LNER - Trainee/Apprentice Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[TJ123]

An opportunity to join the Edinburgh team as an apprentice driver with LNER , closing date 18/01/2026

Apprentice Driver - Edinburgh | LNER Careers

LNER Careers, Jobs, Search and Apply

www.lnerjobs.co.uk

 

[Stevo2687]

An opportunity to join the Edinburgh team as an apprentice driver with LNER , closing date 18/01/2026

Apprentice Driver - Edinburgh | LNER Careers

LNER Careers, Jobs, Search and Apply

www.lnerjobs.co.uk

Spotted this last night as well and now going through the process, good luck to all who apply

 

[Toby268]

Have LNER now removed the GCSE requirement for apprentice driver roles, or am I missing it somewhere.

 

[gostin]

They ask for proof of qualifications other than that I'm unsure

 

[Colly103]

Good luck to all that apply! Hope they advertise some for my area at some point soon!

 

[Ceegee98]

I've popped my application in and so far there have been a couple steps. First was the initial application. Then a AI Chat that asks competency questions. Then I received an email requesting me to do a video interview where I record answers. I can't lie I think I fumbled the video interview. It was one question but somehow talking into a webcam kind of threw me off. I guess we will find out! All the best to anyone that applies

 

[Swoosh2121]

I've popped my application in and so far there have been a couple steps. First was the initial application. Then a AI Chat that asks competency questions. Then I received an email requesting me to do a video interview where I record answers. I can't lie I think I fumbled the video interview. It was one question but somehow talking into a webcam kind of threw me off. I guess we will find out! All the best to anyone that applies

What are the questions?

 

[Arussoco]

Yeah application in aswell , Did the video interview only one question passed that , then got the email to complete the SJT this morning, done that and passed that , then got another email to complete the 50 question error checking test I'll leave that for another day

 

[Stevo2687]

Yeah application in aswell , Did the video interview only one question passed that , then got the email to complete the SJT this morning, done that and passed that , then got another email to complete the 50 question error checking test I'll leave that for another day

Flying through it, need to do the video interview today, then see what happens

 

[Ceegee98]

What are the questions?

I can’t remember off the top of my head but it’s mostly ‘tell me about it a time’ kinda thing. I wouldn’t overthink it. I’ve also done the SJT and Error checking tests now. The SJT is straightforward, the error checking is tough. It’s 50 questions in 10 minutes. From what I’ve read it’s not about doing all 50 it’s more about accuracy.

 

[Stevo2687]

I can’t remember off the top of my head but it’s mostly ‘tell me about it a time’ kinda thing. I wouldn’t overthink it. I’ve also done the SJT and Error checking tests now. The SJT is straightforward, the error checking is tough. It’s 50 questions in 10 minutes. From what I’ve read it’s not about doing all 50 it’s more about accuracy.

How quick from the video interview do you find out? Is it straight away or the next day etc

 

[Ceegee98]

How quick from the video interview do you find out? Is it straight away or the next day etc

It was an hour or two from finishing it to receiving an email inviting me to the next step.

 

[Stevo2687]

It was an hour or two from finishing it to receiving an email inviting me to the next step.

Perfect, thanks for letting me know just submitted mine so fingers crossed

Edit: Got the next stage email bang on 1 hour after, just completed and passed the SJT, will do the next assessment tomorrow

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jan 2026 ==

That error checking test was tough, guessing I didn’t make the pass mark as no next step email

 

[hendo1995]

Perfect, thanks for letting me know just submitted mine so fingers crossed

Edit: Got the next stage email bang on 1 hour after, just completed and passed the SJT, will do the next assessment tomorrow

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jan 2026 ==

That error checking test was tough, guessing I didn’t make the pass mark as no next step email

I’m still to do the video interview, going to do it today. How was it was it only one question? If you haven’t heard anything back that could be good news!

 

[Stevo2687]

I’m still to do the video interview, going to do it today. How was it was it only one question? If you haven’t heard anything back that could be good news!

Yeah just the one question, was straightforward enough. Just a bit weird recording yourself answering the question

 

[Arussoco]

Just completed the error checking test , Quite easy just a pain having to scorll up and down the screen to check the manifest and pick label. Managed to complete about 20 i think they are all correct so just a case of wait and see

 

[Stevo2687]

Just completed the error checking test , Quite easy just a pain having to scorll up and down the screen to check the manifest and pick label. Managed to complete about 20 i think they are all correct so just a case of wait and see

Yeah, I felt I had done well managed around 25 and was sure they were all accurate but hard to tell, just need to wait and see

 

[Swoosh2121]

Yeah, I felt I had done well managed around 25 and was sure they were all accurate but hard to tell, just need to wait and see

How many questions in total? Good luck to you - I can imagine the amount of applicants it’ll take them a while to sort through all the results unless it’s automated?

 

[Stevo2687]

How many questions in total? Good luck to you - I can imagine the amount of applicants it’ll take them a while to sort through all the results unless it’s automated?

There was 50 question but only 10 min to complete, feel like it’s automated, got an instant email when I completed the SJT

 

[Swoosh2121]

Just completed the video interview - what a strange feeling talking to a lens.

 

[Ceegee98]

Im assuming that once you’ve completed the video interview, SJT and error checking tests it will be a human being that goes through the applications. It seems weird getting instant replies then radio silence but I’m sure we will hear soon enough. I was the same with the error checking. I did about half of the questions and I’m sure I got 98/99% of the ones I did right!

 

[Swoosh2121]

Im assuming that once you’ve completed the video interview, SJT and error checking tests it will be a human being that goes through the applications. It seems weird getting instant replies then radio silence but I’m sure we will hear soon enough. I was the same with the error checking. I did about half of the questions and I’m sure I got 98/99% of the ones I did right!

Same as me. Confident I got most correct and got about half way also.

 

[Stevo2687]

Seems like we are all in the same boat until someone says differently, fingers crossed we all get through

 

[pga2878]

Good evening, I went through this process in 2024. Due to the amount of applications they get you are left in no man’s land for a bit and I often wondered if they had received my application at all. But the old saying no news is good news works in this case. I think they send out the rejections first as someone I knew, who was also doing it at the same time as me, had their interview a week after me and found out two weeks before me that they were unsuccessful. As frustrating as it will become, patience is key. Good luck to you all.

 

[hendo1995]

That’s me completed the video, SJT and error checking. I’m assuming everyone gets to complete all these and it isn’t a fail before progressing to each stage? SJT and error checking where straight forward but I suppose it’s what they are looking for in the SJT and for the error checking it felt fine but always second guess if I’ve missed something in one of the questions! Will see how it goes from here…

 

[Stevo2687]

That’s me completed the video, SJT and error checking. I’m assuming everyone gets to complete all these and it isn’t a fail before progressing to each stage? SJT and error checking where straight forward but I suppose it’s what they are looking for in the SJT and for the error checking it felt fine but always second guess if I’ve missed something in one of the questions! Will see how it goes from here…

Same boat as yourself, feel like I have done well but always second guess myself. Seems like no one has had a next stage email after the error checking so until someone says other wise I can stay slightly optimistic

 

[train6166]

I don’t know if this well help or not for folks. But, I applied for this last time the job was posted. There was no AI chats or single video interview then.

You done three online tests, if you were succesful, you were immediately invited to the next stage. Passing all 3 tests led to the video interview.

Last time my friend failed the third test, the comprehension test and was emailed straight away to say unsuccessful. Unfortunately, we don’t know anyone that’s gotten to this stage and had email stating unsuccessful.

This is pure speculative on my part. But, they could possibly be waiting till more people have applied/tested and like the recent xc recruitment drive as a prescreening filter will only take those with higher scores to the next stage. Am basing this purely off the LNER website saying theirs three online tests and comparing this with my experience last time and this time

 

[Stevo2687]

I don’t know if this well help or not for folks. But, I applied for this last time the job was posted. There was no AI chats or single video interview then.

You done three online tests, if you were succesful, you were immediately invited to the next stage. Passing all 3 tests led to the video interview.

Last time my friend failed the third test, the comprehension test and was emailed straight away to say unsuccessful. Unfortunately, we don’t know anyone that’s gotten to this stage and had email stating unsuccessful.

This is pure speculative on my part. But, they could possibly be waiting till more people have applied/tested and like the recent xc recruitment drive as a prescreening filter will only take those with higher scores to the next stage. Am basing this purely off the LNER website saying theirs three online tests and comparing this with my experience last time and this time

I was under the same impression if you met the minimum requirements it was straight through to the next test but unfortunately have not heard anything

 

[hendo1995]

I was under the same impression if you met the minimum requirements it was straight through to the next test but unfortunately have not heard anything

It definitely looks like the structure has changed for the apprentice driver role. According to the website it shows 3 tests first then video interview but now it looks like it’s the video then the tests and I’d assume if you pass these it’s the DMI stage. Might be wrong and could be another longer form video stage to go after the tests.

Would be interested to know if anyone has failed any steps up to this point if that is possible or if everyone gets to complete the test stage.

 

[Swoosh2121]

It definitely looks like the structure has changed for the apprentice driver role. According to the website it shows 3 tests first then video interview but now it looks like it’s the video then the tests and I’d assume if you pass these it’s the DMI stage. Might be wrong and could be another longer form video stage to go after the tests.

Would be interested to know if anyone has failed any steps up to this point if that is possible or if everyone gets to complete the test stage.

I'm interested in that too because up to now it has been "Congratulations you have been invted to the next stage"