Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

[Chris96]

Unfortunately if a trainee messes up and has an incident like a SPAD or overshoot it goes on the instructors licence, and it's them who get a corrective action plan, not the trainee. If a trainee won't listen or do as you ask you have very little control as a DI, it's not easy to jump across the cab and grab the brake.

thats mental,

can you not report them or refuse to continue their training if its continuous issues or dangerous driving ?

 

[scotraildriver]

thats mental,

can you not report them or refuse to continue their training if its continuous issues or dangerous driving ?

Yes you can. But for alot of guys it's been getting worse and it's just not worth the stress or hassle.

 

[marcy]

Yes you can. But for alot of guys it's been getting worse a d it's just not worth the stress or hassle.

I envy you having the option to step away from instructor / mentor duties

In my current job ( not train driving - tried to get in and failed) we have no choice but to take trainees, we are emailed a few weeks before that we have been allocated a trainee and that’s it , there is no option or choice in the matter. Sometimes we are allocated a trainee for 14 weeks, and sometimes they are interested and get involved , and sometimes they are not , it’s a very niche highly specialised area, which makes for a long 14 weeks. Again if the trainee does anything wrong it’s me as the mentor who takes the blame and can put my licence ( registration) on the line.

As much as it can be a rewarding experience to train someone up and pass on your knowledge, it can be draining at times over and above your usual duties. Very often as one trainee finishes you get allocated another one.

Would be nice to step away from the role but as I said it’s not a choice we have unfortunately, so yeah , I envy you being able to say no and step away from it.

Did you enjoy being an instructor at first ? Is it just you and the same trainee for the entire practical handling hours ?

 

[Chris96]

Yes you can. But for alot of guys it's been getting worse a d it's just not worth the stress or hassle.

no wonder depots are so short on DI’s

 

[scotraildriver]

I envy you having the option to step away from instructor / mentor duties

In my current job ( not train driving - tried to get in and failed) we have no choice but to take trainees, we are emailed a few weeks before that we have been allocated a trainee and that’s it , there is no option or choice in the matter. Sometimes we are allocated a trainee for 14 weeks, and sometimes they are interested and get involved , and sometimes they are not , it’s a very niche highly specialised area, which makes for a long 14 weeks. Again if the trainee does anything wrong it’s me as the mentor who takes the blame and can put my licence ( registration) on the line.

As much as it can be a rewarding experience to train someone up and pass on your knowledge, it can be draining at times over and above your usual duties. Very often as one trainee finishes you get allocated another one.

Would be nice to step away from the role but as I said it’s not a choice we have unfortunately, so yeah , I envy you being able to say no and step away from it.

Did you enjoy being an instructor at first ? Is it just you and the same trainee for the entire practical handling hours ?

I did very much enjoy it, it's deeply satisfying getting a brand new trainee right through to a qualified driver. And when I first started the vast majority had come from poorer paid jobs, were relatively young and very much appreciated the role and worked hard at it. You spend around 300 hours with your trainee and I've made some great friendships from some of them. But in recent years there's been a definite shift in attitude. We've had a lot of older ex police and military who are close to taking their pensions and see the job as a downgrade and a way to tide themselves over until they retire, and I've found these people difficult. They're not particularly interested and like to put you down telling you how great they were in their previous roles. Not everyone of course but I found it draining, and had a couple of close calls when they thought they knew better. I enjoy my job and don't generally find it stressful at all, but I found myself suffering quite severe anxiety about coming to work with some trainees hence why I quit.

 

[marcy]

I did very much enjoy it, it's deeply satisfying getting a brand new trainee right through to a qualified driver. And when I first started the vast majority had come from poorer paid jobs, were relatively young and very much appreciated the role and worked hard at it. You spend around 300 hours with your trainee and I've made some great friendships from some of them. But in recent years there's been a definite shift in attitude. We've had a lot of older ex police and military who are close to taking their pensions and see the job as a downgrade and a way to tide themselves over until they retire, and I've found these people difficult. They're not particularly interested and like to put you down telling you how great they were in their previous roles. Not everyone of course but I found it draining, and had a couple of close calls when they thought they knew better.

Very interesting that there has been a change in attitude in recent years. It’s not easy as you say having a trainee who’s not really interested.
If I got through I wouldn’t have been like that , I always respected those with greater experience than me and those teaching me how to do my job,

 

[gostin]

It’s just the 6 questions that will be discussed. The DMI will be more your standard interview “tell us about yourself”, “why do you want to be a train driver?” Etc

Dmi also has 5 competency based questions as well now

 

[landrover2025]

Hey those that sat the day 2 assessment recently which included the 6 questions.. can u remember the 6 questions? My husband for the life of him can't remember what they were? He has his mmi coming up in a few weeks Thank you..

Hi did anyone respond to you on this? I'm also looking for these questions

 

[DavidAtkin]

I did very much enjoy it, it's deeply satisfying getting a brand new trainee right through to a qualified driver. And when I first started the vast majority had come from poorer paid jobs, were relatively young and very much appreciated the role and worked hard at it. You spend around 300 hours with your trainee and I've made some great friendships from some of them. But in recent years there's been a definite shift in attitude. We've had a lot of older ex police and military who are close to taking their pensions and see the job as a downgrade and a way to tide themselves over until they retire, and I've found these people difficult. They're not particularly interested and like to put you down telling you how great they were in their previous roles. Not everyone of course but I found it draining, and had a couple of close calls when they thought they knew better. I enjoy my job and don't generally find it stressful at all, but I found myself suffering quite severe anxiety about coming to work with some trainees hence why I quit.

Bit sad, especially when you’re trying to pass on your knowledge & give them the best advice possible to help them.

Wouldn’t be me and won’t be me that’s for sure. I will be soaking up every piece of information & advice my DI gives me when I get teamed up with them.

 

[John Bishop]

Hi did anyone respond to you on this? I'm also looking for these questions

They are in this thread, have a look back over the last few pages and you will find them.

 

[Krisd88]

I did very much enjoy it, it's deeply satisfying getting a brand new trainee right through to a qualified driver. And when I first started the vast majority had come from poorer paid jobs, were relatively young and very much appreciated the role and worked hard at it. You spend around 300 hours with your trainee and I've made some great friendships from some of them. But in recent years there's been a definite shift in attitude. We've had a lot of older ex police and military who are close to taking their pensions and see the job as a downgrade and a way to tide themselves over until they retire, and I've found these people difficult. They're not particularly interested and like to put you down telling you how great they were in their previous roles. Not everyone of course but I found it draining, and had a couple of close calls when they thought they knew better. I enjoy my job and don't generally find it stressful at all, but I found myself suffering quite severe anxiety about coming to work with some trainees hence why I quit.

I agree with David Atkin - such a shame the people you were helping made you feel the way you did and ultimately take a step back from doing something you initially found rewarding.

For full transparency, I am currently in the Police and will be joining the job in the next couple of weeks. I wholeheartedly agree with your perception, with many of my former colleagues being exactly as you described: entitled, inflexible and strong in their belief that the 'job' owes them. A really strong factor in me wanting to make the switch.

I eagerly await my training, knowing full well I know nothing, and hope to get a DI that values the role as much as you clearly did!

Appreciate the feedback.

 

[KelvinM]

100% is internal trainee jobs available. My mate who’s a driver told me this the other day he got the email.

Nothing on the internal website

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Nov 2025 ==

There definitely is internal jobs , go on the internal vacancy list on your tablet and you will see them. Only for a select few depots

I stand corrected, apologies. Didn't realise there was a separate internal website.

 

[mbkid]

I did very much enjoy it, it's deeply satisfying getting a brand new trainee right through to a qualified driver. And when I first started the vast majority had come from poorer paid jobs, were relatively young and very much appreciated the role and worked hard at it. You spend around 300 hours with your trainee and I've made some great friendships from some of them. But in recent years there's been a definite shift in attitude. We've had a lot of older ex police and military who are close to taking their pensions and see the job as a downgrade and a way to tide themselves over until they retire, and I've found these people difficult. They're not particularly interested and like to put you down telling you how great they were in their previous roles. Not everyone of course but I found it draining, and had a couple of close calls when they thought they knew better. I enjoy my job and don't generally find it stressful at all, but I found myself suffering quite severe anxiety about coming to work with some trainees hence why I quit.

That’s maybe an indication the DMI stage isn’t rooting out characters like that?

I have been through the test process recently (unfortunately didn’t pass 2nd assessments) and it actually surprised me the older age of a lot of applicants.

I think a stat was given during one of my tests approximately 1/3 of drivers currently are over 50 so that’s what made the age of applicants even more surprising.

 

[glasgow2025]

Does anyone know the rough timescales for qualifying as a driver in the yoker depot?

 

[KelvinM]

I’ve had the feeling that is the main issue. I’m currently waiting for a medical having passed the interviews and testing. I fear I’m going to sit for a longer period that the April 2026 date I was told. Might be wrong though…

If the Scottish government are so desperate to change the working week to include Sundays, then they will surely just need to get their hands in their pockets and pay ScotRail the money to develop their infrastructure and also make being a DI more attractive I.e more money to offered for the responsibility of the role.

Are they wanting to implement the Sunday working for April 2026? Or is it more that they want to eventually move onto that?

Word is 2027 for Sunday to become part of the working week, but it will cost them a lot in salary increase to compensate for the loss of OT.

The issue about Driving Instructors, as has been already stated by another driver, is that drivers do not have to take trainees and as I am fairly early in my training I can also see why drivers are reluctant, as it is on them if the trainee messes up.

The railway is a rewarding job, but if you mess up, they can come down hard on you, you really do not want to have any operational incidents whatsoever.

So, it's all fair and well getting lots of us new starts in, but the issue will come up where they will have a lack of driving instructors, alot of older guys can't be bothered as they are near retirement and dont need or want the stress.

I also think some folk have the wrong attitudes these days, I personally haven't came across any trainees with such an attitude, but I have heard some horror stories.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Nov 2025 ==

Does anyone know the rough timescales for qualifying as a driver in the yoker depot?

As a new trainee driver, I'd say minimum of a year, before you will become newly qualified, but that's not a given, that's if you are picking your route knowledge up pretty well and get passed by your DTM. If not, it can take longer.

 

[scotraildriver]

Does anyone know the rough timescales for qualifying as a driver in the yoker depot?

Depends partly on DI availability but more on how quickly the individual picks things up, particularly route knowledge. No two people are the same.

 

[jackboy]

Hi all,I have my MMI in 3 weeks time, I know the 6 questions and have been preparing,I wondered if anyone could give me any more tips or info on what happens on the day or if its the 6 questions elaborated and questioned on only -thanks

 

[gostin]

Elaborate on your 6 questions, study the values as well and incorporate some of them best you can in your answers.
I had a couple of small situational questions as well.

 

[RM18]

Hi’ Im wondering if anyone knows the process with Scotrail if you have already passed the assessments and MMI with another TOC?
Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[DavidAtkin]

Good luck to everyone still going through the process.

I’m about to embark on my trainee journey after nearly 20 months since I put my application in. Lot’s of challenges ahead but looking forward to it.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

 

[ASL]

Good luck to everyone still going through the process.

I’m about to embark on my trainee journey after nearly 20 months since I put my application in. Lot’s of challenges ahead but looking forward to it.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

all the best with your new journey

 

[Tommy1414]

Any luck with getting feedback on the DMI? I was applying for the Bathgate depot but had the DMI at Waverley in September and failed it.

Does anyone have any idea how the DMI is scored? I actually came out of mine thinking I'd done ok. They skipped the last competency based question as they said I'd covered it in a previous answer. I'm thinking I took too long on previous answers and ran out of time.

same as me! i passed everything up to DMI and thought id done ok but didnt pass, did you get feedback? i have requested.

 

[LeeTaffT]

Good luck to everyone still going through the process.

I’m about to embark on my trainee journey after nearly 20 months since I put my application in. Lot’s of challenges ahead but looking forward to it.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

Pleased for you and the very best of luck.
It's a long slog. What a feeling that must be after all the time and assessments.

 

[OLECHRIS]

Passed my DMI a few weeks back for the yoker depot. Waiting for a medical to be booked in but I emailed the recruitment team and they said that they can’t give a timescale for when the medicals will be. Here’s hoping for one soon.

Congratulations on passing everything, do you have any advice for the dmi, what questions were asked etc? have read through pages on here but not seen info and have mine coming up, cheers

 

[LostSoul4Ever]

Does anyone know where they're up to on booking courses/start dates next year?

Have a DMI soon, but wondering if a short trip Stateside in June after Tuesday's exploits is entirely off the cards if successful…

At Assessment 2 they said they're into Q2 for courses now; but genuinely not sure if that's April-June (Q2 of the Calendar Year) or July-Sept (Q2 of the Financial Year).

 

[jundibundi]

At my MMI last week they mentioned it would be looking like courses would be starting up again in April at the earliest

 

[Chris96]

Does anyone know where they're up to on booking courses/start dates next year?

Have a DMI soon, but wondering if a short trip Stateside in June after Tuesday's exploits is entirely off the cards if successful…

At Assessment 2 they said they're into Q2 for courses now; but genuinely not sure if that's April-June (Q2 of the Calendar Year) or July-Sept (Q2 of the Financial Year).

So far trawling the forum seen a few people with January start dates… i passed my last assessment in October and got an email saying 26/27 courses are still being talked about by management, they don't know how long it will take and they will be in touch in due course… just a bit of a waiting game really

 

[afloattoast]

Those of yous that have passed your DMI (congrats btw!), did yous visit the depot beforehand?

I went before my MMI but there were no DTMs available so chatted to a new driver for an hour.

I have my DMI 2 weeks today and have been trying to contact the depot to arrange a visit but getting nowhere. I got all the DTMs email addresses and sent an email on Monday but no reply. I’ve tried the call centre but couldn’t give me a number. Even tried the WhatsApp chat who couldn’t give me a number but took my details and said they would pass it on to the station manager.

I work 8-5 Monday to Friday as a field based engineer but I am off next Monday to Wednesday so only real chance I’m going to get to go down.

Did anyone actually arrange a visit or just turn up?

 

[Chris96]

Those of yous that have passed your DMI (congrats btw!), did yous visit the depot beforehand?

I went before my MMI but there were no DTMs available so chatted to a new driver for an hour.

I have my DMI 2 weeks today and have been trying to contact the depot to arrange a visit but getting nowhere. I got all the DTMs email addresses and sent an email on Monday but no reply. I’ve tried the call centre but couldn’t give me a number. Even tried the WhatsApp chat who couldn’t give me a number but took my details and said they would pass it on to the station manager.

I work 8-5 Monday to Friday as a field based engineer but I am off next Monday to Wednesday so only real chance I’m going to get to go down.

Did anyone actually arrange a visit or just turn up?

Hi mate 100% get a depot visit in as they ask if you have done this, best bet if you cant get a hold of anyone is turn up and ask drivers that are going in and out, they are all brand new and will probably be able to help you arrange a visit

 

[KelvinM]

Does anyone know where they're up to on booking courses/start dates next year?

Have a DMI soon, but wondering if a short trip Stateside in June after Tuesday's exploits is entirely off the cards if successful…

At Assessment 2 they said they're into Q2 for courses now; but genuinely not sure if that's April-June (Q2 of the Calendar Year) or July-Sept (Q2 of the Financial Year).

Depot dependant. I'd say April/May 2026 and onwards.

However I am going to predict burn out with Driving Instructors and I think the mass recruitment could come back to bite the company in that respect. Hope I'm wrong, but I know a few were moaning already about the constant influx of new starts.