First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[Lee Place]

Pretty much as you sum up. When was your DM INTERVIEW and what depot did you apply for will also help?
It's a waiting game and like you, I applied last year in Aug. I'm sure we will hear something in the near future, well I'm going to remain optimistic about it. To the best of my knowledge, it's a very big recruitment drive with not all the numbers still yet met. Hence the current on going recruitment for certain depots on the network. Also the courses are running behind their planned schedule (no pun intended) so it's a case of waiting for other candidates to progress/ complete their training. Which should be around now. Hang in there I'm sure they will be in touch soon!

Thanks for the encouragement. I am remaining optimistic as I've come so far which I believe is very good to get so far. I've applied for Paddington and Reading!

Cheers!

 

[oxoneil]

Well as of now there are still adverts for qualified mainline drivers in 9 locations which suggests they still haven't found what they need yet. With the wording of the advert being "A Qualified Mainline Train Driver" does this automatically rule out drivers currently on the commuter routes, I would assume so, therefore they must be hoping to attract drivers from other TOCs.

I'm still hoping that they will be in touch about a medical/new course in the New Year but I'm still thinking that this ongoing recruitment for qualified drivers is probably going to delay newbies.

**Disclaimer** - I applied Nov 13 and had my DM in June this year so I do appreciate this isn't a long wait in the scheme of things and I'm happy to be in the position I am.

Fair assessment?

 

[Maybe]

Had my DM interview November last year. After 6 months was told I had passed, even though they had the results 1 week after. (I contacted the interviewing manager directly, who said he had passed me and would expect to see me on the next course)

Apparently my details where 'mislaid' whatever that means, even though I was contacting them every other week to be told still waiting.

Since found that there where 2 courses ran since my DM interview in Jan and April.

Maybe more however havent really been asking around since.

Got the same generic email as everyone else saying they expect courses in 2015.

Contacted HR a couple of times to be told that my status is on hold, with nothing further to say. I appreciate the guys in the Aberdeen HR are a standard First Group recruitment department, however I find them to be ill informed.
Possibly because of the sheer size of the recruitment project/the size of the company/and the fact that they are not purely advertising for just these jobs.

If I am honest I have found the whole recruitment process extremely frustrating, more so because it seems that the information I have been giving for different stages has been from completely different people and departments.

Before I get jumped on, I currently work and have worked in the rail industry for the past 15 years so am well aware of the complex and lengthy recruitment processes, but this is by far the worst experience I have encountered.

Personally I hope I am wrong, but I dont expect to hear anything back from them, apart from the odd intermittent email giving me false hope.

I dont want to put a downer on anyone else in the same boat, this is just my personal opinion and experience, and doest mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

I applied for Bristol so different people applying for different depots may have a better experience.

 

[NX]

Internal applicants from the recent internal trainee driver campaign are going to Swindon next week for their stage one assessments for Bristol depot, course throughout next year.

NX

 

[oxoneil]

Internal applicants from the recent internal trainee driver campaign are going to Swindon next week for their stage one assessments for Bristol depot, course throughout next year.

NX

So given that you say "course throughout next year" and it took me 7 months from initial application to DM interview will these internal applicants jump ahead of me on the basis that they are already FGW employees?

 

[KT530]

With the wording of the advert being "A Qualified Mainline Train Driver" does this automatically rule out drivers currently on the commuter routes, I would assume so

No; Qualified Mainline Train Driver means standard train driver, rather than a depot driver or maneuverer.

There are plans to train up to 150 trainee drivers next year for LTV depots alone.

 

[notadriver]

It does however rule out tube drivers ...

 

[danchoochoo]

recruiting 50 trainees next year that sounds a lot where did you hear this?

 

[KT530]

Up to 150, not 50! This came from FGW management this week. Obviously plans can change between then and now.

 

[Maybe]

Heard a rumour that ASLEF are in dispute with FGW over training new drivers, don't no how true it is, but imagine this might have an impact if it is

 

[455driver]

Heard a rumour that ASLEF are in dispute with FGW over training new drivers, don't no how true it is, but imagine this might have an impact if it is

Current FGW drivers not new ones!
There are a lot of drivers who do not sign all routes and traction they are supposed to.

 

[Maybe]

Agh right fair does as I said it was a rumour. I was told that ASLEF where in dispute with FGW over the the following:


- driving instructors having 2 trainees
- aslef have out a ban on rdw, that includes DI's doing rest days for training
- too many drivers per driver manager team

Along with the other discussions that ASLEF are having with the established drivers I was under the impression that this was part of the same dispute.

 

[455driver]

There are a lot of things causing this dispute so its probably all those you listed as well as mine!

FGW manglement have been sat on their hands for quite a while it seems.

 

[oxoneil]

No; Qualified Mainline Train Driver means standard train driver, rather than a depot driver or maneuverer.

There are plans to train up to 150 trainee drivers next year for LTV depots alone.

Sounds promising, thank you.

 

[Maybe]

Coming up to nearly a year since my DM interview now, and although I have been told I am on hold do you think this is my application dead in the water? Reason I ask is I one of the last batches to do the old style testing so getting the feeling that my application is obsolete now

 

[455driver]

Ring FGW and ask them, they are the only ones that can answer the question!

 

[Rocombe11]

Coming up to nearly a year since my DM interview now, and although I have been told I am on hold do you think this is my application dead in the water? Reason I ask is I one of the last batches to do the old style testing so getting the feeling that my application is obsolete now

I am on the old tests and I had my interview end of July, on hold now, so I guess First don't think the tests obsolete.

 

[Maybe]

Ring FGW and ask them, they are the only ones that can answer the question!

I think I have messaged on here several times that I have rang FGW HR and they are clueless. I have asked this question and they simply reply with I am on hold thats it

 

[Kyle0115]

IF it helps, I have heard that there will be no more trainees this year. There are far to many sitting around doing nothing at moment. If you are serious about working for fgw then sit it out and wait to hear back. I would say possibly in the new year now before you hear anything. But I know they still wAnt a lot more drivers. They just can't cope with all the trainees they have at the moment.

 

[irish_rail]

As mentioned above, no more trainees this year, as at present the Union cannot agree with management about future driver numbers at each depot, and accordingly, has introduced a driver rest day ban until the matter (and some others) is resolved. Aslef has agreed with FGW that no more trainees will be recruited as a result this year.
Anyone waiting, will remain on hold, so don't worry too much, just be patient!

 

[russmcp]

It's a long patient process. I expected it to be next year anyhow. Had the shock last month when I was invited for an interview with SWT. Got through and start 10 Nov. I applied with them ages ago. If you have got this far I think you'll be fine. Good luck all in the pool.

 

[455driver]

As mentioned above, no more trainees this year, as at present the Union cannot agree with management about future driver numbers at each depot, and accordingly, has introduced a driver rest day ban until the matter (and some others) is resolved. Aslef has agreed with FGW that no more trainees will be recruited as a result this year.
Anyone waiting, will remain on hold, so don't worry too much, just be patient!

The RD ban has already been lifted.

 

[Joey91]

Just going through this thread and seems a lot of people on hold but no definite courses. Very disheartening

 

[Maybe]

That it is especially when you are baited with maybe promises as opposed to anything concrete, it makes it impossible to plan anything in front. Last year was I was led to believe I would be starting in April I cancelled my holiday losing £500 deposit as opposed to paying the full balance. Yes I understand nobody forced me to do it, however if there was some clear communication the waiting round would not be half as bad. Instead it's just sitting and waiting for a maybe call. Very frustrating, but hey that's life

 

[Johncleesefan]

It is frustrating not knowing if you have the job or not. Its all very much in the clouds. Thats sucks about ur holiday

 

[455driver]

That it is especially when you are baited with maybe promises as opposed to anything concrete, it makes it impossible to plan anything in front. Last year was I was led to believe I would be starting in April I cancelled my holiday losing £500 deposit as opposed to paying the full balance. Yes I understand nobody forced me to do it, however if there was some clear communication the waiting round would not be half as bad. Instead it's just sitting and waiting for a maybe call. Very frustrating, but hey that's life

Why didnt you tell them about your holiday?
I was asked at interview whether I had any holiday (or anything else) booked!

 

[Maybe]

I did hence why I cancelled it when I was told I would be on the next course, by someone who shall remain nameless.

 

[oxoneil]

The "trainees sitting around doing nothing" comment is concerning. I'm currently on hold and if I do get offered a job I'll be taking a hefty pay cut while I'm in training* so the less time that takes the better. To have that time prolonged due to having many days when you're doing nothing doesn't sound good.

* - I don't actually know what the training pay is tbh with you but whatever it is I'm resigned to accepting it for the long term increase once qualified.

Anyway, kind of jumping the gun a little, not even had a medical yet.

 

[tlionhart]

I did hence why I cancelled it when I was told I would be on the next course, by someone who shall remain nameless.

With you on that. I didn't book a holiday but it's difficult to book holidays. Glad they sent the email out though as I was able to get it booked for this year.
As for next year, say March a lot of us are in limbo...

 

[455driver]

The "trainees sitting around doing nothing" comment is concerning. I'm currently on hold and if I do get offered a job I'll be taking a hefty pay cut while I'm in training* so the less time that takes the better. To have that time prolonged due to having many days when you're doing nothing doesn't sound good.

* - I don't actually know what the training pay is tbh with you but whatever it is I'm resigned to accepting it for the long term increase once qualified.

Anyway, kind of jumping the gun a little, not even had a medical yet.

If there are more trainees than Driver Instructors then you will be sharing a DI which means it will take twice as long to get your hours in, if the DI is needed for assessments (or other stuff) then you will be sent out on front end turns (simply riding around in the front cab so you are not sat in the messroom). Trainees are not very high on the list of priorities so you do get used to banging your head against a brick wall.