Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

[John Bishop]

Personally I don't see it happening anytime soon. It will cost the public purse way too much.

Union rep was saying the other day in the bothy that ScotRail have been told to reduce their spending by £1million a week by Transport Scotland.

The expenditure has doubled in the three years since it has been nationalised. That is unsustainable.

I'm a realist, some would say pessimistic.

Yes, I’m the same. SG simply can’t afford the price tag that comes with including them in the working week. The salary increase for every driver as well as the extra drivers required simply can’t be paid for given the state of the coffers at the moment. I would put it at less than 20% chance it goes ahead.

 

[RiverDon]

No it won't ever be 4 on 4 off as that's not enough shifts in a year.

I've been told that one of ASLEF's requirements to agree is that there is no change to the minumum 104 rest days a year regardless.

The expenditure has doubled in the three years since it has been nationalised. That is unsustainable.

I heard the other week there is a depot that is currently 30+ drivers over complement. Unsustainable is one word for it!

Has anyone got an example roster with Sundays included? I can't find one online.

I saw an Avanti one with Sundays included from an ex police friend when I was looking for jobs before I joined Scotrail but I don't have it electronically, sorry. But might be worth reaching out to Avanti colleagues?

 

[jackboy]

I'm always interested in the points made by people on here- I was told by someone that there's no chance of the sunday becoming part of the working week, as for the talent bank if the tests are valid for 5 years why should your application be scrubbed after 2 years in the Talent bank,youve also already proven yourself at the DMI so why should you have to repeat the same answers doing that part again or be binned for someone coming maybe a year behind you after youve been in the process potentially for up to 4 years, and also if there's such an overload of potential recruits why are they still recruiting? We didnt apply for a talent bank in March 24 we applied to be trainee train drivers,some people from that recruitment drive are already back at their depot after completing the classroom side of things ,some others have a start date so to move the goalposts for some after 2 years is pretty unfair and then after those goalposts get moved and then when they specifically tell us we can ask questions about the change in our situation not one of us gets a reply? If that sounds entitled then so be it, I,along with everyone else fortunate enough to pass all the assessments worked hard to get through them and waited a long time to get to this point,to be kept informed properly is the least people deserve

 

[380101]

I've been told that one of ASLEF's requirements to agree is that there is no change to the minumum 104 rest days a year regardless.


I heard the other week there is a depot that is currently 30+ drivers over complement. Unsustainable is one word for it!


I saw an Avanti one with Sundays included from an ex police friend when I was looking for jobs before I joined Scotrail but I don't have it electronically, sorry. But might be worth reaching out to Avanti colleagues?

Minimum of 156 rest days is one of the conditions ASLEF is looking to agree for Sundays as part of the working week. We are currently on 104 Rds.

 

[ChernoSamba]

I'm always interested in the points made by people on here- I was told by someone that there's no chance of the sunday becoming part of the working week, as for the talent bank if the tests are valid for 5 years why should your application be scrubbed after 2 years in the Talent bank,youve also already proven yourself at the DMI so why should you have to repeat the same answers doing that part again or be binned for someone coming maybe a year behind you after youve been in the process potentially for up to 4 years, and also if there's such an overload of potential recruits why are they still recruiting? We didnt apply for a talent bank in March 24 we applied to be trainee train drivers,some people from that recruitment drive are already back at their depot after completing the classroom side of things ,some others have a start date so to move the goalposts for some after 2 years is pretty unfair and then after those goalposts get moved and then when they specifically tell us we can ask questions about the change in our situation not one of us gets a reply? If that sounds entitled then so be it, I,along with everyone else fortunate enough to pass all the assessments worked hard to get through them and waited a long time to get to this point,to be kept informed properly is the least people deserve

Completely agree on the talent bank points. The communication from them has been nothing short of abysmal. From the obscure wording of their emails to encouraging you to ask questions before ignoring all questions put to them.

I can only imagine how busy they must be but surely being more transparent with candidates will lessen the amount of questions candidates will then bother them with?

 

[ezywheels]

I'm always interested in the points made by people on here- I was told by someone that there's no chance of the sunday becoming part of the working week, as for the talent bank if the tests are valid for 5 years why should your application be scrubbed after 2 years in the Talent bank,youve also already proven yourself at the DMI so why should you have to repeat the same answers doing that part again or be binned for someone coming maybe a year behind you after youve been in the process potentially for up to 4 years, and also if there's such an overload of potential recruits why are they still recruiting? We didnt apply for a talent bank in March 24 we applied to be trainee train drivers,some people from that recruitment drive are already back at their depot after completing the classroom side of things ,some others have a start date so to move the goalposts for some after 2 years is pretty unfair and then after those goalposts get moved and then when they specifically tell us we can ask questions about the change in our situation not one of us gets a reply? If that sounds entitled then so be it, I,along with everyone else fortunate enough to pass all the assessments worked hard to get through them and waited a long time to get to this point,to be kept informed properly is the least people deserve

bang on!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Apr 2026 ==

RUMOUR CONTROL UPDATE...

Apparently some phone calls today for Motherwell and Ayr TB trainees..

Anyone on here the lucky recipient of a call?

If so, could you furnish your SR recruitment journey, ideally dates, to allow us mere mortals to adjust/reset our timescales?

 

[trainnewbie25]

Hi, I had to provide access through Konifr for them to access my HMRC account.
Turns out I also had to download a form that was to be shared with Experian.

What was this for if you don’t mind me asking?I thought the checks were fairly straightforward?

 

[jundibundi]

Just got an email saying I’ve to expect a phone call this week about a course date. Had to reply with holidays booked etc. for Edinburgh.

Anyone else?

 

[CarineNoctua]

Just got an email saying I’ve to expect a phone call this week about a course date. Had to reply with holidays booked etc. for Edinburgh.

Anyone else?

That’s great news! Are you external? I’m an internal candidate for Edinburgh and my course is 22nd June.

 

[humandoodle]

Just got an email saying I’ve to expect a phone call this week about a course date. Had to reply with holidays booked etc. for Edinburgh.

Anyone else?

Got the same mail today

 

[stucol123]

bang on!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Apr 2026 ==

RUMOUR CONTROL UPDATE...

Apparently some phone calls today for Motherwell and Ayr TB trainees..

Anyone on here the lucky recipient of a call?

If so, could you furnish your SR recruitment journey, ideally dates, to allow us mere mortals to adjust/reset our timescales?

This is not good for my health haha

 

[garto123]

Just got an email saying I’ve to expect a phone call this week about a course date. Had to reply with holidays booked etc. for Edinburgh.

Anyone else?

are you currently in the talent pool mate?

 

[jundibundi]

are you currently in the talent pool mate?

Aye mate I got the same email as every one else a few weeks ago.

 

[garto123]

Aye mate I got the same email as every one else a few weeks ago.

Thats really good to hear that people are actually moving on from the talent bank, and you must be buzzing. I take it you also applied in the March 2024 application and passed everything around Christmas 2025.

 

[lineman]

Has anyone been to the medical, declared you've had laser eye surgery in the past and been asked to have further tests, including a logMAR eye test? If so, can you tell me where you had this? No high street opticians I've tried can do it, I've tried Ross Hall private hospital and none of their hospitals in Scotland can do it, I've tried private eye clinics who don't have the equipment. I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to get this, and I'm due to hand my notice in next week...

 

[jundibundi]

Phone call today with a medical in a couple of weeks and potential start date end of July.

As mentioned earlier I got the same talent pool e mail as the rest of you, so hopefully that makes everyone feel a bit better. I think the talent e mail was maybe just to give them a bit time to start to catch up and work through people on the list.

 

[shak46]

Phone call today with a medical in a couple of weeks and potential start date end of July.

As mentioned earlier I got the same talent pool e mail as the rest of you, so hopefully that makes everyone feel a bit better. I think the talent e mail was maybe just to give them a bit time to start to catch up and work through people on the list.

How long were you waiting when you passed your final interview or assessment?

 

[jundibundi]

October

 

[Ducaticam]

Can I ask those of you that received a call, did it start with 0141? I'm tend not to answer unknown calls and hoping I've not missed anything. Did you recieve an e-mail too, or just the call?

 

[jundibundi]

An email warning you you would get a call. And no it was a mobile number

 

[afloattoast]

Can I ask those of you that received a call, did it start with 0141? I'm tend not to answer unknown calls and hoping I've not missed anything. Did you recieve an e-mail too, or just the call?

I’m the same with unknown calls but doubt I’ll have been contacted yet

 

[Ducaticam]

An email warning you you would get a call. And no it was a mobile number

Thanks, that's good to know!

 

[SL2008]

Has anyone been contacted for either Glasgow Central or Corkerhill for up coming courses?

 

[mikeccccccc]

Has anyone been contacted for either Glasgow Central or Corkerhill for up coming courses?

Glasgow - nope not yet. Take it you're in the same boat as an external applicant?

 

[SL2008]

Glasgow - nope not yet. Take it you're in the same boat as an external applicant?

Yeah external and waiting for Glasgow since October

 

[mikeccccccc]

Yeah external and waiting for Glasgow since October

Fingers crossed that's them getting the ball rolling and we'll all hear something soon

 

[scottgl]

Fingers crossed that's them getting the ball rolling and we'll all hear something soon

Yeah I'm glasgow as well, everytime my phone has rang this week I've been jumping at it haha

 

[mikeccccccc]

Yeah I'm glasgow as well, everytime my phone has rang this week I've been jumping at it haha

By the looks of it and taking from what was said in the Talent pool email, they'd contact us via email first before scheduling any calls!

 

[William94]

Are there many people waiting for a course for airdrie depot?

 

[vinoboxer]

Hi all,

Been a signaller for a few years now and today was the first time I've ever had a cab ride before.

To the three drivers who kindly took me on board (Agnieska, Dean and Nicky) you are a credit to Scotrail and it was a pleasure!

Might just have to apply next time as a driver