Pass Out rate.

[Wallicio]

Hi everyone, first new thread so please be gentle.

I was wondering for those of you out there who have successfully passed their Driver Training and are now Qualified Train Drivers what the fall out rate is of trainees that do the course? For whatever reason, not for them, not passing the required tests etc. In a class of 8, in general how many actually make the grade, finish the training and go off to be successful drivers?
Many thanks ??????

 

[387star]

Good question I'd like to know as well

Also if your external because of probation etc I guess more common?

 

[G136GREYHOUND]

No idea on a percentage or average fail rate per course sorry BUT I have noticed that more seem to fail / shoot themselves firmly in the foot / get put back / than used to be the case

 

[455driver]

Out of 8 there should be between 6 and 8 that get through, normally it's the ones who have had to practice until they are blue in the face just to scrape through the psychological tests or those with a know it all attitude that fail, but every so often there will be one or two that decide it isn't for them or they just can't get their heads around the rules.

 

[WCMLaddict]

I would say it is 8 out of 8 that would normally pass out with an odd one failing every few years.
Funnily I can only remember one trainee having trouble with passing out but we had two experienced drivers failing their periodical rules in last 6 months.

 

[Lincoln_biker]

I was in a class of 12 of whom 3 had previous railway experience. We were all successful in passing out and have all been driving mainline over a year. To put it in perspective, on my first day I called ballast "rubble". I now have a good route card, a fantastic employer and no regrets.

Remember, your employer wants you to be successful and your course tutor wants you to pass, pass out and do well. You'll get good support, 1 to 1 where necessary and regular feedback on progress.

 

[E&W Lucas]

About 1 in 10 dropped out when I worked for a major training outfit. Usually a case of realising that the role isn't for them, rather than failing. In most cases, found alternative employment.

Being external has nothing to do with it. Probation relates to you as an employee. It has nothing to do with your progress as a trainee. Regardless of where you have come from, if you aren't suitable, you're off the process. It can be no other way. By comparison, the fall out rate for trainees at my inter city company, is somewhat higher, from a very, very small number taken on (practically all internal).

 

[ComUtoR]

There is attrition at every level. They do not want anyone to fail.

Personally I wouldn't worry about pass/failure rates. I would concentrate on passing myself. As there is a broad range of applicants it does mean that people fail for many reasons.

 

[Wallicio]

I'm not worried by any means. I'm confident in my own ability. I was just curious as to what the fall out was.
Many thanks to your prompt replies
All the best
W

 

[redbutton]

At my TOC my understanding is that it's near 100%. The only guy I heard about in the past year was sacked because he got caught fiddling his timesheets while route learning.

Other than in cases of intentional malfeasance, the company (the one I work for at least) will do everything in their power to keep you on track (no pun intended). You won't be put forward for the exams at each stage of the training unless they're confident in your ability to pass them. They are keen to protect their investment.

That's why they say the training takes 12-18 months. It's dependent on ability.

 

[TDK]

The companies certainly do not want anyone failing pass out however in 16 years on the job I have only known a handful who have been unsuccessful and less that did not go on to be drivers. Reasons below.

1. One when put into a train with passengers on his own had panic attacks and came out in a rash - he became a shunter driver

2. A couple just couldn't grasp the rules at all and left the company

3. A couple were seen in a pub, were tested the next day and blew over they were instantly dismissed.

4. One could not learn the routes and looked too deep into everything he eventually passed out after extra training.


There are others and as 455 mentioned it is normally those who just scraped through the recruitment by practising or the know it all types.

 

[Dieseldriver]

A guy on my course never made it. Had very little sympathy though and if I'm honest I find it surprising that he got onto a course in the first place.

 

[notadriver]

About 1 in 10 dropped out when I worked for a major training outfit. Usually a case of realising that the role isn't for them, rather than failing. In most cases, found alternative employment.



Being external has nothing to do with it. Probation relates to you as an employee. It has nothing to do with your progress as a trainee. Regardless of where you have come from, if you aren't suitable, you're off the process. It can be no other way. By comparison, the fall out rate for trainees at my inter city company, is somewhat higher, from a very, very small number taken on (practically all internal).

The implication you seem to be making is that internal candidates are less suitable for the train driver role despite their railway experience.

 

[Class2ldn]

The only two people on my course who didn't pass out were shunter drivers before. One is back in the role and the other a guard

 

[notadriver]

Strange then that the majority of courses at my depot are ex guards all who've passed.

 

[Gemz91]

Out of ten people training to be drivers when I was in the training school 9 of us made the grade. One lad in the other class I've since seen working on the platforms. As he was in the other class I didnt know him, so never had the courage to ask what went wrong. As far as I know he passed the rules, as I saw him out and about doing handling, so can only assume he couldnt crack the handling.

He was a cocky little individual though, had a bad attitude about him, so I had little sympathy for him.

 

[E&W Lucas]

The implication you seem to be making is that internal candidates are less suitable for the train driver role despite their railway experience.

No, that's too strong a statement, especially in the context of this thread.
The key point, is that no trainee new to the industry, has anything to fear during the training process. They are not at a disadvantage. Any guard, etc, who comes across as thinking that they already "know it", is going to get brought down to earth rapidly. No bashing anyone else's job, but there is a gulf in intensity.

The training assumes no previous railway experience; as actually does the selection process.

My observation, is that satisfactory performance in another grade, including safety critical, far from guarantees suitability for driving. None of us should be too specific (Social media policies).