EMT Trainee Train Driver - St. Pancras opportunities?

[on track]

Hi,

This is mainly a question directed at people in the know (ie. who have first hand knowledge from working at East Midlands Trains, or have otherwise heard from a reliable source).

I am asking on behalf of a friend who is considering a role (non driving) with East Midlands Trains based at St. Pancras (as they live local to this station).

Long term they would like to try to apply for a Trainee Train Driver role with EMT if the opportunity arises. My understanding (based on the only external advertisements for such positions I have seen) is that the only route into this is via a Trainee Depot Driver role at either Nottingham or Derby and then potentially from that to a mainline driver role (Which I assume could mean they would be eligible to apply for qualified driver positions based at St.Pancras in the future).

However, I was just wondering if there is ever the opportunity as an internal applicant to go straight to St. Pancras as a driver (eg.by becoming a Depot or mainline Driver at St Pancras straight from the Training (even if that training still has to take place at Derby or Nottingham initially before transfering to St Pancras for the route learning).

My friend is settled in London (with a husband and young family) so relocating is not really an option long term).

My understanding is that EMT is a very good company who looks after and offers opportunities to its staff, so I was wondering if it is ever the case that that it offers driving opportunities such as this to its London based staff who are unable to relocate fir whatever reason ... or is it just a case of relocate or hard luck!?

Thanks!

 

[heedfan]

EMT don’t advertise for external trainee mainline drivers. The only way ‘off the street’ or even from within the company to get onto a mainline course is to qualify as a depot driver and then, once you are eligible (approx 2 years) convert to mainline. The alternative would be to qualify as mainline with a different TOC and apply for a qualified position with EMT if they were to arise.

Probably not what your friend wants to hear but hope that clarifies things for you/them.

 

[Taz26]

I currently work for them and they never post trainee or depot drivers based in London. They almost always post the positions for derby and Nottingham and that’s predominantly because they do not have a depot here in London

 

[Trainguy90]

unfortunatly EMT employ trainees into depot driver roles first either at Derby and Nottingham as you have said, only option I could think would be for them to either apply for the role at Derby/Nottingham and then rent a digs up that way for a few years (travelling back on days off), or apply for another TOC, as being London based opens up a wide range of other companies.
A third option for them could be to hold on for a bit and see weather this rule ever changes, either during this franchise or during a franchise changeover. I use to work on the platforms for EMT and admittedly really liked the company but sometimes we need to make sacrifices/compromises to follow our dreams and for me it was a change of company and a relocation.

 

[bionic]

As I understand it EMT knock back qualified drivers for St Pancras so there's no danger of them taking on trainees there. There are plenty of depots and some TOCs as a whole that never take trainees because they have more than enough qualified drivers wanting to work there. Best thing to do is get a trainee job with a less popular TOC and keep your nose clean for a few years and then put in for where you want to be.

 

[on track]

Many thanks for your replies, much appreciated !