Railway competence group / Traindriving.co.uk

[UPS1550]

Has anyone had any dealings with a website called Traindriving.co.uk or railway competence group ? The website is offering the chance to pay to sit the psychometric assessments POA, I enquired and received an email from RCP with a price of £549 for all assessments, the old saying if something sounds to good to be true comes to mind I'm afraid

 

[Comfy]

I'm sure I've read that's around the price that DB charge for theirs.

 

[SlimJim1694]

Why would anyone pay to sit the tests when the TOCs put you through them for free?

 

[SecretSquirrel]

If it was me , I wouldn't pay for it. If you failed it you've lost £550 and a life. I mean you could pass, happy days but will it help you through the paper sift?

I know How2Become offer a practise day, where they offer up the tests, what to expect for the psychometrics and interviews. Thats £250. I didn't do it myself but enquired a while back and they seem to know what they're doing, on the phone at least.

 

[keep truckin]

Why would anyone pay to sit the tests when the TOCs put you through them for free?

One scenario I can think of is the fact that some companies advertise jobs asking for people who have already passed the tests.

The old saying 'you pays your money, you takes your choice' applies here I think.

 

[Intermodal]

Why would anyone pay to sit the tests when the TOCs put you through them for free?

This argument has been absolutely done to death on here. The fact is that there are a number of drivers today who say that if they hadn't done the tests off their own back they do not believe they would've got the job, or at least got it as quickly. Even if they had only got the job 6 months quicker, they likely made their £500 back several times over depending on their previous salary.

 

[Taylor-j01]

Forgot the cost say if it was £10 to do it.
Would you do it then?

 

[Applepie356]

Don’t forget once you paid for it and hopefully pass it then you have 5 years to get a train driver job. Some TOC’s only accept results that are 2-3 years old and those with the enhanced standard may need you to take them again.

 

[Comfy]

My local TOC have only put people through to interview who have already passed their tests before applying.

 

[UPS1550]

All valid points but the main question is has anyone ever heard of them before? I haven't and I found it surprising that I've not heard of them mentioned on here before

 

[AWS_Reset]

I mentioned in another thread a few weeks ago that a friend of mine sat her tests with them (thankfully she passed and is starting with Northern as a trainee driver in a few weeks!).
From what she said they guys that have set the company up are already railway managers and have been/still are train drivers.
I enquired myself after she told me about them and they said that they are setting up some more dates for tests soon

 

[UPS1550]

I mentioned in another thread a few weeks ago that a friend of mine sat her tests with them (thankfully she passed and is starting with Northern as a trainee driver in a few weeks!).
From what she said they guys that have set the company up are already railway managers and have been/still are train drivers.
I enquired myself after she told me about them and they said that they are setting up some more dates for tests soon

Thanks, was really hoping it was genuine!

 

[ainsworth74]

All valid points but the main question is has anyone ever heard of them before? I haven't and I found it surprising that I've not heard of them mentioned on here before

And perhaps the bigger question would be do the TOCs recognise them as providing valid test results! DB are a recognised company who have been doing them for donkey's years so TOCs wouldn't, you'd think, have any qualms about it. But this new somewhat unknown company?

 

[UPS1550]

And perhaps the bigger question would be do the TOCs recognise them as providing valid test results! DB are a recognised company who have been doing them for donkey's years so TOCs wouldn't, you'd think, have any qualms about it. But this new somewhat unknown company?

Exactly, I'd happily pay to get the job I want if I knew it was all 100% kosher

 

[AWS_Reset]

Yeah I understand your hesitation.
Like I say my friend did it with them and it was accepted by northern so it seems legit to me. Found out she starts on 30th March in Manchester and has signed her contract etc

 

[Intermodal]

I find it highly unlikely this is a scam but if you are seriously concerned you could just get it in writing that these test results would be accepted by all UK TOC/FOCs and then take them to small claims if they refused to accept it.

 

[keep truckin]

I mentioned in another thread a few weeks ago that a friend of mine sat her tests with them (thankfully she passed and is starting with Northern as a trainee driver in a few weeks!).
From what she said they guys that have set the company up are already railway managers and have been/still are train drivers.
I enquired myself after she told me about them and they said that they are setting up some more dates for tests soon

By the sounds of it this group have seen a promising business opportunity. With the amount of people willing to trade an arm & a leg for the role, seems it could be a very canny enterprise.

 

[SlimJim1694]

I think the fact that people are willing to pay to sit the tests speaks volumes for the kind of people who apply for driving jobs now. Because the money is decent since privatisation (due to the obvious factors of market forces and a limited supply of qualified drivers) there are many applicants who only want the job for the money rather than because they actually want to be train drivers. I find it staggering that people would pay hundreds of pounds to sit these tests, but then when I did mine (and it wasn't THAT long ago) I dont think it was as hard to get in as it is now. I filled in a form, did the tests, did the interview, got the job. I feel sorry for all the people who would make decent drivers that can't get a look in now because the job is clogged up with people paying £500+ to take the tests.

The biggest joke of all is that the tests do not in any way reflect anyone's ability to drive a train. The amount of people I've seen pass those tests and then rack up the incidents out in the real world because the job isn't quite as cushy as they thought it would be is frightening. Theres been so many sacked in the time I've been there that ive forgotten most of them. Getting the job is the easy part. Once you've got it you need to keep it.

 

[Joliver]

I think the fact that people are willing to pay to sit the tests speaks volumes for the kind of people who apply for driving jobs now. Because the money is decent since privatisation (due to the obvious factors of market forces and a limited supply of qualified drivers) there are many applicants who only want the job for the money rather than because they actually want to be train drivers. I find it staggering that people would pay hundreds of pounds to sit these tests, but then when I did mine (and it wasn't THAT long ago) I dont think it was as hard to get in as it is now. I filled in a form, did the tests, did the interview, got the job. I feel sorry for all the people who would make decent drivers that can't get a look in now because the job is clogged up with people paying £500+ to take the tests.

The biggest joke of all is that the tests do not in any way reflect anyone's ability to drive a train. The amount of people I've seen pass those tests and then rack up the incidents out in the real world because the job isn't quite as cushy as they thought it would be is frightening. Theres been so many sacked in the time I've been there that ive forgotten most of them. Getting the job is the easy part. Once you've got it you need to keep it.

100% agree with this. It's so easy to have an incident if you lose a moments concentration, it certainly isn't a cushy job. Any incident you have, eg wrong side doors, accepting a wrong route, failed to call etc etc, you're off track, disciplinary meeting, potential dismissal etc etc. Yes it pays well but your personal/social life definitely suffers. I'd seriously think again about spending £500+ for a test you could pass and still not be accepted by a TOC, just my opinion. Keep applying and see what happens.

Good luck.

 

[Economist]

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if there certain elements that would quite like candidates to pay for the tests themselves, a bit like the CKP for policing and some of the commercial pilot aptitude tests for the airlines and big flying schools. One of the great things about the railway as a whole is that it enables people who've got the right aptitude and attitude to enjoy a career with generally good terms and conditions, regardless of how well off they may or may not be. A lot of the other careers with such benefits require potential employees to get into huge amounts of debt first before they've started their first day at work.

I see this sort of thing as the thin end of the wedge. What's next? How about paying for PTS and a Rules course? As has been already mentioned, one of the reasons we enjoy good benefits is that people can't buy their way in and that prevents the huge surplus of qualified people (and subsequent collapse in terms and conditions) that has dogged the European commercial pilot market for quite some time. Any form of buying one's way in is something that ASLEF need to strenuously oppose.

 

[Intermodal]

How about paying for PTS and a Rules course?

Track workers already do this.

 

[BloominMan]

Track workers already do this.

Most employers cover these fees. Though it is a way to try and get a foot in the door from an external perspective.

 

[PhilTimo]

I've just spent an hour on their web site.
In my opinion, I would just leave it well alone.
Any decent TOC or FOC will get you through the process in good time, saving you £500+

 

[Red1980]

This argument has been absolutely done to death on here. The fact is that there are a number of drivers today who say that if they hadn't done the tests off their own back they do not believe they would've got the job, or at least got it as quickly. Even if they had only got the job 6 months quicker, they likely made their £500 back several times over depending on their previous salary.

And I'll bet you a pound to a penny to a pinch of poop that's there's plenty more that'll tell you it made no difference to their application whatsoever.

In terms of importance it's about 0.5% in comparison to the rest of the application form as most would make you re-sit anyway.

Think the best way of looking at it is you can still get a driving job with a decent application and no test pass to your name but you'll definitely not get one with a test pass to your name and an average application form.

If it was a guarantee I'd say yes do it but I see hundreds of pounds on something that still may not get you through an application as expensive.

 

[Applepie356]

I agree with the above post...if there is concrete evidence that proves it makes you more likely to get past the initial screening then I’d say go for it. The website doesn’t even have any testimonials and there are very few posts on here which suggest that having the passes already gives you an advantage.

I managed to complete all the assessments bar the MMI, as I have to sit my DMI and pass that first. All it cost me was some petrol and parking fees. So it’s definitely doable without having to pay £500 for.

 

[Ducatist4]

It’s a UK mobile phone number originally issued by EE , 07956......

 

[SlimJim1694]

I'm editing this post as I'd mentioned some information (but no names or employers) that is freely available on the internet and is fully within the public domain regarding this company. I don't think anyone posted anything on here about them that wasn't in the public domain and available by way of a very quick Google search, but seeing as the RCG post below has asked people remove posts about them, I am respecting their wishes and doing just that.

 

[UPS1550]

I think the fact that people are willing to pay to sit the tests speaks volumes for the kind of people who apply for driving jobs now. Because the money is decent since privatisation (due to the obvious factors of market forces and a limited supply of qualified drivers) there are many applicants who only want the job for the money rather than because they actually want to be train drivers. I find it staggering that people would pay hundreds of pounds to sit these tests, but then when I did mine (and it wasn't THAT long ago) I dont think it was as hard to get in as it is now. I filled in a form, did the tests, did the interview, got the job. I feel sorry for all the people who would make decent drivers that can't get a look in now because the job is clogged up with people paying £500+ to take the tests.

The biggest joke of all is that the tests do not in any way reflect anyone's ability to drive a train. The amount of people I've seen pass those tests and then rack up the incidents out in the real world because the job isn't quite as cushy as they thought it would be is frightening. Theres been so many sacked in the time I've been there that ive forgotten most of them. Getting the job is the easy part. Once you've got it you need to keep it.

Not everyone who wants to be a driver is in it for the money, though I know of Job seekers being told to apply for railway jobs with no expectation ( or want ) of hearing back just so that they can show they're 'looking' for employment to claim there benefits personally I'd jump at the chance still if it was a £30000+ salary as it's something I've wanted to apply for for years but right or wrong thought they would be more likely to hire trainees 30+ with more maturity.

Many trades now expect you to pay for your own training so to me, paying for the tests is something I'd be happy to do though.

100% I agree these tests do not prove wether someone is capable of doing the job after though that seems to be an unpopular opinion round here lol

 

[Whi]

Directors are listed on companies House; does anyone know if they have railway ties?

 

[greatkingrat]

Directors are listed on companies House; does anyone know if they have railway ties?

They are both driver managers at Northern.