GWR - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[SmugStarlord]

HI!

Southampton next week.

I'm guessing you had you're interview.

Any sugestions about the interview?

Thank you!

Have you had your MMI yet? It should say on your email wether its the MMI or an interview with the depot manager. Both are completely different from one another

 

[Str1k3r]

Have you had your MMI yet? It should say on your email wether its the MMI or an interview with the depot manager. Both are completely different from one another

I didn't have any interview. I finished my psychometrics in june and monday 05.10 they send an email with an invitation for me to attend an interview but it doesn't say if is DMI or MMI. Also I got an email from recruitment team with a pdf called Trainee Train Driver Interview where explains how to get dressed and how to use STAR tehnique.

 

[SmugStarlord]

I didn't have any interview. I finished my psychometrics in june and monday 05.10 they send an email with an invitation for me to attend an interview but it doesn't say if is DMI or MMI. Also I got an email from recruitment team with a pdf called Trainee Train Driver Interview where explains how to get dressed and how to use STAR tehnique.

During your psychometrics, did you have any 1 to 1 then or was it just computer and paper based assessments?

 

[Str1k3r]

During your psychometrics, did you have any 1 to 1 then or was it just computer and paper based assessments?

First day was only paper tests and second day only computer tests but no 1 to 1 interview.

 

[SmugStarlord]

First day was only paper tests and second day only computer tests but no 1 to 1 interview.

Then I would say your going to have your mmi bud. Youll be given a sheet of paper with 4 or 5 questions on, but only enough space for a brief answer. They will then deep dive into each answer with you and will put you under pressure while doing so. Takes around 60-90 minutes for it

 

[Str1k3r]

Then I would say your going to have your mmi bud. Youll be given a sheet of paper with 4 or 5 questions on, but only enough space for a brief answer. They will then deep dive into each answer with you and will put you under pressure while doing so. Takes around 60-90 minutes for it

The MMI is the one that is asking questions like why do you want to become a train driver, why you choose this company etc?

 

[Purplerain77]

The MMI is the one that is asking questions like why do you want to become a train driver, why you choose this company etc?

No that’s the DMI (driver manager interview), MMI is a competency based interview mainly focused on “tell me a time when” questions to see how you show yourself in safety critical situations among other things

 

[amalek]

If you do the OPC over 2 days I believe your MMI is seperate. I did my OPC all in one day with MMI at the end of the day. Very long day with a massive migraine at the end

 

[Brenfield]

Hi All, I just had an email from GWR saying all positions for 2026/27 have been filled.
So bad news I guess for folks in the Reading talent pool.

 

[Str1k3r]

If you do the OPC over 2 days I believe your MMI is seperate. I did my OPC all in one day with MMI at the end of the day. Very long day with a massive migraine at the end

I had dmi yesterday with 2 train driver managers.... they ask me about 25 questions but they didn't give me an answer if I passed of failed. Shouldn't be the answer same day like was for the psychometrics?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 15:12 ==

No that’s the DMI (driver manager interview), MMI is a competency based interview mainly focused on “tell me a time when” questions to see how you show yourself in safety critical situations among other things

I had DMI yesterday with 2 train driver managers. They ask me about 20 to 25 questions but didn't say if I passed or failed. Shouldn't be same day answer like was with psychometrics?

 

[Purplerain77]

I had dmi yesterday with 2 train driver managers.... they ask me about 25 questions but they didn't give me an answer if I passed of failed. Shouldn't be the answer same day like was for the psychometrics?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 15:12 ==


I had DMI yesterday with 2 train driver managers. They ask me about 20 to 25 questions but didn't say if I passed or failed. Shouldn't be same day answer like was with psychometrics?

Depends with every situation, some you find out same day some could be a week or 2

 

[lennie1]

Hi All, I just had an email from GWR saying all positions for 2026/27 have been filled.
So bad news I guess for folks in the Reading talent pool.

Yep, me too.

 

[jackf15]

Yep, me too.

And me.

 

[lennie1]

As it says 2026/2027 it's written, I'm hoping, like it means FY, rather than CY.

 

[jackf15]

As it says 2026/2027 it's written, I'm hoping, like it means FY, rather than CY.

Yeah, I can’t imagine they’ve filled up the whole of 2027 this early on. I was told they we’re recruiting for February in my interview so would make sense for it to be full up until April 2027.

 

[Brenfield]

As it says 2026/2027 it's written, I'm hoping, like it means FY, rather than CY.

That would make more sense. I think they run courses every 3 months so if Feb is now full then the next one would be May, which is FY 27/28.
Otherwise, even though they were still filling the Feb course untill recently, they've suddenly filled everything untill 2028, which sounds less plausible to me.

 

[lennie1]

I think it would help if they added FY in front of the numbers though, so there's no room for ambiguity. I realise they can't promise anything, but it's a bit of a blow if you think you may have to wait a further 10 or 11 months, rather than 3 or 4. Some people may even drop out if they thought that was the case. Likewise, if it's definitely 2028 at the earliest, then that would be good to know as I would want to consider my approach to work for that extra time, as I am currently a contractor and I'm holding off any invites for full-time positions so I am able to give short notice.

 

[Brenfield]

I think it would help if they added FY in front of the numbers though, so there's no room for ambiguity. I realise they can't promise anything, but it's a bit of a blow if you think you may have to wait a further 10 or 11 months, rather than 3 or 4. Some people may even drop out if they thought that was the case. Likewise, if it's definitely 2028 at the earliest, then that would be good to know as I would want to consider my approach to work for that extra time, as I am currently a contractor and I'm holding off any invites for full-time positions so I am able to give short notice.

I know the email said not to reply to it, but maybe if you send a friendly email to recruitment explaining your position and asked for clarification they might tell you.

 

[lennie1]

I already did

I think it's ok because I've sent them emails before like this and they're always fine. I think they just don't want to get inundated with queries. I'll let everyone know if they do clarify.

 

[WMC]

I’ve also had an email today stating that they are pausing recruitment for Trainee Train Drivers at Plymouth depot and they’ve not reviewed the video interview submitted.

 

[officewalla]

Yeah, I can’t imagine they’ve filled up the whole of 2027 this early on. I was told they we’re recruiting for February in my interview so would make sense for it to be full up until April 2027.

The talent pool is full perhaps? There have been a lot of posters here asking for the answers in the last few months!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Tuesday at 17:17 ==

I think it would help if they added FY in front of the numbers though, so there's no room for ambiguity. I realise they can't promise anything, but it's a bit of a blow if you think you may have to wait a further 10 or 11 months, rather than 3 or 4. Some people may even drop out if they thought that was the case. Likewise, if it's definitely 2028 at the earliest, then that would be good to know as I would want to consider my approach to work for that extra time, as I am currently a contractor and I'm holding off any invites for full-time positions so I am able to give short notice.

Carry on doing what you are doing with no expectation of quick or desired answers. If the e-mail says all vacancies for 26/27 have been filled then the earliest you could progress would be Jan 2028. That is s long time to hold your breath.

 

[BennyF94]

Hi All, I just had an email from GWR saying all positions for 2026/27 have been filled.
So bad news I guess for folks in the Reading talent pool.

Yeah me too, very bad news for me if it is all of 27 as my psychometric expire April 2028 as I did them a few years ago with south eastern.

 

[ValentaFan1974]

My tests expire May 2029 thankfully so I’ll just wait it out…. Still a bummer though..

 

[SmugStarlord]

My tests expire May 2029 thankfully so I’ll just wait it out…. Still a bummer though..

How long are they valid for in general?

 

[ValentaFan1974]

5 years

 

[Bastoo32]

I’ve had the same email for Gloucester Depot drop too. Seems like they’ve sent them out across multiple depots at the same time .

Hi All, I just had an email from GWR saying all positions for 2026/27 have been filled.
So bad news I guess for folks in the Reading talent pool.

 

[Brenfield]

I’ve had the same email for Gloucester Depot drop too. Seems like they’ve sent them out across multiple depots at the same time .

My understanding is that the recruitment and training system works by region. At least the job ad i applied to was for 'east region' trainees which had Oxford, Reading, Paddington openings. People have also said that the training courses are a mix of different depots.
So i would guess that all the depot pools in whichever region's courses are full all get the same email.

 

[Bastoo32]

My understanding is that the recruitment and training system works by region. At least the job ad i applied to was for 'east region' trainees which had Oxford, Reading, Paddington openings. People have also said that the training courses are a mix of different depots.
So i would guess that all the depot pools in whichever region's courses are full all get the same email.

That would make sense!
hope everyone gets some good news soon!

 

[JLH1989]

I'm in the pool for BTM and yet to have the email that people from other depots have had, keeping an eye out for it though.

 

[si_145653]

Just had my email to say Plymouth recruitment has been paused and it will be reviewed in early 2027. Video interview hasn’t been looked at.

Anyone else had this for other depots? Just wondering if this is Plymouth only or not.