Northern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[Manda2194]

Are there any depot drivers on here I can ask some questions to?

 

[GPR]

Are there any depot drivers on here I can ask some questions to?

Go for it. Feel free to PM.

 

[Manda2194]

Go for it. Feel free to PM.

Thank you buddy. I sent you a message

 

[juspassingby]

It's a few different things. One is ticket checking exercise, comparing data to a key of information, the other two are similar to each other, read some text, choose most/least likely to be how you'd respond. No obvious wrong or best answers, I think it's a personality test in disguise really. Nothing to worry about.

Hi, so I passed that test and it was error checking, shapes matching for the first part. The second part was about safety (situation judgement) and third was based around Resilience.

I have now been called in for a Psychometric Assessment in Leeds, I am not too sure if its the actual test or just a pre test. In the past it was Application - DMi - Psychometrics - Medical but not it seems like they do Online Assessment - Psychometric assessment - MMi ... then I don't know what is after that. I didn't even know an MMi was part of Northern's recruitment process. I'm actually very confused right now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jan 2026 ==

Hi, I don't remember any examples I'm afraid, as there was another situational judgement test before the mmi and everything has merged in my head! It wasn't difficult though. It was multiple choice, and the main thing is to choose whichever option demonstrates that you will always put safety first and follow the rules.

For the spoken part, I just used my phone. I have just noticed that the poster above has said that they are something else though, so I'm not sure whether they change them. Honestly though, I was so anxious about it, but when I actually started it, they really weren't difficult at all and I realised I'd been stressing for nothing. Don't overthink it. Good luck.

Hi, did you do your tests recently? If so, can I PM you and ask a few questions please?

 

[MPF88]

Hi, so I passed that test and it was error checking, shapes matching for the first part. The second part was about safety (situation judgement) and third was based around Resilience.

I have now been called in for a Psychometric Assessment in Leeds, I am not too sure if its the actual test or just a pre test. In the past it was Application - DMi - Psychometrics - Medical but not it seems like they do Online Assessment - Psychometric assessment - MMi ... then I don't know what is after that. I didn't even know an MMi was part of Northern's recruitment process. I'm actually very confused right now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jan 2026 ==


Hi, did you do your tests recently? If so, can I PM you and ask a few questions please?

Is your application for manchester? When did you need to complete your online tests by? I completed on Sunday not had a response yet with them stating potential psychometric tests next week

 

[juspassingby]

Is your application for manchester? When did you need to complete your online tests by? I completed on Sunday not had a response yet with them stating potential psychometric tests next week

Hi, Yes mine is for Manchester.

 

[MPF88]

Hi, Yes mine is for Manchester.

I received the tests on Friday, I completed them Sunday night at around 11.30pm as I was working. The deadline was Monday at 10am. I received the email asking me to attend a 'Driver Psychometric Assessment' yesterday. The tests will take place on 26th Jan.

I am confused though, email states its a Psychometric Assessment but I've had a few others on here saying they had to attend an 'assessment' first which was more of a group task. I have been sent Psychometric materials to revise so I was under the impression that I was attending a psychometric test, very confusing

Did you also apply

Hi, Yes mine is for Manchester.

I received the tests on Friday, I completed them Sunday night at around 11.30pm as I was working. The deadline was Monday at 10am. I received the email asking me to attend a 'Driver Psychometric Assessment' yesterday. The tests will take place on 26th Jan.

I am confused though, email states its a Psychometric Assessment but I've had a few others on here saying they had to attend an 'assessment' first which was more of a group task. I have been sent Psychometric materials to revise so I was under the impression that I was attending a psychometric test, very confusing

Did you also apply for Victoria?

Yes I also applied for Victoria. Ive had no response yet so looking unlikely now
From what I've read each depot has a slightly different process so have telephone interviews followed by group assessment, others have the online assessments instead

 

[BW301]

Hi, Yes mine is for Manchester.

I received the tests on Friday, I completed them Sunday night at around 11.30pm as I was working. The deadline was Monday at 10am. I received the email asking me to attend a 'Driver Psychometric Assessment' yesterday. The tests will take place on 26th Jan.

I am confused though, email states its a Psychometric Assessment but I've had a few others on here saying they had to attend an 'assessment' first which was more of a group task. I have been sent Psychometric materials to revise so I was under the impression that I was attending a psychometric test, very confusing

Did you also apply for Victoria?

Did they give you options for dates?

I've applied for Leeds but I'm not back in the UK until 20th Feb so I'm panicking a little! (Haven't been invited to online assessments yet)

 

[juspassingby]

Did they give you options for dates?

I've applied for Leeds but I'm not back in the UK until 20th Feb so I'm panicking a little! (Haven't been invited to online assessments yet)

Hi,
Yes the options were 26th Jan or 27th Jan, just those 2 dates for Manchester.

 

[BW301]

Hi,
Yes the options were 26th Jan or 27th Jan, just those 2 dates for Manchester.

Damn that's quick! Out of interest, do you remember the closing date for applications for Manchester? I could maybe work out timings based on that. Thanks

 

[northernbadger]

Hi, so I passed that test and it was error checking, shapes matching for the first part. The second part was about safety (situation judgement) and third was based around Resilience.

I have now been called in for a Psychometric Assessment in Leeds, I am not too sure if its the actual test or just a pre test. In the past it was Application - DMi - Psychometrics - Medical but not it seems like they do Online Assessment - Psychometric assessment - MMi ... then I don't know what is after that. I didn't even know an MMi was part of Northern's recruitment process. I'm actually very confused right now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jan 2026 ==


Hi, did you do your tests recently? If so, can I PM you and ask a few questions please?

Sure, feel free!

 

[Swall]

Hi, Yes mine is for Manchester.

I received the tests on Friday, I completed them Sunday night at around 11.30pm as I was working. The deadline was Monday at 10am. I received the email asking me to attend a 'Driver Psychometric Assessment' yesterday. The tests will take place on 26th Jan.

I am confused though, email states its a Psychometric Assessment but I've had a few others on here saying they had to attend an 'assessment' first which was more of a group task. I have been sent Psychometric materials to revise so I was under the impression that I was attending a psychometric test, very confusing

Did you also apply for Victoria?

If you’ve been invited to the Psychometric Assessment it will be that. The group exercise is something different, I was told recently that they do the driver manager interviews after Psychometric Assessments where as it used to be before. The group exercises were on the same day as the Driver manager interviews. So in short if you’ve been given your practise material for the Psychometric Assessments concentrate on that and forget about the group stuff for now.

 

[juspassingby]

If you’ve been invited to the Psychometric Assessment it will be that. The group exercise is something different, I was told recently that they do the driver manager interviews after Psychometric Assessments where as it used to be before. The group exercises were on the same day as the Driver manager interviews. So in short if you’ve been given your practise material for the Psychometric Assessments concentrate on that and forget about the group stuff for now.

You are right, I am concentrating on the psychometric materials now. Every depot does things differently I guess.

Out of curiosity, you ever sat the psychometric tests?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jan 2026 ==

Damn that's quick! Out of interest, do you remember the closing date for applications for Manchester? I could maybe work out timings based on that. Thanks

Yes, I believe the closing date was on the 14th of Jan. The advert was only up for 3 or 4 days.

 

[haidox]

Anyone starting the trainee train driver training (for Piccadilly) in Manchester on 2nd February?

 

[juspassingby]

Anyone starting the trainee train driver training (for Piccadilly) in Manchester on 2nd February?

I wish I was, but not there yet. I'm guessing you are?

 

[haidox]

Yes, they wanted me to start in November 2025 but I wanted to give my full 3 months notice to my current employer and so they then gave me a February start date.

 

[northernbadger]

Anyone starting the trainee train driver training (for Piccadilly) in Manchester on 2nd February?

Yep, I am. Looking forward to getting started!

 

[haidox]

Yep, I am. Looking forward to getting started!

Great! Look forward to seeing you there

 

[Mgees]

Great! Look forward to seeing you there

Would you mind if I asked which order you had your application stages in?

Did you do an assessment day first (or at all?) or straight to psychometrics then DMI?

 

[haidox]

1. Application/CV

2. Assessment day (hotel in the city centre with 16 other applicants)

3. Psychometric test in Leeds (I had everything done in one day and was told at the end of the day that I had got the job pending a medical)

4. Medical

This is how it planned out for me but I've had friends who have applied after me and they've had telephone interviews, or didn't have an assessment day, or had their psychometric test split over 2 days. So it seems that Northern keep changing the recruitment process up.

 

[Mgees]

1. Application/CV

2. Assessment day (hotel in the city centre with 16 other applicants)

3. Psychometric test in Leeds (I had everything done in one day and was told at the end of the day that I had got the job pending a medical)

4. Medical

This is how it planned out for me but I've had friends who have applied after me and they've had telephone interviews, or didn't have an assessment day, or had their psychometric test split over 2 days. So it seems that Northern keep changing the recruitment process up.

Thank you, steps 2 and 3 have been reversed for the most recent intake. So was a little confusing tbh.

Congrats on your success!

 

[BishaCD]

Hi, is anyone else waiting to hear about train driver course dates for York?

I've passed the assessment centre and psychometrics and have a conditional offer pending a medical but all courses are full and it's all gone quiet. Does anyone have any insight into how long I could be waiting to hear? Or is it a bit of how long is a piece of string? Trying to be patient but I'm really excited to get started.

 

[haidox]

Hi, is anyone else waiting to hear about train driver course dates for York?

I've passed the assessment centre and psychometrics and have a conditional offer pending a medical but all courses are full and it's all gone quiet. Does anyone have any insight into how long I could be waiting to hear? Or is it a bit of how long is a piece of string? Trying to be patient but I'm really excited to get started.

For Manchester Piccadilly I was given a February start date. I was also told that if this was not suitable then there were currently no other courses and I would be put into a 'talent pool' for 12 months. If in that time no courses became available I would have to start from the beginning and reapply for the role again. I would assume it would be something similar for York

 

[BishaCD]

For Manchester Piccadilly I was given a February start date. I was also told that if this was not suitable then there were currently no other courses and I would be put into a 'talent pool' for 12 months. If in that time no courses became available I would have to start from the beginning and reapply for the role again. I would assume it would be something similar for York

That’s useful to know. Brutal if I have to start again. Fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that. Thanks very much!

 

[northerngirly]

Thank you, them questions sound similar, if not the same as the ones I had.

The assessment day is described by someone else pretty well in this thread. Not going to lie, it was brutal. A brief overview;

1st task - 5 tables of people - you do a group task where you work together with your table to try and figure out what time a specific train departed a station, there's loads of facts and figures and you have to try and work it out. It's not about getting the right answer, it's about how you work as a team.

2nd task - you watch a video from the train drivers POV, its maybe 3 minutes max, at the same time as watching the video you have to do 2 things - the assessor will be giving you instructions on how to build a lego statue and at the same time will be asking you questions such as 'what platform number did the train come into' - if you focus too much on the lego you won't see, and vice versa. It's hard.

A break and then when you go back in the room there's a hefty 'cull' - I think 14 left ours and we had 16 left.

3rd task - you watch another video from the train drivers POV for 30 minutes and you have to keep a tally of how many red/yellow and green signals you see.

Another break and then another cull, we had 8 left I think, then we had a longer break for lunch, and then each went into a DMI - standard interview questions focusing mainly on how you deal with boredom and repetitiveness. Someone else on this forum says that they got the questions before the actual interview but that wasn't the case for me. I found out there and then that I'd passed and got through to the next stage which was the psychometrics and MMI all in 1 day.

Good luck and feel free to DM me if I can help anymore.

Hi, have you got any tips on how to prepare for the assessment day? Or what you did to prepare? Mine is less than 2 weeks away

 

[mld]

Hi, have you got any tips on how to prepare for the assessment day? Or what you did to prepare? Mine is less than 2 weeks away

Get a good nights sleep the day before. Don’t try and blend in to the group, you need to stand out (but without being overbearing)
Genuinely I didn’t prepare anything as I didn’t know what the assessments would be.
The assessment day tests are clearly done to assess your team working skills, multi tasking and concentration.

 

[northerngirly]

Great thank you! Can I also ask what the psychometric test and MMI is? Is this after the interview stage?

 

[Hugo3000]

Great thank you! Can I also ask what the psychometric test and MMI is? Is this after the interview stage?

There is so much info available on the forum - just use the search function.

With the group exercise if you don't stay quiet, but also don't talk over people you should score well. Listen to others and try to incorporate their ideas into the task.

 

[northerngirly]

I have tried searching but can’t seem to find the right answers to what I’m looking for! Thought it may be easier to ask someone who has recently been through the process

 

[Northrail127]

I wouldn’t worry too much about the psychometric and MMI. It is after the assessment day but concentrate on each stage at a time. The assessment day is hard enough without worrying about the psychometric on top. Worry about it if you get passed this stage.