Hi all, I'm currently awaiting a course start date with London Midland for trainee train driver. HR have informed me that there are no courses until next year. My question is, if London Midland were to lose the franchise next year with it being up for tender, where would that leave myself and anybody currently in the talent pool if we were still awaiting a start date? Would we remain in a talent pool for the new franchisee or would we have to reapply should they require more trainee drivers? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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London Midland trainee train driver talent pool
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Thanks for the reply John FM. Wow surprised to hear that a new TOC would view a group of people who have all worked hard to pass the assessments and posses the obvious potential to become train drivers as "trash"! But hey I don't work in the rail industry so what do I know. You mention that a new TOC may have a talent pool of their own. How does this work if they are a new franchisee? Again Having been a firefighter for the last 15 years my understanding of how the rail industry works is limited although I am eager to learn and your knowledge is appreciated.
I attended the stage 2 on the 24 May and looking through the original London Midland thread it seems there's a few of us all in the same boat. like you said we just need to carry on until we hear something. Be sure to keep us updated if you do hear anything as I will too.
It was tongue in cheek!
With regards to your questions it really is down to whatever the TOC wants to do. There could be a thousand different ways of dealing with the existing talent pool and a thousand different ways of guessing on this forum.
There really is no point is trying to gauge until you know if a TOC is changing.
Spankthemonkey
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Has definitely happened before that talent pools have been discarded - when FCC became GN for example.
GMCK
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Hi guys,
Bit late to the party here, but you may be able to help.
I myself am looking daily at the LM Careers site, praying each time they are recruiting trainee drivers. Do you know when they tend to recruit if there's a trend?
From now, would you expect that I could be waiting weeks, months, maybe years? Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.
Regards,
GM.
Bit late to the party here, but you may be able to help.
I myself am looking daily at the LM Careers site, praying each time they are recruiting trainee drivers. Do you know when they tend to recruit if there's a trend?
From now, would you expect that I could be waiting weeks, months, maybe years? Any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.
Regards,
GM.
the sniper
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I'd say don't hold your breath... I'd be surprised if they advertise again before next summer, at least.
GMCK
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Based on that, I would guess the other local Midland TOC's would be a similar story? Chiltern, EMT, even FGW etc.....
the sniper
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Not necessarily. LM won't though as they've got plenty of people in the 'talent pool' situation, internals (at least) that haven't even been sent for testing yet from the last campaign and they'll soon seemingly have their pick of redundant DB Cargo freight drivers.
I'm in the same situation. Completed my medical in July, and just waiting for a course start date. I last spoke to HR in September and was told to expect contact shortly after the new year. It is concerning to hear that no course dates are pencilled in yet though. Perhaps they are waiting till the new franchise is sorted....
How do you know that no courses are pencilled in? The TOC's are very tight lipped for very good reasons, and always will be, but filling in the blanks with your own theories doesn't help and ends up as rumour which ends up as someone else's "fact".
Of course the TOC's know when their courses are "pencilled in", there are a hundred and one different elements to put into place, confirm with training staff, confirming visits, arranging visiting lecturers, lecture room bookings if required, PTS, booking stock, prior warning of uniform orders etc, etc, etc. This stuff would have been started some months ago.
They know the dates only too well, only thing is that they haven't told you. You don't need to know yet.
MUS7724581
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I MUST SAY THIS IS WELL SAID!
I to am in the same boat and I've just been reading all these post for information on DMI questions, but wow some rumours on here make you you feel so rubbish... if I'm honest I'd rather not know then know all negative!
Unless it is in black and white, why speculate? That just brings your moral down, don't you think?
Just a quick update for anybody in the same boat as me currently in the talent pool. No courses are anticipated until after June and if 12 months have elapsed since managers interview a re-interview will be required. This info was given in an Email from LM after I requested an update.
Just a quick update for anybody still in the pipeline for trainee driver positions. Having spoke to HR this morning I was informed that no courses are planned until 2018. This is for the Birmingham pipeline however so whether this applies for other depots I can't say. Keep in mind that if 12 months have elapsed since the DMI a re interview is required. I also asked if Abellio were to win the franchise would I still remain in the pipeline? The response was that although it could not be confirmed it should not affect my position as trainees would still be a requirement irrespective of what name they were operating under. Is there many more of you out there who find yourself in my position it would be interesting to know?
There are people at Birmingham who started 9 months ago and still haven't started any practical handling yet. I also know plenty of people who have waited much longer than 12 months and not had to be reinterviewed. I think that rule just gives LM some flexibility.
Plenty still front ending in between rules and handling.
Thanks 12guard 4 although disappointing to hear I still have a long wait it's reassuring to know that many others have had to wait more than 12 months since sitting their DMI. I think due to being told at interview should I be successful and pass the medical (which I did in July 2016), I would be placed on an October 2016 course didn't prepare me for this wait. Saying that I'm also well aware it can be quite the norm. HLE thanks also for you're comment hopefully the backlog of trainees can be sorted sooner rather than later it must be as frustrating for them as it is for me!
Is there many more of you out there who find yourself in my position it would be interesting to know?[/QUOTE]
Hi, I'm a Worcester candidate in the same position. I passed my medical in July 2016. I also called up and was told no courses for Worcester until 2018. My 12months since DMI elapsed in march so I was told I'd need to do that again.
Very interesting comments regarding Abellio. I think the new franchise is due to start in October. My gut feeling is that everything has ground to a hault due to uncertainty over the franchise. I've always been hopeful if that it gets renewed, then everything will get kick started again.
Hi, I'm a Worcester candidate in the same position. I passed my medical in July 2016. I also called up and was told no courses for Worcester until 2018. My 12months since DMI elapsed in march so I was told I'd need to do that again.
Very interesting comments regarding Abellio. I think the new franchise is due to start in October. My gut feeling is that everything has ground to a hault due to uncertainty over the franchise. I've always been hopeful if that it gets renewed, then everything will get kick started again.
I too am a 2016 Worcester candidate currently waiting having passed my DMI and finally medical in August last year. I have 'heard' that there may be 4 Worcester spots coming up for a start in September this year. I was however told by recruitment that there are folk out there still waiting from a 2015 process so they will get priority. I also think that once the franchise has been awarded we'll certainly know more. Fingers crossed its sooner rather than later.
Hi ruudboy and hoppy1671. The franchise announcement was due to be in June however, HR also informed me yesterday that due to the recent general election this has been delayed. By how long I wasn't told and whether this will have a knock on effect regarding the October renewal I'm none the wiser. Furthermore I know someone who is currently on a training course who started October last year. He echoes what 12guard4 and HLE have stated in that there is a backlog of trainees at the moment who have completed rules and are awaiting an available instructor to commence handling. So, the franchise announcement may be a factor concerning timeframes however it seems to me the current backlog of trainees is the main issue. My main concern is where we all stand if the franchise does change. As I mentioned earlier, HR believe this shouldn't affect us but we're unable to confirm this to be the case.
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There will still be a need for drivers regardless who is running the franchise so it shouldn't change anything. Once the current backlog of trainees get moving then I think there should be some.movement on new courses. I would imagine that will be early 2018.
I also forgot to put on my other post that DB Schenker seem to be bidding for new contracts, a large influx of freight drivers to LM was going to put off the intake of new trainees. However I have been told there is nowhere near the original number now making the move which is of course good for you people in the pool.
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