Northern - Maintenance Depot Driver

[GPR]

Just be aware that for safety critical roles, Northern use Google maps for commute times.
Has to be within 45 minutes commute time set at 0800 on a Monday morning.
If it says between 45 mins and 1 hr 30 they’d take that as 1 hour commute time.

 

[BBT]

Manchester says 45min to 1hr30!
Leeds 40 min to 1hour 10.

Would they have offered me an interview at Manchester if they thought my commute is too long?
I assumed they would base the commute on off peak times, as this is when I would be traveling to work most days. Which would be well under 45 min either way.

 

[GPR]

Luckily you’ve got through the commute sift then.
Good luck with the process going forward
It’s a good job and once you have your psychs and driving experience you’ll yearn to go mainline.

 

[BBT]

Thank you!

I am just preparing for my interview. Trying not to stress too much and just enjoy the process. what will be will be but..

i was wondering if anyone knew the shifts for an MDD at Newton Heath? On the add it says be flexible to work earlies, lates and weekends, but on here it would seem they are mainly night shifts?

 

[FGW_DID]

Thank you!

I am just preparing for my interview. Trying not to stress too much and just enjoy the process. what will be will be but..

i was wondering if anyone knew the shifts for an MDD at Newton Heath? On the add it says be flexible to work earlies, lates and weekends, but on here it would seem they are mainly night shifts?

Most of a depots work will be on nights as thats when you get the majority of the fleet in for servicing so it makes sense to have the bulk of your drivers in on nights. Daytime workload may only require 2-3 to be in.

Thats just a general view but is based on what happens at my place (GWR).

 

[CJBX]

How did people get on at their interviews? My mate had his a few weeks ago and was told they will start updating people mid-end of August.

 

[BBT]

I had mine last week. I definitely could have done better! So I will be surprised if I get invited to psychometric testing. Yeah they said end of August to me, as they just found out they are interviewing more people mid August.

 

[CJBX]

I'm sure you will have done better than you think mate. Ah I wasn't aware they were still interviewing next month, he only got the option on the July dates.

 

[ThePeakNed]

Just got an invite for depot train driver for the talent pool in Manchester. I'm super chuffed to have got to this stage. And I wondered if anyone else applied for the role. I've had a look on the forum for interview tips etc so I'll be preparing in the coming days.

If I pass all the required recruitment stages and then I'm put in the talent pool. What are the chances of actually receiving a job offer? I'm guessing it's a how long is a piece of string scenario but I'm just curious if anyone has any experience in this and would like to share. Thank you.

I know for a fact the roster at Newton Heath has a lot of holes in it, I don't think you'd be waiting too long.

 

[BBT]

I got through to psychometric testing! I must have done better than I thought.

 

[ndjefc82]

I got through to psychometric testing! I must have done better than I thought.

Congratulations.

There is a wealth of info on what to expect at OPC testing on here. The single biggest piece of advice I can give you is try not to let the pressure get to you.

Could I ask - how long was it from applying to getting an interview? The reason I ask is that a family member has applied for the same role at Liverpool, the advert closed in June and has head nothing since.

 

[BBT]

Thank you.
I applied early June, and my interview was mid July.

 

[ndjefc82]

Thank you.
I applied early June, and my interview was mid July.

Thanks.

Best of luck with the OPC!

 

[johnmcjohnson]

Hi. Expecting a job offer at Northern for an MDD position and was just wondering if anyone knew what the real salary would be each month?
It’s advertised at approx. £39k a year, but will that look different after the shift allowances/enhancements etc?

 

[BBT]

I failed on the group bourdon. I passed it to national standard but not enhanced. I passed all the other paper and computer tests. (The 2 hand coordination test, I was almost adamant I failed, I did it fast but I went out of the line alot!). Overall glad I got the opportunity and the tests weren't as bad as thought they would be. Fairly straight forward. I enjoyed the cables and dials. Smashed that. Just annoyed with myself for not practicing the group bourdon more. As this was the only one I actually practiced! That and mmi prep. Which I didn't get chance to do.

It's a six month wait until I can resit them. So I will practice and hope for the best next time.

 

[Railman1991]

I failed on the group bourdon. I passed it to national standard but not enhanced. I passed all the other paper and computer tests. (The 2 hand coordination test, I was almost adamant I failed, I did it fast but I went out of the line alot!). Overall glad I got the opportunity and the tests weren't as bad as thought they would be. Fairly straight forward. I enjoyed the cables and dials. Smashed that. Just annoyed with myself for not practicing the group bourdon more. As this was the only one I actually practiced! That and mmi prep. Which I didn't get chance to do.

It's a six month wait until I can resit them. So I will practice and hope for the best next time.

I haven’t heard since my last email which said I would get a date for the testing.
How long after your email did you get a date for your tests?
At least you didn’t fail, it will be valid for other TOC’s which accept a national pass.

 

[CJBX]

I failed on the group bourdon. I passed it to national standard but not enhanced. I passed all the other paper and computer tests. (The 2 hand coordination test, I was almost adamant I failed, I did it fast but I went out of the line alot!). Overall glad I got the opportunity and the tests weren't as bad as thought they would be. Fairly straight forward. I enjoyed the cables and dials. Smashed that. Just annoyed with myself for not practicing the group bourdon more. As this was the only one I actually practiced! That and mmi prep. Which I didn't get chance to do.

It's a six month wait until I can resit them. So I will practice and hope for the best next time.

DM'd you BBT

 

[Snowman84]

Hello all,

Hoping you guys can help. I have passed the psychometric and MMI interview and was told recruitment would be in touch with me to advise me further of next steps. Has anyone been in this situation and got any experiences with times they could share?

Also, any info on shift patterns at Heaton depot would be great. Thanks

Morning, Just thought I would follow up on this - How did you get on? I'm keen to know a little more about this role and how things work at the Heaton Depot........Thanks

 

[Snowman84]

Morning All,

Anybody able to provide some insight into the Depot Driver role please? Shift Patterns, Tasks etc (The advert doesn't give much away)

I've applied to join the talent pool for the Heaton Depot

Thanks

 

[GTR33]

Ive applied aswell. Do we have to wait till the closing date to hear back anything

 

[GPR]

Drive trains around maintenance depot.
for example a mainline driver drops the train off on the arrival road, you go to it, drive it to a shed for maintenance work or to the sidings so it can be cleaner/ checked by fitters.

Driver prep on the trains. Make sure lights are working, horn, doors, has windscreen wash, brake blocks are good, isolation cocks are in the normal position, brake test the train, amongst other things.

If units are broken you will have to shunt around the depot possibly with brakes isolated.

If you aren’t driving you could be in charge of the sidings giving authority for movements to happen.

I don’t work at Heaton but shift work is obviously involved including night work, maybe even permanent nights.

You’ll have to be fit and healthy as you can do upto 10 miles a night walking with plenty of pulling yourself up and down trains as there are no platforms outside at depots

 

[Snowman84]

Brilliant, thanks for the info!

 

[GTR33]

has anyone heard anything back yet?
Email today, application is now being screened 20.11.24

 

[Snowman84]

Hi All, Hows everyone getting on with their application for this role?

 

[geordiechris06]

I currently have a teams interview with northern rail 15 min slot. For a maintenance depot driver am I right in thinking this the first of 2 or 3 interviews?Any pointers for this first interview. Pretty nervous not knowing what to expect.

 

[dum]

Well done. I'm thinking of applying for a depot driver too. Which depot have you got an interview for?

 

[geordiechris06]

Thanks but nervous.
Heaton depot Newcastle

 

[dum]

Good luck mate. Hope it goes well for you. All the best

 

[Owen2323]

Being a short interview it'll likely be to sift people out who would probably flunk the main DMI interview. The selection process will probably be detailed in the advert and I'd imagine will be:

Teams interview
DMI (Driver Manager Interview)
Psychometric tests and MMI interview

I think there may also be some sort of initial sift for weeding out those who might not pass the psychometrics (watching a video and answering questions on it after, building some sort of lego being part of the new process I believe)

This interview will likely be questions like:

Tell us what you know about Northern (all available on the website, who the MD is, how many employees etc)

What do you expect to be doing in this role (shift work, lots of nightshifts, driving and preparing trains on depot - it should all be in the advert)

What skills/experience/qualities will you bring to this role (teamwork, communication, mega safety conscious, ability to follow rules and procedures etc)

I presume you've used the search function on here as a lot of the above has been mentioned in threads before (even for MDD at Heaton I think)

Good luck

 

[TJC3]

Hi All

Can anyone explain to me what the main differences are between a Service Driver and a Depot Driver?

I’m guessing a service driver carries out light maintenance duties such as replenishing water tanks etc and a depot driver shunts trains.

Also in your opinion, which do you think is a better role? Are the shift patterns similar?

Thank you