look like. I read shift work is great, yes earlies and lates, time off in a row etc but being an hour away from the depot it just adds that much more time out of my day.

Can someone help pls understand:

Any other input is appreciated, I am a planner and this is a big gap in my info that I feel is important before I accept the role, and not sure how clearthe contract will be. Thank you in advance!

Hello, I am a conductor working out of Nottingham so hopefully can answer your questions. Please feel free to reply if you have any more.

- can you request multiple (7 day weeks) off, ie to take a two week holiday

At the moment you get 8 days by application so individual days to apply for, and 4 weeks "block leave" which is allocated to you - one "spring week", two "summer weeks" together and one "winter week".

It is allocated - but you can swap either with another person or into a week which doesn't have the maximum number of people off - for a depot of around 140ish (not sure of the exact number off) you're allowed a maximum of 11 off a week and daily leave I will cover below. You can move to whenever you want within reason subject to availability - 3 weeks in the winter for example - but obviously things like school holidays are popular though there is no specific priority given.

- how many days in a row at most do you have to work, and how often does that happen? I've read 7-8 days and also 13

The roster is as follows as a basic standard:

Week 1: Friday Saturday off
Week 2: Sunday Monday Tuesday off
Week 3: Wednesday Thursday off

As a new recruit you'll have Sundays in the working week and as a result you get another day off the following week in lieu - these are arranged so you will have either 3 days off in a row Tuesday to Thursday or a 6 day weekend.

Either way every 3 weeks you will have a long weekend and the maximum booked working stretch is 7 consecutive shifts. Overtime is fairly readily available most of the time if you want to work it. You have to have at least 1 day off in 13 to comply with the Hidden recommendations.

You do a week of earlies then a week of lates and swap constantly.

- do you have to work 'mandatory overtime'? Is that just when the train is delayed etc or do you have to work on your scheduled rest days

Not really. If you have a "spare" shift you can be allocated work up to 10 hours though the standard work day is 8 hrs 45 mins, some shifts are shorter some are longer and it balances to a 35 hour week more or less. If you are allocated a longer shift off spare then you are paid the overtime. Otherwise Sundays are already in the week and there is no commitment to work any rest day. Obviously if your train is late, it's late and you have to live with that although you are paid for it.

- how do you book your time off? Ie if I have tickets to a concert, I can't work that night, and wouldn't want to work a 4 am start the following morning

You apply in a book. First so many people (currently 5 or 6, it's changed a bit recently) get guaranteed the day off, anyone after that is subject to availability (in abeyance). If you are within the first say 6 or whatever it is you are guaranteed it off even if there's crew shortages. Leave resets every year on 1st January.

- how early before your scheduled time/shift do you need to be at the depot?

14 or 16 minutes before the train leaves is the book on time but in practice you need to be there a little before. Earliest shift start is around 0330 and latest finish around 0100 normally.

 

[CBD123UK]

Some of these will be better answer by your line manager, union rep or colleagues, but I will endeavour to answer in turn. I'm afraid you may not like some of the answers though...


You will normally have some ad-hoc days allocated where you request a day off in advance. This is of course subject to coverage. There's no guarantee you will get it. Ultimately doing shifts does have an impact on your personal & family life and sometimes you will be unable to do things, such as go to a concert. That's just the way it goes.



When a train is delayed, it does depend somewhat on the circumstances and EMR / your depots T&Cs. If you train is delayed / trapped / stranded and unable to proceed and you're due to book off then yes, that would be mandatory overtime which very rarely happens, but you might need to be prepared for. Other times, you would liaise with your resourcing / crew coordinator for your diagram where amendments to service or spare resources may be utilised. It's a case by case basis.

You won't need to work scheduled rest days unless you choose to. The only exception to this is some TOCs / depots / roles and Sundays where you have a "committed Sunday option" but someone from EMR might be able to assist better.



Ultimately depends on the roster for you depot. It's hard to comment on this without going into specifics but I would suggest for a conductor it's probably the lower end of the scale that you listed.



Not normally. A lot of annual leave is rostered, by which you get given a 1 week block in autumn/winter, a 1 week block in spring, and a 2 week block in summer. This is given to you in advance. You may be able to swap as required, but there's no guarantee especially if you want the peak summer holidays period off.



You will be given a book on time for your diagram. That's the time you need to be physically ready to sign on (remotely by phone/app or physically with a coordinator, dependent on your depot). So if you are a 0457 book on, you need to be ready to start your shift (normally with allowances for collecting equipment, reading notices) for 0457. You will then need to prepare you route accordingly to be ready to go for that time, and most people would suggest a 15 minute buffer or so in case of traffic, roadworks etc.



These are some generic answers, but others may be able to give more specifics.

Thank you so much, this is all very helpful! Really appreciate it!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2025 ==

Hello, I am a conductor working out of Nottingham so hopefully can answer your questions. Please feel free to reply if you have any more.

At the moment you get 8 days by application so individual days to apply for, and 4 weeks "block leave" which is allocated to you - one "spring week", two "summer weeks" together and one "winter week".

It is allocated - but you can swap either with another person or into a week which doesn't have the maximum number of people off - for a depot of around 140ish (not sure of the exact number off) you're allowed a maximum of 11 off a week and daily leave I will cover below. You can move to whenever you want within reason subject to availability - 3 weeks in the winter for example - but obviously things like school holidays are popular though there is no specific priority given.

The roster is as follows as a basic standard:

Week 1: Friday Saturday off
Week 2: Sunday Monday Tuesday off
Week 3: Wednesday Thursday off

As a new recruit you'll have Sundays in the working week and as a result you get another day off the following week in lieu - these are arranged so you will have either 3 days off in a row Tuesday to Thursday or a 6 day weekend.

Either way every 3 weeks you will have a long weekend and the maximum booked working stretch is 7 consecutive shifts. Overtime is fairly readily available most of the time if you want to work it. You have to have at least 1 day off in 13 to comply with the Hidden recommendations.

You do a week of earlies then a week of lates and swap constantly.

Not really. If you have a "spare" shift you can be allocated work up to 10 hours though the standard work day is 8 hrs 45 mins, some shifts are shorter some are longer and it balances to a 35 hour week more or less. If you are allocated a longer shift off spare then you are paid the overtime. Otherwise Sundays are already in the week and there is no commitment to work any rest day. Obviously if your train is late, it's late and you have to live with that although you are paid for it.

You apply in a book. First so many people (currently 5 or 6, it's changed a bit recently) get guaranteed the day off, anyone after that is subject to availability (in abeyance). If you are within the first say 6 or whatever it is you are guaranteed it off even if there's crew shortages. Leave resets every year on 1st January.


14 or 16 minutes before the train leaves is the book on time but in practice you need to be there a little before. Earliest shift start is around 0330 and latest finish around 0100 normally.

Oh wow, such excellent and helpful info, thank you! Helps my brain a lot to know this going in. Thanks again!

 

[westtoeast]

Hey all,

So I attended the EMR in-person testing stage in Lincoln last year (April) and was successful and placed in a talent pool. The only thing I’ve heard since then was in August, and that said that the last course of the year in October was full.

Would it harm my chances/position if I emailed the HR person to gently inquire as to the process or where I might be? Lincoln and Boston are the two depots nearest to me but as I understand you can only be in the talent pool for one only.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[sir_gummerz]

I suspect i was on the same assessment day as you.

I found EMR to be the worst for info of any TOC ive ever applied for. I am already a guard for a diffrent TOC and had traveled quite a considerable distance (4 hours) for the assessment day. I passed the groups and got a 1 on 1 interview, then radio silence, not even a copy paste rejection email, all my emails went unanswered.

If in a pool you just need to wait it out, they are unlikely to give you any info until a course and vacancy becomes available