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Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

marcy

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2024
Messages
77
Location
glasgow
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.
Can relate to that in my line of work . Constant new starts , constant students. Along with your main duties it does burn you out
 
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eumcg

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2025
Messages
26
Location
glasgow
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
Definitely visit your depot. I seen someone say they have tried phoning/emailing. I went to yoker depot at 6am one morining and went to the office and asked for a number. My visit with the DTM was invaluable as they gave me loads of information to prepare my interview. One of my interviewers for the DMI was the one who took my visit a few weeks prior.
 

RiverDon

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11 Mar 2024
Messages
297
Location
UK
I noticed this week that notices have gone up in various depots looking for more Driving Instructors. Don't know 100% whether that means they will be opening up external driver recruitment again soon but it potentially could be a positive sign.
 

jackboy

Member
Joined
23 Sep 2025
Messages
31
Location
Irvine
Hi all,thanks for your help with various questions of mine up to now I have a few more random questions with my MMI looming in ten days time,happy for anyone to reply here or DM me if preferred;
Are there many supplementary questions or mostly concentrated on your 6 examples and should any extra questions you're asked be answered using STAR or answered naturally?
Do they ever ask for another example for any of the 6 questions?
Are there particular buzzwords they look for or are they just looking for your examples to match up with their values and the abilities they expect from a driver?
Should your answer to the examples be fairly brief or detailed and long winded( like this post)

Thanks in advance for any info
 

KelvinM

Member
Joined
5 May 2024
Messages
35
Can relate to that in my line of work . Constant new starts , constant students. Along with your main duties it does burn you out
I had it in the police, it was constant and you end up not giving it your all.

I hope it doesn't happen, but I can see it happening if I'm honest, I am usually a good judge of situations.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I noticed this week that notices have gone up in various depots looking for more Driving Instructors. Don't know 100% whether that means they will be opening up external driver recruitment again soon but it potentially could be a positive sign.
I'd say they are just struggling in general to deal with the influx of trainees that they currently have.

They can get them through the school, but the issue is depots. Not enough Driving Instructors and I don't think folk are that interested for the extra 3/4k a year, when you can easily make that with RDW.
 

OLECHRIS

Member
Joined
13 Oct 2025
Messages
7
Location
Clydebank
Definitely visit your depot. I seen someone say they have tried phoning/emailing. I went to yoker depot at 6am one morining and went to the office and asked for a number. My visit with the DTM was invaluable as they gave me loads of information to prepare my interview. One of my interviewers for the DMI was the one who took my visit a few weeks prior.
Nice one cheers, i've got a visit planned tomorrow
Definitely visit your depot. I seen someone say they have tried phoning/emailing. I went to yoker depot at 6am one morining and went to the office and asked for a number. My visit with the DTM was invaluable as they gave me loads of information to prepare my interview. One of my interviewers for the DMI was the one who took my visit a few weeks prior.
 

afloattoast

Member
Joined
17 Apr 2024
Messages
88
Location
Ayrshire
Hi all,thanks for your help with various questions of mine up to now I have a few more random questions with my MMI looming in ten days time,happy for anyone to reply here or DM me if preferred;
Are there many supplementary questions or mostly concentrated on your 6 examples and should any extra questions you're asked be answered using STAR or answered naturally?
Do they ever ask for another example for any of the 6 questions?
Are there particular buzzwords they look for or are they just looking for your examples to match up with their values and the abilities they expect from a driver?
Should your answer to the examples be fairly brief or detailed and long winded( like this post)

Thanks in advance for any info

Any questions will be related to your examples, I only got asked 1 or 2 questions for each of mine, mainly “how did you feel?” And “was anyone else involved?”

I never got asked for another example, and I doubt you would unless your example doesn’t really fit the question.

I would suggest keeping your answers to between 3 and 5 minutes, using the star method should take about that time anyway. Focus on safety in your answers, as well as concentration and being in control.

I had written long answers out with plenty of details linking my answer to Scotrails values, but on the day I couldn’t remember most of it lol still met the standard.

Try and be as relaxed as possible, it’s not as intense as you think it will be! All in you’ll be in for about an hour, maybe slightly less or maybe slightly more but thereabouts.

Good luck!
 

Hales80

Member
Joined
29 Dec 2018
Messages
21
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.
Well done thats amazing. Where u going? My hubby has his depot interview at Ayr on 18th Dec.. final interview . Would be a great xmas peesent xx
 

Ducaticam

Member
Joined
1 Feb 2025
Messages
32
Location
Inverclyde
Any questions will be related to your examples, I only got asked 1 or 2 questions for each of mine, mainly “how did you feel?” And “was anyone else involved?”

I never got asked for another example, and I doubt you would unless your example doesn’t really fit the question.

I would suggest keeping your answers to between 3 and 5 minutes, using the star method should take about that time anyway. Focus on safety in your answers, as well as concentration and being in control.

I had written long answers out with plenty of details linking my answer to Scotrails values, but on the day I couldn’t remember most of it lol still met the standard.

Try and be as relaxed as possible, it’s not as intense as you think it will be! All in you’ll be in for about an hour, maybe slightly less or maybe slightly more but thereabouts.

Good luck!
Thanks for this! I have my MMI on Thursday and really nervous. Slightly relieved to know that it might not be too intense as I doubt I'll remember half what I have written down either.

Good luck to everyone else that's got theirs coming up.
 

Chris96

Member
Joined
2 Jul 2025
Messages
36
Location
glasgow
Thanks for this! I have my MMI on Thursday and really nervous. Slightly relieved to know that it might not be too intense as I doubt I'll remember half what I have written down either.

Good luck to everyone else that's got theirs coming up.
best of luck mate try not to make it sound too rehearsed i never wrote mine down as it was from personal experience they ask questions

how did this make you feel

how did you do that

how would X scenario make you feel

im sure their looking for key words they will drag answers out of you if need be their so brand new and in my opinion it was a relaxed enviroment

any questions drop me a message
 

RiverDon

On Moderation
Joined
11 Mar 2024
Messages
297
Location
UK
im sure their looking for key words they will drag answers out of you if need be their so brand new and in my opinion it was a relaxed enviroment
My first MMI the first time I applied was humiliating and a horrible experience. The second time was totally different but I have read posts from folk on here who have had similar experiences to my first one. It's definitely not always relaxed!
 

marcy

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2024
Messages
77
Location
glasgow
My first MMI the first time I applied was humiliating and a horrible experience. The second time was totally different but I have read posts from folk on here who have had similar experiences to my first one. It's definitely not always relaxed!
Second this !! Mines was not relaxed at all, very intense and pressurised and in for well over an hour , I’m not afraid to admit I’m a bit envious of candidates who have an unpressured and relaxed MMI experience. I think it all depends on the lottery of what interviewer you happen to get. I was told by others not to worry too much about the mmi, that they were told it’s just a formality. The other 2 candidates beside me had a very different experience from me and they passed. I failed mine a year ago and it still bothers me !
 
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Pintman

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Joined
13 Dec 2023
Messages
190
Location
The Pub
Whoever is telling them it's "just a formality" is misleading them, why would they bother with it if it's not necessary?
 

John Bishop

Member
Joined
15 Nov 2018
Messages
653
Location
Perth
Whoever is telling them it's "just a formality" is misleading them, why would they bother with it if it's not necessary?

Indeed! Some of the stuff I read on here at times is quite bizarre. The MMI is just as important as any of the other aspects of the recruitment process. As long as you have prepared your answers and they are all genuine experiences then nobody should be worried about what’s asked of them and of those experiences.
 

scottgl

Member
Joined
11 Apr 2025
Messages
33
Location
Glasgow
Last Tuesday mate. Good luck. How did you think it went?
Feel like it didn't go too bad, but also feel like I could have done better haha, It's the waiting after that really gets me!

congratulations on passing it, was that your last stage?

(just seen you only have your medical now so I guess it was, nice one!)
 

marcy

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2024
Messages
77
Location
glasgow
Whoever is telling them it's "just a formality" is misleading them, why would they bother with it if it's not necessary?
That’s what my ex colleague was told , after passing the computer assessments she was told the job was hers and not too worry ‘ this is just a formality ‘ I totally agree candidates shouldn’t be told this as the MMI is by far the most difficult part of the process imo
 

Ducaticam

Member
Joined
1 Feb 2025
Messages
32
Location
Inverclyde
I had my MMI this morning, I was n the waiting area with another candidate that said surely it was just a formality. I wasn't told this at any stage so I don't know why people would seem complacent with the MMI, especially after going through all the other assessments and DMI spending months and months waiting and worrying and taking time off of work.

I did however have a reasonably relaxed interview which was down to the interviewer and their style of asking questions. I feel that I could have done a little better, but I'm proud to have challenged myself and put myself outside of my comfort zone and made it this far in the process. A 7 day wait now.

Good luck to anyone still going through the process!
 

henke7

Member
Joined
13 Sep 2018
Messages
232
As much as this forum is amazing and it certainly helped me achieve my position as a trainee driver. I would never under prepare for an interview regardless of what anyone tells me. This is the crux of having too much information, if there is not any sources of information about the mmi available I’d imagine everyone would be prepared for an interview the traditional way.
 
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eumcg

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2025
Messages
26
Location
glasgow
Second this !! Mines was not relaxed at all, very intense and pressurised and in for well over an hour , I’m not afraid to admit I’m a bit envious of candidates who have an unpressured and relaxed MMI experience. I think it all depends on the lottery of what interviewer you happen to get. I was told by others not to worry too much about the mmi, that they were told it’s just a formality. The other 2 candidates beside me had a very different experience from me and they passed. I failed mine a year ago and it still bothers me !
I mean 3000 people applied back in march for a job that could set you up for life. If you were to think any stage of the recruitment process is a formality or easy then you’ve got 2,999 people at an advantage. I believe you can be relaxed and not feel the pressure if you have prepared fully and fully appreciate the expectations of the process, not doing that is no fault of the interviewer.
 

marcy

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2024
Messages
77
Location
glasgow
I mean 3000 people applied back in march for a job that could set you up for life. If you were to think any stage of the recruitment process is a formality or easy then you’ve got 2,999 people at an advantage. I believe you can be relaxed and not feel the pressure if you have prepared fully and fully appreciate the expectations of the process, not doing that is no fault of the interviewer.
I agree yes , and I fully prepared for the process , passing 1st stage , DMI and the 2nd stage computer assessments , and I gave the MMI everything!
Unfortunately in the absence of feedback there is no way of knowing where I went wrong
 

Chris96

Member
Joined
2 Jul 2025
Messages
36
Location
glasgow
I mean 3000 people applied back in march for a job that could set you up for life. If you were to think any stage of the recruitment process is a formality or easy then you’ve got 2,999 people at an advantage. I believe you can be relaxed and not feel the pressure if you have prepared fully and fully appreciate the expectations of the process, not doing that is no fault of the interviewer.
As much as this forum is amazing and it certainly helped me achieve my position as a trainee driver. I would never under prepare for an interview regardless of what anyone tells me. This is the crux of having too much information, if there is not any sources of information about the mmi available I’d imagine everyone would be prepared for an interview the traditional way.

I agree as much as the forum is amazing for help, experience and any information i think it can be misleading.

I fully agree an interview is an interview at the end of the day and i get everyone has different experiences be it relaxed or intense.

I’m lucky enough to have made a few friends on the forum who have been invaluable on bouncing off eachother for all parts of the assessments like sharing information or experiences and im more than happy to talk to anyone who needs it but at the end of the day every part of the testing process is there for a reason from the application to DMI / MMI.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I agree yes , and I fully prepared for the process , passing 1st stage , DMI and the 2nd stage computer assessments , and I gave the MMI everything!
Unfortunately in the absence of feedback there is no way of knowing where I went wrong
is there no way you can contact them for feedback or are you getting the due to the high volume of applications talk
 

seeitsoon

Member
Joined
2 Sep 2025
Messages
16
Location
Edinburgh
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).
I was in for MMI this week and they said 25/26 training was full and that successful applicants would now be looking at 26/27 training. So I’m taking that as H2 26 and H1 27 for a training date
 

RiverDon

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Joined
11 Mar 2024
Messages
297
Location
UK
is there no way you can contact them for feedback or are you getting the due to the high volume of applications talk
They don't give feedback for the MMI. They will for the DMI but not for the MMI.
 

eumcg

Member
Joined
30 Jul 2025
Messages
26
Location
glasgow
I agree yes , and I fully prepared for the process , passing 1st stage , DMI and the 2nd stage computer assessments , and I gave the MMI everything!
Unfortunately in the absence of feedback there is no way of knowing where I went wrong
That’s really unfortunate to have passed everything apart from MMI. I don’t know why they would get you in for a DMI pass you and then fail you at MMI. I have no doubt you prepared the best you could.
 

marcy

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2024
Messages
77
Location
glasgow
I agree as much as the forum is amazing for help, experience and any information i think it can be misleading.

I fully agree an interview is an interview at the end of the day and i get everyone has different experiences be it relaxed or intense.

I’m lucky enough to have made a few friends on the forum who have been invaluable on bouncing off eachother for all parts of the assessments like sharing information or experiences and im more than happy to talk to anyone who needs it but at the end of the day every part of the testing process is there for a reason from the application to DMI / MMI.

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is there no way you can contact them for feedback or are you getting the due to the high volume of applications talk
I have written to them and they have got back to me just saying that I didn’t meet the standard, they have to abide by rssb regulations not to give feedback

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

mental considering everything gets wrote down word for word
Yep pages of info I saw getting written down

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

That’s really unfortunate to have passed everything apart from MMI. I don’t know why they would get you in for a DMI pass you and then fail you at MMI. I have no doubt you prepared the best you could.
Yeah it still bothers me to this day ( as you can probably tell )
 

RiverDon

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11 Mar 2024
Messages
297
Location
UK
The MMI is pretty wild, the difference between the one I failed and the one I passed in terms of pressure and attitude from the interviewer was night and day. I'm glad I'll never have to do it again. I can't believe they get away with having a one to one interview that makes the final difference between you getting the job or not, without any corroboration or recording. They could write anything down and you would never know because you aren't allowed to see/sign the notes and their policy is not to give feedback!
 

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