First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[Casey Jones125]

I passed stage 1 in Sept in Bristol, still not heard anything about stage 2!

 

[Septus]

I passed stage 1 in Sept in Bristol, still not heard anything about stage 2!

Have you tried to contact them and find out why you haven't heard anything?

 

[Casey Jones125]

Have you tried to contact them and find out why you haven't heard anything?

I have made an enquiry as to what my score was, however i have not heard anything back. I cannot find their HR nmber.

 

[ultra4]

I have made an enquiry as to what my score was, however i have not heard anything back. I cannot find their HR nmber.

Use careers email (the one they use to inform you about assessments etc.)
I got my answer next day. Had been waiting for over a month, prior to making an enquiry.

 

[SOT1]

Hi everyone, I'm new on here.
I passed my first stage assessment on Dec 18th. We were told not to expect the results until after the Christmas period, and sure enough I got confirmation I had passed on Jan 2nd. However, the link to book an assessment had no dates in it. I emailed FGW careers regarding this and the following day a couple of dates had been added. I managed to book mine for Jan 14th at Swindon. I received an email yesterday from FGW Resources saying that the assessment dates were now fully booked, and that I would be put at the top of the list as a priority for the next set of assessment dates. I have since checked my profile page again and I am still booked in for 14th Jan, so there seems to be some sort of miscommunication along the line somewhere. Has anyone else had a similar issue?
I actually came on here to look for some info on second stage assessment, in particular The WAFV Vigilance Test and The ATAVT Perception Test. I take it, from the practice material supplied, that the old reactions test has now been replaced with these. Does anyone know if that's the case?
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Septus]

Hi everyone, I'm new on here.
I passed my first stage assessment on Dec 18th. We were told not to expect the results until after the Christmas period, and sure enough I got confirmation I had passed on Jan 2nd. However, the link to book an assessment had no dates in it. I emailed FGW careers regarding this and the following day a couple of dates had been added. I managed to book mine for Jan 14th at Swindon. I received an email yesterday from FGW Resources saying that the assessment dates were now fully booked, and that I would be put at the top of the list as a priority for the next set of assessment dates. I have since checked my profile page again and I am still booked in for 14th Jan, so there seems to be some sort of miscommunication along the line somewhere. Has anyone else had a similar issue?

Dates that were available for me to choose from where the 21/22/23 Jan all in Swindon.

The 14 Jan sounds like one of the original dates that was listed for Stage 1...but I am not sure on this.

I actually came on here to look for some info on second stage assessment, in particular The WAFV Vigilance Test and The ATAVT Perception Test. I take it, from the practice material supplied, that the old reactions test has now been replaced with these. Does anyone know if that's the case?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Yup, as stated in the email inviting you to book stage 2, there was a change in the tests last October. These are the new tests replacing the old reactions tests.

 

[Run1nstar]

Hi, I'm new on here, not sure if I am writing a post correctly either, haha.

I haven't read all posts so sorry for any repition but just wondered if anyone who sat their stage 2 on 27th Nov and have successfully passed has heard when their DM interview will be yet? I've been patiently waiting since December when I heard I had passed stage 2. Just hate being left in limbo as I feel I can't plan anything lol. Wonder if its a case of all courses being full or not enough people passed yet. I've put in to be located at Paddington. Anyone else?

 

[SOT1]

Dates that were available for me to choose from where the 21/22/23 Jan all in Swindon.

The 14 Jan sounds like one of the original dates that was listed for Stage 1...but I am not sure on this.


Thanks for the reply, I think I will call them regarding the 14th. The last thing I want to do is go all the way to Swindon only to find it's the stage 1 assessment.:roll:

 

[james956]

Hi everyone, I'm new on here.
I passed my first stage assessment on Dec 18th. We were told not to expect the results until after the Christmas period, and sure enough I got confirmation I had passed on Jan 2nd. However, the link to book an assessment had no dates in it. I emailed FGW careers regarding this and the following day a couple of dates had been added. I managed to book mine for Jan 14th at Swindon. I received an email yesterday from FGW Resources saying that the assessment dates were now fully booked, and that I would be put at the top of the list as a priority for the next set of assessment dates. I have since checked my profile page again and I am still booked in for 14th Jan, so there seems to be some sort of miscommunication along the line somewhere. Has anyone else had a similar issue?
I actually came on here to look for some info on second stage assessment, in particular The WAFV Vigilance Test and The ATAVT Perception Test. I take it, from the practice material supplied, that the old reactions test has now been replaced with these. Does anyone know if that's the case?
Thanks in advance for any help.

I was also offered the 21/22/23 in Swindon for my stage 2. When I went on to my profiile to book it, the link for my stage 1 was still on there, aswell as the new link for stage 2. Is there a chance you have clicked the link for stage 1 by mistake??

 

[Casey Jones125]

Use careers email (the one they use to inform you about assessments etc.)
I got my answer next day. Had been waiting for over a month, prior to making an enquiry.

Thanks Ultra, i will get onto them on monday.

 

[SOT1]

I was also offered the 21/22/23 in Swindon for my stage 2. When I went on to my profiile to book it, the link for my stage 1 was still on there, aswell as the new link for stage 2. Is there a chance you have clicked the link for stage 1 by mistake??

I've double checked, and it is definitely a different link. It wouldn't have let me book for stage 1 again anyway, would it?

 

[james956]

I've double checked, and it is definitely a different link. It wouldn't have let me book for stage 1 again anyway, would it?

No it shouldn't have done, it sounds like they've given you wrong dates by mistake maybe??

 

[Jarnsaxa]

I'm starting in 3 weeks today and hoping to receive some more information soon about my first day: where to go etc.. I've already signed my contract and all the paperwork that comes with that. Should I be getting worried or is this normal?

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

I'm starting in 3 weeks today and hoping to receive some more information soon about my first day: where to go etc.. I've already signed my contract and all the paperwork that comes with that. Should I be getting worried or is this normal?

I was speaking to a new trainee driver just yesterday about this.

He mentioned that he had a phone call with all the details etc just 3 days before his start date so I wouldn't worry just yet.

Always give them a ring though.

 

[Septus]

I'm starting in 3 weeks today and hoping to receive some more information soon about my first day: where to go etc.. I've already signed my contract and all the paperwork that comes with that. Should I be getting worried or is this normal?

Oxford trainees train at Reading?

How long is this for?
Are you expected to commute each day or do they put you up in a hotel for the duration?

Reason I ask, is because if I am successful, I will have to relocate to Oxford from Staffordshire.
I have already come to terms with that I will have to become car-less and live close as I can to the depot to make the move possible, with the trainee salary been as it is £24k. To then have to commute to Reading to do the training might be pushing my 'planned' finances a tad far.

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

You won't be getting put up in a hotel mate, that's for sure.

It's the same at Bristol where Gloucester & Westbury depots also train at. Bristol is the training centre for the west depots and Reading is the training centre for the Thames Valley depots.

 

[Septus]

You won't be getting put up in a hotel mate, that's for sure.

It's the same at Bristol where Gloucester & Westbury depots also train at. Bristol is the training centre for the west depots and Reading is the training centre for the Thames Valley depots.

Thanks for the info.

How *long* is the training carried out at Reading for?

 

[Nuttytoffee]

Thanks for the info.

How is the training carried out at Reading for?

Around 4 months, with safer railways, rules and traction training, plus the odd week back there for interim exams etc.

 

[NHG66]

Oxford trainees train at Reading?

How long is this for?
Are you expected to commute each day or do they put you up in a hotel for the duration?

Reason I ask, is because if I am successful, I will have to relocate to Oxford from Staffordshire.
I have already come to terms with that I will have to become car-less and live close as I can to the depot to make the move possible, with the trainee salary been as it is £24k. To then have to commute to Reading to do the training might be pushing my 'planned' finances a tad far.

Don't worry about travelling mate, you will get a staff travel pass so all of your journeys to Reading on FGW trains will be free. A quick word with the Xc guys and you can hop on there too, never been turned away so far. You are also paid from the time you leave Oxford to the time you return so there is scope for a bit of overtime whilst at the training centre. Remember you are contracted to 35 hours a week based on a 4 day week so in training and doing 5 days in Reading you easily go through 35 hours with travelling time.

 

[Septus]

Don't worry about travelling mate, you will get a staff travel pass so all of your journeys to Reading on FGW trains will be free. A quick word with the Xc guys and you can hop on there too, never been turned away so far. You are also paid from the time you leave Oxford to the time you return so there is scope for a bit of overtime whilst at the training centre. Remember you are contracted to 35 hours a week based on a 4 day week so in training and doing 5 days in Reading you easily go through 35 hours with travelling time.

Ah thanks forgot about the free travel...:roll:

 

[Feeesh]

I'm starting in 3 weeks today and hoping to receive some more information soon about my first day: where to go etc.. I've already signed my contract and all the paperwork that comes with that. Should I be getting worried or is this normal?

I'm also starting on February 3rd. Are you at Reading?

 

[ultra4]

I'm also starting on February 3rd. Are you at Reading?

When was you stage2?

 

[Feeesh]

Swindon - 20th November

 

[ultra4]

Swindon - 20th November

Mine was on 26 Nov, at the same location. Your process is much faster, I am yet to attend DMI.

 

[Feeesh]

I only applied on 15th September to be considered for potential job vacancies in the future. From that point onwards everything went very quickly, I really wasn't expecting it to be honest. Luckily I had plenty of lieu days stored up at work so every time they offered me a date for something at short notice I was able to say yes.

I had my DM interview in the Reading Novotel. I got there 2 hours early and spent the whole time going through stuff about FGW, the role, my previous experiences etc. Prepare for everything is the best advice I can give.

 

[NX]

You'll also be paid travelling from your Home Depot to your training location.
So if your Oxford based, you will be paid from your booking on time for example 0800 to 1700 when you arrive back. Your working day will be 0900-1600. Nice little earner if you travelling a far distance

NX

 

[ultra4]

I only applied on 15th September to be considered for potential job vacancies in the future. From that point onwards everything went very quickly, I really wasn't expecting it to be honest. Luckily I had plenty of lieu days stored up at work so every time they offered me a date for something at short notice I was able to say yes.

I had my DM interview in the Reading Novotel. I got there 2 hours early and spent the whole time going through stuff about FGW, the role, my previous experiences etc. Prepare for everything is the best advice I can give.

I applied on 12th of September for speculative vacancy as well.
Yet, few other people who attended stage 2 on the same day are still waiting for the results.
It is a very broad waiting span.

 

[JN114]

Finally heard back - passed my stage 2, awaiting date for DMI

 

[ultra4]

Finally heard back - passed my stage 2, awaiting date for DMI

Well done mate !

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

Next course for Bristol and surrounding depots commences on 7th April.

So if you have a DMI interview within the next few weeks, if you pass that and the subsequent medical, this would be your likely start date.