Scotrail Trainee Driver Test

[david140288]

Dear all I am sitting a trainee driver test on the 11th of august and just wondering if anyone else has had the experience of this? The test covers mechanical, trainability, concentration, reaction and on the same day a structured interview. Ive been doing the dots test on the computer and am nearly reaching half way with a few mistakes is this enough?

thanks, david

 

[O L Leigh]

Have you seen this website yet? It was a great help to me when I was going through the recruitment process.

O L Leigh

 

[david140288]

well folks did my test today there were only 2 of us! they are looking for 8 drivers at helensburgh but unfortunatley i failed!!!! well at least thats what the online status says they havent phoned or emailed me yet. were required to stay the whole day the mechanical i didnt finish, the dots test went ok, the story about glop test went ok too, though with the gauges test i only got halfway and the reaction test was a riot! though the second half went ok. the structured interview was brutal soooo many questions!!!!! and mine was getting autited by the manager and being recorded.

ah well cheers for ur help troops! i think ill try for it again if the post comes up

 

[driver9000]

well folks did my test today there were only 2 of us! they are looking for 8 drivers at helensburgh but unfortunatley i failed!!!! well at least thats what the online status says they havent phoned or emailed me yet. were required to stay the whole day the mechanical i didnt finish, the dots test went ok, the story about glop test went ok too, though with the gauges test i only got halfway and the reaction test was a riot! though the second half went ok. the structured interview was brutal soooo many questions!!!!! and mine was getting autited by the manager and being recorded.

ah well cheers for ur help troops! i think ill try for it again if the post comes up

Comiserations David! Dont let it get you down - better luck next time!

Have you considered contacting the company that you took the test with to see if they would be able to tell you the areas of the tests you need to work on for next time?

 

[david140288]

Yeah, I got an email today saying that i'd been unsucsessful this time so i have emailed them back asking for some feedback so we'l see what happens with that.

 

[oldagefanclub]

Dont worry too much about it, why they are still advertising is beyond me. I applied last November, passed the mechanical comprehension, group bourdon (dots) and trainability (glop) tests in December last year. In February I passed the DTM interview, reaction and co-ordination test and structured interview. Passed the medical and sent in my disclosure certificate and I am sitting on a waiting list for a trainee course to start due to a lack of funding. Now you have had a look at the tests you will be better prepared the next time you apply, so study properly, theres plenty of time.

 

[Lengthman]

Which area was your original application for?

I have also passed all the tests, 2 interviews, medical & am waiting for my disclosure certificate.

 

[Hoyerman]

Hi all - I'm in exactly the same position as OldAgeFanClub (plus many others) - I've passed everything with FSR up to and including medical & disclosure certificate & now I'm just anxiously waiting on a start date. My tests also started in mid December last year... was due for an April start unbtil the course got pulled .

I've been told they had over 11000 applicants for these positions and from this they currently have enough people for "2 or 3" courses in this same position, i.e. ready to start and desperate to tell their current employer to shove it !

Following all the previous stuff about no funding for new trainees from transport Scotland, the latest info I have heard is that they are "reviewing" recruitment (again...) following the GARL cancellation as they obviously no longer require additional drivers for this route and are actually now over complement... (not sure, but I would assume this would mainly mean at Glasgow Central?).

Can anyone on here enlighten us as to where this is all going? I'm beginning to get a bad feeling in my water about this & I get the feeling that some applications may lapse due to the length of time since inital testing & we may be asked to re-apply when things improve?

I sincerely hope I'm wrong!

Cheers
H

 

[oldagefanclub]

Which area was your original application for?

I have also passed all the tests, 2 interviews, medical & am waiting for my disclosure certificate.

Was interviewed for central.

 

[Lengthman]

My application was for Helensburgh (may 2009). At the DTM interview they said the course was expected to start between Oct 09 - Jan 10.

Given all the previous comments I wont hold my breath.

 

[First ScotRail]

Give ScotRail HR a call they should be able to help you, the admin girl is based with all within the recruitment people so...you should be able to talk to the recruitment co-ordinator for the drivers.

 

[culvers]

how did you get on??

 

[oldagefanclub]

Got a letter from FirstScotrail yesterday morning. Trainee driver courses for this year have been cancelled. Your application will remain on the reserve list.
Disappointed but at least there is still some hope. Not a definite no, yet. Anyone else heard an update on their application?

 

[Hoyerman]

Got the same letter myself... Suppose all we can do is continue to bother them in the new year

 

[Lengthman]

Got the letter today. A bit confused as I was told a couple of weeks ago that things were delayed due to other applicants going through medicals, etc.

Can only hope that things change in the new year.

 

[oldagefanclub]

Anyone know how many pople are on the reseve list?

 

[Hoyerman]

I'm led to believe that there are enough people for "2 or 3" courses in this situation, between internal and external applicants... I've also been told that there are normally around 8 on a course, so you can have a guess from that. Not sure how many of these are on this board - that would be interesting...?

I suppose the only bright side is as you said earlier - it's not a "thanks but no thanks" letter... so there is still some hope for next year!

Looking at it, Scotrail has around 900 drivers in total, so assuming a 40 year maximum career you would expect at least 20-25 to retire each year, plus anyone else who has had enough/medical retirement etc, so I would have some hope that they will be coming back to us next year.

You never know - they might also reinstate GARL!

Cheers
H

 

[oldagefanclub]

I know one of the driver trainers, there are 8 of them, and they are hoping as much as we are that they get courses started because if scotrail are not training drivers it leaves them out of a job.

 

[Hoyerman]

Update

In the latest issue of Rail Magazine, it states that FSR employ something over 970 drivers and train on average 76 new drivers per year...

Cheers
H

 

[oldagefanclub]

Update

In the latest issue of Rail Magazine, it states that FSR employ something over 970 drivers and train on average 76 new drivers per year...

Cheers
H

Thats a bit more promising!

 

[NorthernDriver]

If it helps anyone? The Test for Driving last on record as valid for 5 years. But it is up to each TOC how long they recognise it for. With Northern it is recognised for 2 years and not beyond that tho stays at the test center as valid for 5.

We have a scotch chap who passed the test for scotrail and now lodges down in york as he did it this way (Private paid) and applied to northern

The Test centers will only allow the test to be taken twice by any individual irrelevant of company.

You may pay for this tect yourself (As i did) The cost been an average of £200. When you do it as an individual, you get a certificate from the test center and a full list of companies that may be recruiting or not.

Hope thats a help to you all.

 

[Lengthman]

Has anyone heard anything or spoke to Scotrail to see if there is any sign of courses starting?

 

[oldagefanclub]

Has anyone heard anything or spoke to Scotrail to see if there is any sign of courses starting?

I haven't heard anything or been in touch with FSR yet. Maybe give it to the first week in March before I start to pester them again.

 

[Hoyerman]

Nothing that I am aware of... unfortunately!

H

 

[culvers]

I waited over 18 months from application to starting the job! Dont worry if you are still waiting........

 

[energol]

I have passed the test and applied for about ten mainline jobs,keep getting knock backs....very frustrating as a lot of external drivers seem to be always getting taken on.

 

[SCO]

is there any helpful material to revise, to help prepare for these tests? and are these interviews really drilled and in depth or a little bit laid back? i have heard different things as to dress to impress, but didnt know when taking the assesments, medical and then interview if you have to dress to impress

 

[oldagefanclub]

is there any helpful material to revise, to help prepare for these tests? and are these interviews really drilled and in depth or a little bit laid back? i have heard different things as to dress to impress, but didnt know when taking the assesments, medical and then interview if you have to dress to impress

I would highly recommend that you wear a suit, collar and tie every time you visit them.

 

[Hoyerman]

Agreed - you never know who is watching...

H

 

[Lengthman]

Has anyone any news of trainee driver positions becoming available anytime soon?