GTR (Southern) - Trainee Train Driver - Multiple depots (29/11/24)

[Dragon77]

Non worries, I felt the same way. Some get lucky and they are in within 2 months others have to wait.

From my experience they do not share the course dates unless you ask. And yes it's first come first served. If they send you the course dates for next year, you will not be able to request a space on one.

They will contact you when it's your turn. I just found knowing the course dates and where I am in the talent pool gave me some idea when I might start.

To caveat this.. I was told there would be 3 courses this year and then 1 was moved to a different depot as the requirements changed for the TOC.

As for how many trainees per course, it's something like 8 or 10. However, these might not all be for the same depot.

As an example, I'll be starting with GTR and there is 2 from my depot, 4 from another depot and 2 from another depot.

So if your 8th in the talent pool then it could be that you will need to wait for the 4th course..but lots of things can impact this.

If though you are 1st-3rd then there's a good chance you'll be on one of the next couple of courses.

Also worth noting, not everyone will pass the medical, if you are slight further down the list in the talent pool you could easily get bumped up. Its also a great time to get your self tested for eye sight and hearing incase you need to get any glasses or hearing aids sorted before you start.

H

That's helpful to know. So they can actually tell you what position you are in the pool?

I may drop an email to ask position and potentially upcoming course dates.

It's almost as though you out your life on hold with regards to holidays etc as each stage takes so long you have no idea when an interview or course etc may pop up

 

[D3WY]

Hi, I have been placed in a talent pool after passing all assessments and interviews. Does anyone know an average time frame you could be in a pool or if anyone has been in the same situation.
Is there expiration dates for the pool?

Thanks

I waited 5 years (my application got held up by covid) so my scenario was a bit abnormal, but I emailed them every few months, sometimes id get a reply sometimes not, and I kept checking on the employee portal to check job alerts were on and I was still on the system. No news is good news id say, as 5 years later I got put through I just had to redo assessments as they had expired.

Hey, I’m in the same boat as Dragon77 and I’ve emailed my talent/recruitment person a couple of times throughout my application process (usually just chasing an update) but I’ve never once actually had a reply from them and it worries me that they’re not actually getting my emails. I’ve also emailed twice since being in the talent pool, once to select my preferred depots, and again to let them know I’ll be abroad for a week this month so won’t be able to take calls but will be monitoring emails. But I’ve never had a single response or acknowledgement, do I just keep emailing every now and again now I’m also in the talent pool?

As above, I waited a long time, id say more often than not I didnt get a reply, Sometimes I did though, just keep checking your employee portal on the GTR site and keep up with the emails to check.

No news is good news, my scenario was also during the application so as you have actually done all the assessments and your foot is in the door it shouldnt be long id imagine.

 

[Wizard77]

Recently had my DMI with GTR having passed all the OPC assessments. I am yet to hear back from recruitment as to whether I passed or failed (although I didn't feel it went particularly well - almost seemed too laid back and it threw me off a bit?) - anyone who has recently sat a DMI, did you hear back fairly quickly? I'm hanging onto the hope that no news is good news!

 

[D3WY]

Recently had my DMI with GTR having passed all the OPC assessments. I am yet to hear back from recruitment as to whether I passed or failed (although I didn't feel it went particularly well - almost seemed too laid back and it threw me off a bit?) - anyone who has recently sat a DMI, did you hear back fairly quickly? I'm hanging onto the hope that no news is good news!

It is chilled, its more the managers getting to know you and the type of person you are to see if you're the right person for the job. So I wouldn't worry about that.

No news is good news in my book aswell, how long ago was it?

 

[Wizard77]

It is chilled, its more the managers getting to know you and the type of person you are to see if you're the right person for the job. So I wouldn't worry about that.

No news is good news in my book aswell, how long ago was it?

Last Wednesday.

 

[D3WY]

Last Wednesday.

Did they say how long to expect? When I went through it, they usually told me to give it 7 days. If nothing, email them to chase it.

 

[BigEasy]

Recently had my DMI with GTR having passed all the OPC assessments. I am yet to hear back from recruitment as to whether I passed or failed (although I didn't feel it went particularly well - almost seemed too laid back and it threw me off a bit?) - anyone who has recently sat a DMI, did you hear back fairly quickly? I'm hanging onto the hope that no news is good news!

Hi @Wizard77 what was the time frame for you between doing the psychometric tests, the MMI and the DMI? And was this all at Go-Ahead house? Thanks.

 

[Wizard77]

Did they say how long to expect? When I went through it, they usually told me to give it 7 days. If nothing, email them to chase it.

They did say it would prob be next week (as in anytime from now really) it’s just that I heard back quicker than this after each of the previous stages. Just keen to know either way now!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Sep 2025 ==

Hi @Wizard77 what was the time frame for you between doing the psychometric tests, the MMI and the DMI? And was this all at Go-Ahead house? Thanks.

Assessments were at OPC - timeframe was May-Sept - quick responses after each stage, advising if passed that part but longish gaps in between each stage - although in railway terms pretty rapid I suppose !?

 

[BigEasy]

Assessments were at OPC - timeframe was May-Sept - quick responses after each stage, advising if passed that part but longish gaps in between each stage - although in railway terms pretty rapid I suppose !?

Yeah, sounds pretty quick compared to many timelines I've read on here. Well done anyway making such great progress. Best of luck getting over the final hurdle.

 

[Wizard77]

Yeah, sounds pretty quick compared to many timelines I've read on here. Well done anyway making such great progress. Best of luck getting over the final hurdle.

Thanks BigEasy!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Sep 2025 ==

Panic over - just had the email to say I’ve passed the DMI - now the wait in the talent pool begins !

 

[D3WY]

Thanks BigEasy!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Sep 2025 ==

Panic over - just had the email to say I’ve passed the DMI - now the wait in the talent pool begins !

Congratulations, what's your next stage? Have you done the assessment day?

 

[Wizard77]

Congratulations, what's your next stage? Have you done the assessment day?

Thanks. Yes - stage 1 and 2 of the assessments done, including MMI - so it’s just a case of waiting in the talent pool for a course start date

 

[Trev5678]

Thanks. Yes - stage 1 and 2 of the assessments done, including MMI - so it’s just a case of waiting in the talent pool for a course start date

Hi Wizard, Congratulations on passing everything!! I have my DMI today with GTR. Where did you have yours? When you say it was too laid back, what sort of questions did they ask. Last minute nerves are well and truly kicking in

 

[Wizard77]

Hi Wizard, Congratulations on passing everything!! I have my DMI today with GTR. Where did you have yours? When you say it was too laid back, what sort of questions did they ask. Last minute nerves are well and truly kicking in

Thanks - Was at go-ahead house - there were some competency questions and were similar to the MMI ones but worded a bit different , at least I though they were and so I tried to use some of those answers and make them fit as best I could! Where’s your interview? Possibly it differs depot to depot a little with how the interviewers are and possibly how they approach the interview based on the Hogan questionnaire you fill out online beforehand ? Even though I felt I struggled a bit getting everything across, I was probably still in ‘MMI mode’ and the more relaxed atmosphere just felt a bit odd after all the assessment stages .
You’ll be fine - I always feel some nerves are a good thing as it focuses the mind a bit?

 

[Trev5678]

Thanks - Was at go-ahead house - there were some competency questions and were similar to the MMI ones but worded a bit different , at least I though they were and so I tried to use some of those answers and make them fit as best I could! Where’s your interview? Possibly it differs depot to depot a little with how the interviewers are and possibly how they approach the interview based on the Hogan questionnaire you fill out online beforehand ? Even though I felt I struggled a bit getting everything across, I was probably still in ‘MMI mode’ and the more relaxed atmosphere just felt a bit odd after all the assessment stages .
You’ll be fine - I always feel some nerves are a good thing as it focuses the mind a bit?

Mine is at Tb depot. Thank you for the reply. I have prepped all week since finding out so i’m hoping i have done enough. Did they ask you much about the technical side of trains etc like what class and was you expected to know a lot about the trains. I’ve done a little bit of research on that

 

[Wizard77]

Mine is at Tb depot. Thank you for the reply. I have prepped all week since finding out so i’m hoping i have done enough. Did they ask you much about the technical side of trains etc like what class and was you expected to know a lot about the trains. I’ve done a little bit of research on that

No - nothing about the technical side of things - they do ask what you know about GTR and so I mentioned the route coverage and a few facts and figures but that was about it - it was a very open question so I’d say if you’ve prepped with stuff about the trains it wouldn’t hurt to put that in too ?

 

[Trev5678]

No - nothing about the technical side of things - they do ask what you know about GTR and so I mentioned the route coverage and a few facts and figures but that was about it - it was a very open question so I’d say if you’ve prepped with stuff about the trains it wouldn’t hurt to put that in too ?

Thank you so much ☺️ i really appreciate your reply’s

 

[Wizard77]

Thank you so much ☺️ i really appreciate your reply’s

No probs ….. and good luck !

 

[Skimike2]

can someone tell me what the heck the MMI Intels?

 

[alexrory]

Can the OPC assessments be done on a laptop trackpad or do you need a separate mouse?

 

[Stigy]

can someone tell me what the heck the MMI Intels?

Multi-Modal Interview

It’s basically competency based. You’ll have to write down answers to a selected 5 or 6 questions, then you’ll be asked questions on the and “probed” by an interviewer. This forms part of the psychometric assessment process, and so is included in the “two lives” rule.

I found it easier than a standard interview to be honest, because at least you know what you’re going to be answering questions on.

 

[Yous123]

Hello again, thanks to everyone that replied regarding the MMI much appreciate the advice, just recently done the all day assessment day and feel like I did fairly well on everything apart from the trp1 memory test, I thought I would be able to note everything down on the scrap paper they give but time just flew by and before I managed to finish the time was up and had to hand it back and wait the 5 minutes. Is this a test that many fail?

 

[D3WY]

Hello again, thanks to everyone that replied regarding the MMI much appreciate the advice, just recently done the all day assessment day and feel like I did fairly well on everything apart from the trp1 memory test, I thought I would be able to note everything down on the scrap paper they give but time just flew by and before I managed to finish the time was up and had to hand it back and wait the 5 minutes. Is this a test that many fail?

They are not looking for speed, they are looking for accuracy over speed, quick is good but they was accuracy more so. I dont think you can finish most the tests they do.

When I did it in 2020 and again in 2024 I thought I was slowest on all of them but both times passed with ease. So dont assume slow is bad.

 

[Yous123]

They are not looking for speed, they are looking for accuracy over speed, quick is good but they was accuracy more so. I dont think you can finish most the tests they do.

When I did it in 2020 and again in 2024 I thought I was slowest on all of them but both times passed with ease. So dont assume slow is bad

As in I didn’t get through the whole sheet to study and make notes to try and memorize before the multiple choice questions. I’m patiently waiting for the email to say if I have passed or not (never refreshed my emails so much and so often). Also D3WY thank you for all the info you give out, I have gone through most of your posts and you have helped me so much!

 

[Skimike2]

hi all, just a question, I didn't pass my DMI, how does this work, obviously I have to wait 6 months before applying again for this TOC, but how does it work for other TOCs, do I have to complete the whole process again? or do I get fast tracked to DMI stage after initial online tests?

 

[D3WY]

hi all, just a question, I didn't pass my DMI, how does this work, obviously I have to wait 6 months before applying again for this TOC, but how does it work for other TOCs, do I have to complete the whole process again? or do I get fast tracked to DMI stage after initial online tests?

If you done your assessment day they last 4-5 years I believe so yes you will get through to the interviews again. They MAY ask you to do the initial online scat test again possibly, but id have said that falls into the 5 year thing too.

 

[Stigy]

If you done your assessment day they last 4-5 years I believe so yes you will get through to the interviews again. They MAY ask you to do the initial online scat test again possibly, but id have said that falls into the 5 year thing too.

The psychometric assessment passes last between 1 and 5 years depending on TOC/FOC (It is 5 years at GWR). Most are 3 or 5 years though (I've never heard of anyone accepting results of less than 3 years only), but some companies have been known to get all applicants to redo the assessments regardless of when they passed them.

 

[Intercitybruce]

Hi All, just been given an assesment centre date, and just wondered if someone could point me in the right direction of the thread of what to expect at a Southern GTR assesment day in particular.

I only ask, as I know there are so many pages for various TOCs on this subject but just want to ensure I’m looking at the right one from the get go.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Yous123]

Hi, I just recently done mine a couple of weeks ago. You will do all the assessments apart from MMI which will be done on a different day subject to you passing that day.

 

[Dragonfire]

I passed the assessments with SE first then the Southern assessment day arrived. When I got there they took me to one side and said that I didn’t need to do the tests as I’d already done them with SE. The only further test I had to do was a fault finding test.

I am in exactly the same position! What was the DFFT like?