GTR/1403 - Ashford depot

[Choppsie5791]

Hello and Happy New Year all!

I know there is a thread on 1404 and others but not seen any for 1403 unless its way down the list.
I passed the assessment centre, MMI and finally the DMI last August.
I received a phone call saying I passed and and given a verbal offer but no training was planned for 2017. I then received two emails from HR in August and October 2017 stating they were waiting for training courses to open up in 2018.

Is there anyone else out there in the same boat? Hopeful something will open up soon? But after hearing the push back in the new line from Cambridge a little worried...

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Hello and Happy New Year all!

I know there is a thread on 1404 and others but not seen any for 1403 unless its way down the list.
I passed the assessment centre, MMI and finally the DMI last August.
I received a phone call saying I passed and and given a verbal offer but no training was planned for 2017. I then received two emails from HR in August and October 2017 stating they were waiting for training courses to open up in 2018.

Is there anyone else out there in the same boat? Hopeful something will open up soon? But after hearing the push back in the new line from Cambridge a little worried...

I hate to say this to people but rumour had it that Ashford would now be postponed until further notice.

 

[Inamberclad]

Hi Mate,

Same boat as you. Passed everything and was told I be sent for the medical when they had a start date. Had two emails saying they had filled all the courses for 2017 and the next round of training would start in 2018.

Hoping we hear something soon as life I can't really do any planning. Don't want to book a holiday and find it falls within the training date. If they do have an issue with DIs at Ashford I'm a bit worried too!

 

[JonnyRingo]

Hi all,
I’m in same boat also, was told possibly March at one stage, but if the rumours are true then god knows. Fingers crossed.

 

[ComUtoR]

I hate to say this to people but rumour had it that Ashford would now be postponed until further notice.

Hi all,
but if the rumours are true then god knows. Fingers crossed.

Ashford has been put back by a year.
Orpington is opening in May
Gillingham May/December

 

[Spesa2k]

I’m also in the same position as everyone else; its a little annoying having to put any plans on hold for something that no-one seems to know the future about from an official point of view.
I’ve subsequently also applied for Southeastern and been put straight into their talent pool for Gillingham.
I don’t understand why they would advertise in March 2017 to then have everyone wait for year(s) before they are actually ready to take people on, just gets peoples hopes up and your forever telling friends and family that your waiting on a training date....that may never come!

 

[afc]

Evening all, I have mixed views.
whilst there has been some VERY valuable advice on here that has no doubt helped me and others get to the enviable positions, whether it be talent pool or already training - there is also some that really ought to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Ashford depot may well have been put back a year (Allegedly, still no clarification of this) however, has it never occurred to anyone that the commitment to the franchise is that it will be up and running in December 2019, minus 14-18 month training (March 2018ish) and hey presto a new depot with trained up trainees as a pose to a new depot with no drivers and a potential wait of 14-18 months to become active.

 

[ComUtoR]

Ashford depot may well have been put back a year (Allegedly, still no clarification of this)

The information comes internal sources. Not limited to; Ashford GTR Trainees.

however, has it never occurred to anyone that the commitment to the franchise is that it will be up and running in December 2019, minus 14-18 month training (March 2018ish) and hey presto a new depot with trained up trainees as a pose to a new depot with no drivers and a potential wait of 14-18 months to become active.

It's not as easy as you make it out to be. Even with the new depots about to open there are issues with the routes. SE side there is currently nobody trained on the routes. Even if all the are recruited, trained and passed out. Routes still need to be sorted. The biggest issue at the moment is there is no building yet. The depots exist purely on paper.

The current 'pinch of salt' is :

250 (approx) Trainees across all of GTR about 45 DIs (some trainees told it will be over a year before they get a DI)
Ashford/Gillingham/Orpington All over subscribed and are well above their Trainee requirements ( a few Trainees were 'released' from their contracts)
33 Trainees currently under SE Training. Many still awaiting DI's. They will return to Thameslink once done and routes will be done under GTR (nothing SE side)
Many of the new depots still not built yet (planning permission issues and Asbestos issue at one location)
Existing Driver PT&R is still ongoing but the first set of letters have been sent out and most know where they are booking on in May
ATO pushed back
Limited number of new diagrams for May 20018 timetable changes (various new routes currently on hold still)
New depot routes finalized and posted
New depot final establishment levels still outstanding
Bedford reduction and Blackfriars closure still expected to happen in May

There is an absolute ton of things to happen in the next 5 months. The whole thing has been a total debacle and is still in a constant state of flux. The talent pools are moving very very slowly but expect a surge once establishments are finalized.

 

[Demonbarber]

I’m also in the same boat as you guys.. my issue is its tricky to plan for this year, ie my current work commitments. Has anyone contacted HR yet for any Ashford/kent updates?

 

[Spesa2k]

I’m also in the same boat as you guys.. my issue is its tricky to plan for this year, ie my current work commitments. Has anyone contacted HR yet for any Ashford/kent updates?

So I decided to find out what was happening today as I’d like to book a holiday and was told that I’d be fine to book anything up to and including April; if anyone else is planning month by month at the moment

 

[Choppsie5791]

So I decided to find out what was happening today as I’d like to book a holiday and was told that I’d be fine to book anything up to and including April; if anyone else is planning month by month at the moment

Thanks for the update mate.

 

[Inamberclad]

Thanks for the update. So looking at May at the earliest.

 

[JonnyRingo]

Thanks for that, I was starting to wonder.
At least the kids can have a holiday!!

 

[JonnyRingo]

Hi guys,
Just received this
Dear Candidate,







Thank you for patience while you have been awaiting news regarding a course start date for Thameslink Kent Depots. Unfortunately we are unable to provide start dates for Thamelink Kent Depots currently, as you are aware our network is undergoing some huge changes, including the opening of new Depots and the reducing of recruitment into existing Depots. We should have further information to provide to you by the end of February 2018.


Thank you for your patience.


Kind Regards,

More info to follow then.

 

[rwalk365]

Yep just got the same

 

[Choppsie5791]

Ditto...

 

[JonnyRingo]

Afternoon Guys,
Just got this:
Dear Candidate,









Thank you for patience while you have been awaiting news regarding a course start date for Ashford Depot. Unfortunately we are still unable to provide start dates for Ashford at this time, however we do have a few vacancies at our Orpington Depot. Based on your home address Orpington Depot is outside the required travelling distance to and from the depot. Therefore your application would not be considered for this depot.


To meet the recruitment requirements for Orpington Depot an advert will be placed this week.



Thank you for your patience and I will be in touch again when I have further information regarding a start date for Ashford.


Thank you for your patience.


Kind Regards,



More waiting then.......

 

[Choppsie5791]

I got off the phone with HR as they were about to send that message out.
Very disappointing.
I tried to push her for a likely start date and mentioned the summer and it was like there was no chance of it happening then.

I got a text from a mate who is waiting for Ashford and he said they asked if he was interested in Orpington - he lives a 2 minute walk away from me so the reasoning about being too far away from the depot doesn't make sense.

I wouldn't be surprised if we're still waiting this time next year if I'm honest.

 

[Saracen_83]

Hi mate what’s the email address and number for gtr hr????

 

[rwalk365]

Got the same email.

Why did they even mention the Orpington depot in the first place?!

The whole recruitment is a shambles really. Think I’m gonna try and forget about it all now, and live my life. Always so disheartening. MMI and assessments only last 2 years with thameslink right?

 

[JonnyRingo]

I got off the phone with HR as they were about to send that message out.
Very disappointing.
I tried to push her for a likely start date and mentioned the summer and it was like there was no chance of it happening then.

I got a text from a mate who is waiting for Ashford and he said they asked if he was interested in Orpington - he lives a 2 minute walk away from me so the reasoning about being too far away from the depot doesn't make sense.

I wouldn't be surprised if we're still waiting this time next year if I'm honest.

Granted, it is very disappointing, however I’d rather be in my current position and be on a waiting list than not. Where you live then? I’m in dodgy Dover so have no chance of Orpington..

 

[rwalk365]

Tempted to just apply for the Orpington depot anyway, and see what happens.

 

[JonnyRingo]

Tempted to just apply for the Orpington depot anyway, and see what happens.

Good luck if you do, got to be worth a shot. I’ve think it’s 2 years for the assessments, so une got about another 18 months before they expire. I think I’ll follow your advice and forget about it for now, got too much going on in my life to have to worry about this as well. If it’s going to happen it’ll happen.

 

[Inamberclad]

How do they work out the travelling time? According to Google maps I'm 1 hour and 1 min from Orpington but was told in the email I live too far away. Seems a bit harsh for the sake of 1 min but deadlines are deadlines I suppose.

 

[Demonbarber]

Afternoon Guys,
Just got this:
Dear Candidate,









Thank you for patience while you have been awaiting news regarding a course start date for Ashford Depot. Unfortunately we are still unable to provide start dates for Ashford at this time, however we do have a few vacancies at our Orpington Depot. Based on your home address Orpington Depot is outside the required travelling distance to and from the depot. Therefore your application would not be considered for this depot.


To meet the recruitment requirements for Orpington Depot an advert will be placed this week.



Thank you for your patience and I will be in touch again when I have further information regarding a start date for Ashford.


Thank you for your patience.


Kind Regards,



More waiting then.......

Hi guys,
Just received this
Dear Candidate,







Thank you for patience while you have been awaiting news regarding a course start date for Thameslink Kent Depots. Unfortunately we are unable to provide start dates for Thamelink Kent Depots currently, as you are aware our network is undergoing some huge changes, including the opening of new Depots and the reducing of recruitment into existing Depots. We should have further information to provide to you by the end of February 2018.


Thank you for your patience.


Kind Regards,

More info to follow then.

i had the same email today.. I live 48 minutes away from Orpington.

 

[Class2ldn]

Well the current batch of trainees at other depots have been told they won't get a DI until next year now so you've unfortunately got a very long wait

 

[rwalk365]

Seems to me that they need to make driving instructors roles more desirable and get more on board doing that first, before they come up with plans for new routes etc. How do they expect to implement their plans if it’s all going to bottle neck due to lack of DIs

 

[ComUtoR]

They outsourced it

 

[Choppsie5791]

Granted, it is very disappointing, however I’d rather be in my current position and be on a waiting list than not. Where you live then? I’m in dodgy Dover so have no chance of Orpington..

I live in Ashford. 10min walk away from international station. Just will have to wait as you say and rather be on waiting list.

 

[Inamberclad]

Anyone heard anything?