GTR - Trainee Train Driver - Brighton (03/05/24)

[Ikky]

Good day all,

I am currently in the recruitment process for a Train Driver role with Thameslink at the Brighton Depot and am just waiting for my DMI.

I was wondering if anyone could help answer the following questions:

1)Does anyone have a copy of the Driver rota showing start and end times? (I understand this may be a security issue, so no worries if it's not possible to share.)

2)How do Sundays work? Is there a good amount of overtime available, or are drivers assigned to Sunday shifts?

3)What's the work environment like at the Brighton Depot? Are there any known issues, or is it a good team to work with

4)During the training period, does the pay increase over the 12-18 months, or is there only a rise once you qualify? Also, is there any chance of overtime during training, or is that not an option?

5)Is overtime only available on rest days, or is it sometimes possible to pick up extra hours before or after your shift (as long as it doesn’t exceed 11 hours 59 minutes)?

6)How is the Class 700 to drive? Are there any aspects you particularly like or dislike?

7)Any advice on how to settle in if I’m lucky enough to be successful?

8)Lastly, does anyone know if there are plans to start another cohort this year, or is it more likely to happen in the new year?

Many thanks
Hazwa89

Hazwa,

Could you please tell me if you had to do VSE as part of your assessment?

Thank you

 

[REO Nate]

Hazwa,

Could you please tell me if you had to do VSE as part of your assessment?

Thank you

As far as I know, GTR don't currently use the Visual Search Exercise. However, they do use the DFFT, Driver Fault Finding Test.

 

[D3WY]

As far as I know, GTR don't currently use the Visual Search Exercise. However, they do use the DFFT, Driver Fault Finding Test.

Isn't VSE the phonebook test, looking for matching symbols in a phone book whilst counting audible tones? As if so they do do it.

 

[REO Nate]

Isn't VSE the phonebook test, looking for matching symbols in a phone book whilst counting audible tones? As if so they do do it.

That’s the Tea-Occ test I believe. Test of everyday attention, which we definitely do.

The VSE is a three stage test with a combination of a simulated train running around a loop and a signal panel with matching symbols.

 

[Ikky]

As far as I know, GTR don't currently use the Visual Search Exercise. However, they do use the DFFT, Driver Fault Finding Test.

Thank you Nate

 

[kinkywinpat]

Hello everyone do anyone know if this is true

GTR is half for the first 3 months of training then goes up to around 50k after passing rules and procedures.

Thanks

 

[REO Nate]

Hello everyone do anyone know if this is true

GTR is half for the first 3 months of training then goes up to around 50k after passing rules and procedures.

Thanks

It’s £36072 for about 3 months.

After your first performance review, that goes up to £48650, if you are successful. There is still another 3 months of the rules course left at that point.

The £48650 continues until you take and pass the initial competence assessment.

 

[Das85]

Hello everyone do anyone know if this is true

GTR is half for the first 3 months of training then goes up to around 50k after passing rules and procedures.

Thanks

Depends if Southern or Thameslink. Many different factors affect salary which be worth asking at interview.

One has incremental rises where as one pays the same lower rate throughout the 18 months training but covers travel time from home depot to training. One pays full salary once passed training other takes 12 months to get to full salary once qualify.

One may have a holding retainer fee to pay back if leave in a certain period other does not.

Depending on salary your coming from, even taking a pay cut as I did, within 3 years I personally feel you have earned the same which ever company you work for. I would make a choice based on location, the routes and rolling stock first and foremost.

 

[D3WY]

Hello everyone do anyone know if this is true

GTR is half for the first 3 months of training then goes up to around 50k after passing rules and procedures.

Thanks

It's 36k for the first 3-4 months, once you pass our first performance review it goes to £48,650 and will remain at that until you pass out.

Obviously for this money you agree to commit to bieng at training every day, you get 2 weeks off allocated as a group during the 5-6 month driving school (1 week pre PR1 and 1 week before you get handed over to a driving instructor at the end of school) whilst you're in the school you cant take your own holiday etc. So the wage reflects the commitment they expected, and this includes alot of studying at home.

And I would highly recommend you put the hours in studying when you can, its alot to learn in what is a short space of time.

 

[kinkywinpat]

It’s £36072 for about 3 months.

After your first performance review, that goes up to £48650, if you are successful. There is still another 3 months of the rules course left at that point.

The £48650 continues until you take and pass the initial competence assessment.

Depends if Southern or Thameslink. Many different factors affect salary which be worth asking at interview.

One has incremental rises where as one pays the same lower rate throughout the 18 months training but covers travel time from home depot to training. One pays full salary once passed training other takes 12 months to get to full salary once qualify.

One may have a holding retainer fee to pay back if leave in a certain period other does not.

Depending on salary your coming from, even taking a pay cut as I did, within 3 years I personally feel you have earned the same which ever company you work for. I would make a choice based on location, the routes and rolling stock first and foremost.

I am asking for Thameslink Cricklewood Depot. Really hoping theirs is not half salary for the full 18 months

 

[NSEWonderer]

I am asking for Thameslink Cricklewood Depot. Really hoping theirs is not half salary for the full 18 months

Its going to be the same across the TOC. Which was as described in detail by @REO Nate

 

[D3WY]

Its going to be the same across the TOC. Which was as described in detail by @REO Nate

I wouldn't bank on that, a mate of mine is a TL driver and he was on 36 the entire time until he passed out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2025 ==

I am asking for Thameslink Cricklewood Depot. Really hoping theirs is not half salary for the full 18 months

Ahh ok, unless its changed i believe TL is half that for the whole time, so 36ish. A mate of mine is a driver for TL and he was on 36iah the whole time untill passing out.... although he trained before me so that MAY have changed.

 

[REO Nate]

I wouldn't bank on that, a mate of mine is a TL driver and he was on 36 the entire time until he passed out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2025 ==


Ahh ok, unless its changed i believe TL is half that for the whole time, so 36ish. A mate of mine is a driver for TL and he was on 36iah the whole time untill passing out.... although he trained before me so that MAY have changed.

Ouch. I’m glad we chose SN then

I was given the choice of TL or SN and I went SN for the better variety of work from BTN.

 

[D3WY]

Ouch. I’m glad we chose SN then

I was given the choice of TL or SN and I went SN for the better variety of work from BTN.

Yeah i was too, i spoke to him in April when i passed my PR1 l. from what i have heard SN is slightly better all round. Non of that matters to me though, I always wanted to be SN as its the brand I grew up using and knowing.

Obviously I could be wrong as it may well have changed and it may well change come the annual pay review

 

[kinkywinpat]

Yeah i was too, i spoke to him in April when i passed my PR1 l. from what i have heard SN is slightly better all round. Non of that matters to me though, I always wanted to be SN as its the brand I grew up using and knowing.

Obviously I could be wrong as it may well have changed and it may well change come the annual pay review

Just curious , if you pass a TL assessment and get the job, would you still be offered other TOC like southern or great northern etc to choose from?

 

[REO Nate]

Just curious , if you pass a TL assessment and get the job, would you still be offered other TOC like southern or great northern etc to choose from?

I had applications in for both and had fully passed the SN recruitment process but hadn’t at that point completed the DMI for TL.

I think I was lucky to be offered both because there were two courses starting and from what I’ve heard since they were struggling to fill the TL one.

Sadly, there is absolutely no guarantee you would be offered SN, GN etc at that point.

 

[D3WY]

Just curious , if you pass a TL assessment and get the job, would you still be offered other TOC like southern or great northern etc to choose from?

I cant realy answer that im affraid, when I applied it was for a Brighton/Selhurt opening and then I got offered Barnham at the DMI because I live in west sussex. So generally I think once you start the TL process it will be TL going forward.

 

[ElisaHarkness]

I wouldn't bank on that, a mate of mine is a TL driver and he was on 36 the entire time until he passed out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2025 ==


Ahh ok, unless its changed i believe TL is half that for the whole time, so 36ish. A mate of mine is a driver for TL and he was on 36iah the whole time untill passing out.... although he trained before me so that MAY have changed.

Can confirm this is correct.

You will be on half pay!

However your training will be likely Hornsey so if this isn’t your home depot you will be paid travel time etc - 4ish hours if Brighton if your home depot - over 5 days soon adds up!

Plus if you pass half way through the month you only get what you worked as a qualified driver until the next month

 

[n0rb3rtx]

Plus if you pass half way through the month you only get what you worked as a qualified driver until the next month

Could you explain it please? I’m not sure if I got this right. Thank you

 

[kinkywinpat]

Hello
Just curious , regarding training for Thameslink which is 18 months. Is it really 18 months on the spot. Anyone done training or know someone who passed before the 18 months mark? What's the minimum months you can pass out from training. I am just curious
Thanks

 

[Class2ldn]

Minimum would be at least 9 months but even thats pushing it and everything would have to fall into place one after the other and it rarely does. I would say plan for anywhere between 12-18 months tbh.

 

[kinkywinpat]

Minimum would be at least 9 months but even thats pushing it and everything would have to fall into place one after the other and it rarely does. I would say plan for anywhere between 12-18 months tbh.

Thanks

 

[D3WY]

Hello
Just curious , regarding training for Thameslink which is 18 months. Is it really 18 months on the spot. Anyone done training or know someone who passed before the 18 months mark? What's the minimum months you can pass out from training. I am just curious
Thanks

I'd say 18 months is top end, I have heard of people taking longer id say from day 1 induction to passing out is normally 12months or less.

Once you are out driving with a driving instructor you will soon realise you won't want to rush it, its better to experience as many scenarios as possible whilst you have your instructor with you.

 

[Hazwa89]

Afternoon all,

I've been offered a place on the October intake.

Anyone else on here starting on the 20th?

H

 

[Hazwa89]

Good afternoon all,

I am starting my journey as a Trainee Train Driver for Thameslink at Brighton at the end of the month.

I just a question regarding parking.

In the welcome emails I've received there was no mention of parking? I emailed my HR contact who told me that this will be sorted out by my Driver Manager. And that as I will be training at different locations I there's no rush to get this sorted.

I was hoping to park on site to then be able to get the train to my training location. However, can't afford the nearly £20 a day parking fee.

Happy to use public transport, though it's pretty unreliable where I am.

I had suggest that if this arranged locally at the station, that I'm happy to pop in to get this sorted. However, I've not had a response yet.

I also can't think of where the offices are at the station to be able to knock on the door to ask - though I could ask the numerous staff around.

Anyone else had this issue or any ideas?

Thanks
H

 

[skyhigh]

I have no specific details regarding GTR or Brighton depot.

However just to set expectations - it's not unusual for staff parking to be oversubscribed and there to be a waiting list.

 

[Hazwa89]

I have no specific details regarding GTR or Brighton depot.

However just to set expectations - it's not unusual for staff parking to be oversubscribed and there to be a waiting list.

Hey,

Thanks for the insight. Had not considered that.

Think best bet will be to get pop in and have a chat with the team at the depot

 

[md81]

what is the postcode? I often check Parkopedia or local council websites for local charge rates when im working in a new place. For example I don't want to pay £20 a day but also need exercise, so a short walk is fine if it's 1/4 the cost. Especially if the chosen route passes a coffee shop

 

[Brown_j2]

Good afternoon all,

I am starting my journey as a Trainee Train Driver for Thameslink at Brighton at the end of the month.

I just a question regarding parking.

In the welcome emails I've received there was no mention of parking? I emailed my HR contact who told me that this will be sorted out by my Driver Manager. And that as I will be training at different locations I there's no rush to get this sorted.

I was hoping to park on site to then be able to get the train to my training location. However, can't afford the nearly £20 a day parking fee.

Happy to use public transport, though it's pretty unreliable where I am.

I had suggest that if this arranged locally at the station, that I'm happy to pop in to get this sorted. However, I've not had a response yet.

I also can't think of where the offices are at the station to be able to knock on the door to ask - though I could ask the numerous staff around.

Anyone else had this issue or any ideas?

Thanks
H

I started at Brighton in February for TL. You get to park at 2 stations, so you will be able to park at Brighton but it may take a week or so after you start for your parking permit to go through. Training locations seem to vary, but mine was mainly at Kings Cross with the rest at Hornsey or Cricklewood.

 

[Ikky]

Wonder if anyone can tell me if new starter at Thameslink receive free travel on Southeastern services? Also, does this free travel benefit extend to their partner or dependents and does it apply across both Thameslink and Southeastern networks for dependents?