They emailed me not to attend sorry should have clarified this
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First Rail London - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion
- Thread starter greatkingrat
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I reached out and found out I’m in the talent pool, do they have a timer on their talent pool?
thenorthhammer
Member
Same here, I’ve been waiting for almost a month and still nothing idk if that’s good or bad lol. My application still says pending. I do feel like it’s a long time to not hear anything but who knows.
The issue is that both times ive tried to reach out to the talent acquisition person ive had no response, even when the gentleman who interviewed me told me to reach out if 3 weeks had passed. Very odd but in terms of wait time its nothing unusual imo, especially after the supposed date change
thenorthhammer
Member
Yeah literally in the same boat. Tried to call then followed up with an email. Tried to call ARL where the interview was held, still nothing. I feel like we may not hear anything from next week onwards due to Christmas.
Hi all,
Was looking for some help or if anyone’s been in the same position as me.
I passed all the assessments and completed the DMI towards the end of November but haven’t heard back regarding results. We were told they’d reach out in their own time or within two weeks, but the Christmas period hit in between.
Any ideas on what to do as I feel like reaching out to them may defer the outcome of my results on the DMI.
Was looking for some help or if anyone’s been in the same position as me.
I passed all the assessments and completed the DMI towards the end of November but haven’t heard back regarding results. We were told they’d reach out in their own time or within two weeks, but the Christmas period hit in between.
Any ideas on what to do as I feel like reaching out to them may defer the outcome of my results on the DMI.
Since then they've lost the concession, maybe that's the reason...
thenorthhammer
Member
I’ve also not heard anything, I read more on them losing the concession and it seems like another company is taking over. I’m guessing current drivers and managers will just transfer over but what that means for us who have applied or are waiting for, I don’t know
Business Bob
Member
I got a feeling nothing will happen now until First take over and if there is any recruitment it would start again.
Would you think this would invalidate all the assessments that were completed/passed and completing the DMI?
Business Bob
Member
Won't invalidate your assessments but you would have to reapply again when advertised and probably go straight back to the DMI stage again.
signalmaster
Member
A concession is a planned handover without disruption to recruitment or staff. Everything goes as normal it shouldn't delay the outcome of the DMI
EssaShaikh
Member
Has anyone started the training?
I did my Stage 1 assessments in October 2025 and Stage 2 in November 2025. I also attended the MMI end of November 2025. At the end of the interview, the lady told me I would find out the results at the end of the week (beginning of December 2025) but I have not heard back since. On the Arriva portal, my application status is still pending.
I applied for Willesden Overground.
I did my Stage 1 assessments in October 2025 and Stage 2 in November 2025. I also attended the MMI end of November 2025. At the end of the interview, the lady told me I would find out the results at the end of the week (beginning of December 2025) but I have not heard back since. On the Arriva portal, my application status is still pending.
I applied for Willesden Overground.
Send the OPC an email directly and ask for the results of the MMI and they will get back to you with them.
EssaShaikh
Member
@
My bad, I meant the DMI interview on 27 November 2025. I've heard nothing back since the DMI.
Maybe try contacting First Group as I believe they are taking over the running of the Overground.
greatkingrat
Established Member
- Joined
- 20 Jan 2011
- Messages
- 3,312
First Group don't take over until May, so they will know nothing about any current recruitment.
Think I’m in the same position as you.
Haven’t heard back from them after completing the MMI at the Watford branch and DMI at the end of Nov 2025.
Tried to call them last Friday but no pick up so I sent them an email then, still no reply.
EssaShaikh
Member
I've been trying to contact Arriva and have sent 4 e-mails, but no response.
Spoke to First Group this morning, and they said to liaise with Arriva until May.
Spoke to First Group this morning, and they said to liaise with Arriva until May.
I Can’t even find a number to call first group on.
EssaShaikh
Member
I found the recruitment email address on their website and they replied within 30 minutes
Yeah just got the same thing as you, was told to liaise with them so no luck :/
Business Bob
Member
Arriva Recruitment are poor! Jan course you were all being recruited for was postponed till March and I suspect thats been postponed again or scrapped like the Sept 24 course was or until First take over so hopefully by their quick response to someone above their recruitment team will be a lot better. ARL are currently recruiting for Qualified drivers for NXG so that maybe another reason your applications haven't progressed.
I got an email this morning regarding my application for NXG saying that I will be progressing onto the next stage of OPC testing. They’ve also sent me a form to fill out which says “Trainee Drivers - New Cross Gate Sept 2026” so maybe September is the new start date?
So did you complete all your OPC assessments last year Sept - Nov 2025 time?
Sounds like this would be a new applicant
I am pretty sure I got this email aswell , and its after online testing they said you passed the bar but did not make it in to top scoring candidates if they dont have enough they will progress our applications.Which they now are doing so it is just asking for confirmation to fill in form for the OPC testing stages 1 and 2 ,right after the online assesments were finished.
futuredriver26
Member
We’ve been told training is starting in March. It was originally Jan 5th but was moved