Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

[roadwarrior8]

Experian is the new way for them to do a disclosure check, don’t worry, it’s nothing to do with your credit file

I thought they ran a credit check for the driver role? I assume they don’t now

 

[rz8xy]

I thought they ran a credit check for the driver role? I assume they don’t now

Nah no way, my credit rating is poor, but I have no credit cards, or any debt, so would be pretty harsh

 

[Doonhamer96]

Do they charge you for it? They used to get you to pay for your own Disclosure and you were meant to get the money back once you started the job but no one I have spoken to ever got anything back.

Started in August and my entire class were under the impression you got the £25 back, 6 months later still waiting, suppose it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things lol

 

[afloattoast]

Do they charge you for it? They used to get you to pay for your own Disclosure and you were meant to get the money back once you started the job but no one I have spoken to ever got anything back.

No idea, I’m still in the talent bank, just know they don’t go through the Scottish Government to do the disclosure and that Experian do it now for them

 

[ASL]

Hey, whay do you mean providing access? What are they looking for with Experian? Cheers

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.

 

[kickin aff]

Back when I joined in 2023 I paid £25 for the disclosure and it was paid to me in my second payslip.

Likewise for me in 2019.

 

[KelvinM]

Yet you chose to throw in the Scottish Governmernt are to blame message. Load of nonsense.

No I chose to present facts.

Then a few I'll informed folk on this forum started sniping.

The Sunday working week has stalled, as they don't want to pay the money required to bring it into line with the working week.

That is a fact!!!

This is why they were also recruiting en masse, coupled with natural retirements. Hence why I believe the talent pool has been introduced.

They are now having to save money, as they have spent far too much, way more than what First and Abellio spent running the railway.

 

[CarineNoctua]

For anyone who has been through the medical, can you advise how long it takes to get your results back?

 

[Fat Pav]

For anyone who has been through the medical, can you advise how long it takes to get your results back?

How are you doing mate? Finally get yours done? When I went for my Guards one, you don’t get the results, you just get slotted into a training course and released from your current job.

 

[henke7]

No I chose to present facts.

Then a few I'll informed folk on this forum started sniping.

The Sunday working week has stalled, as they don't want to pay the money required to bring it into line with the working week.

That is a fact!!!

This is why they were also recruiting en masse, coupled with natural retirements. Hence why I believe the talent pool has been introduced.

They are now having to save money, as they have spent far too much, way more than what First and Abellio spent running the railway.

I’m in the training school this week and apparently it’s still being discussed, speaking to a few of the trainer’s.

 

[CarineNoctua]

How are you doing mate? Finally get yours done? When I went for my Guards one, you don’t get the results, you just get slotted into a training course and released from your current job.

Just left my medical within the last hour. Doc said I passed. Thought I’d be waiting another week. I already had a start date of June 22nd.

 

[mikeccccccc]

I’m in the training school this week and apparently it’s still being discussed, speaking to a few of the trainer’s.

That's some good news.

Let's just hope they do manage to add Sunday to the working week and also give more incentives to become a driver instructor to start taking on trainees who are stuck in the talent pool

 

[Fat Pav]

That's some good news.

Let's just hope they do manage to add Sunday to the working week and also give more incentives to become a driver instructor to start taking on trainees who are stuck in the talent pool

Sunday becoming part of the working week is a disaster all round. Do you work in the railway currently?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Apr 2026 ==

Just left my medical within the last hour. Doc said I passed. Thought I’d be waiting another week. I already had a start date of June 22nd.

Good stuff mate, hearing I’ll either have mines next week or have a date for it next week.

 

[mikeccccccc]

Sunday becoming part of the working week is a disaster all round. Do you work in the railway currently?

How so?

No not currently, waiting in the talent pool like many others hence why it would be good to get things moving for all those stuck in this position

 

[Fat Pav]

How so?

No not currently, waiting in the talent pool like many others hence why it would be good to get things moving for all those stuck in this position

Everything about it really.

Would mean a significant change in rostering/days off and how that would work. Would the shift pattern change to 4 on 4 off? When do you change from earlies to backs and vice versa. The significant impact that this will have in staff rest, fatigue etc.

How does it work with possession of the railway / planned engineering works if Scotrail want to run a full service?

Then there’s the financial cost to a public company. At the moment Sunday’s are overtime and paid as such. Staff are expected to work around 13 per year as per roster and are paid these over and above the wages (driver grade can take a lieu day in the bank instead of money) so this becoming contracted and part of the working week means that the OT element is lost? Therefore meaning that it would have to be bought from staff and financial compensation offered. Would cost millions per year, for all grades. Or is it still paid over and above and effectively still a big wage rise for staff.

If you were to implement Sunday into the working week then realistically you’re adding X amount of days and work onto an already overworked body of staff.

As far as I’m aware, the only union that is in support of this change is ASLEF, RMT are against this.

 

[turbodream92]

Alrighty!
Has anyone who is due to start at corkerhill depot, been told the start date?

 

[scotraildriver]

Everything about it really.

Would mean a significant change in rostering/days off and how that would work. Would the shift pattern change to 4 on 4 off? When do you change from earlies to backs and vice versa. The significant impact that this will have in staff rest, fatigue etc.

How does it work with possession of the railway / planned engineering works if Scotrail want to run a full service?

Then there’s the financial cost to a public company. At the moment Sunday’s are overtime and paid as such. Staff are expected to work around 13 per year as per roster and are paid these over and above the wages (driver grade can take a lieu day in the bank instead of money) so this becoming contracted and part of the working week means that the OT element is lost? Therefore meaning that it would have to be bought from staff and financial compensation offered. Would cost millions per year, for all grades. Or is it still paid over and above and effectively still a big wage rise for staff.

If you were to implement Sunday into the working week then realistically you’re adding X amount of days and work onto an already overworked body of staff.

As far as I’m aware, the only union that is in support of this change is ASLEF, RMT are against this.

It would work in exactly the same way as it works (successfully) at over half the TOCs in the UK. Replacing Sundays paid as overtime with a similar increase in base salary would have minimal costs and make the wage bill fully predictable. What would cost is additional days off in lieu of Sundays. It's not a new thing and I for one would love a roster like Avanti's. Ask your local rep to see examples of rosters. We've got ones from Wales,TPE and Avanti you can view to give you an idea. There have been no talks or offer from the Scottish Government since January one way or the other.

 

[garto123]

Has anybody who was placed in the talent bank progressed from this stage, or are we all still waiting?
It would be nice to hear of someone who has been called from the bank to a medical or even been given a date for the medical. Just some sort of hope.

 

[humandoodle]

Has anybody who was placed in the talent bank progressed from this stage, or are we all still waiting?
It would be nice to hear of someone who has been called from the bank to a medical or even been given a date for the medical. Just some sort of hope.

I applied in 2019, fell through the covid cracks and started again 2024. I got the TB email, then a follow up asking about location etc. a few weeks back.

Nothing since. Im waiting for Edinburgh, but hear they are over subscribed with trainee's still

 

[afloattoast]

Everything about it really.

Would mean a significant change in rostering/days off and how that would work. Would the shift pattern change to 4 on 4 off? When do you change from earlies to backs and vice versa. The significant impact that this will have in staff rest, fatigue etc.

How does it work with possession of the railway / planned engineering works if Scotrail want to run a full service?

Then there’s the financial cost to a public company. At the moment Sunday’s are overtime and paid as such. Staff are expected to work around 13 per year as per roster and are paid these over and above the wages (driver grade can take a lieu day in the bank instead of money) so this becoming contracted and part of the working week means that the OT element is lost? Therefore meaning that it would have to be bought from staff and financial compensation offered. Would cost millions per year, for all grades. Or is it still paid over and above and effectively still a big wage rise for staff.

If you were to implement Sunday into the working week then realistically you’re adding X amount of days and work onto an already overworked body of staff.

As far as I’m aware, the only union that is in support of this change is ASLEF, RMT are against this.

It’s very well saying all this when you’re now in a position to be about to start your trainee drivers job, bet you wouldn’t feel the same if you were still waiting though.

You’ve mentioned “adding X amount of days and work onto an already overworked body of staff” this is the exact reason that Scotrail have had a massive recruitment drive for trainee train drivers. They have also had recruitment drives for other nonessential driving positions and they certainly will do again if the Sunday working day becomes implemented.

Whilst I completely accept you’ve viewpoint, I’d rather listen to @scotraildriver view as they are an existing driver who can give an honest viewpoint of how it will affect drivers

 

[henke7]

It’s very well saying all this when you’re now in a position to be about to start your trainee drivers job, bet you wouldn’t feel the same if you were still waiting though.

You’ve mentioned “adding X amount of days and work onto an already overworked body of staff” this is the exact reason that Scotrail have had a massive recruitment drive for trainee train drivers. They have also had recruitment drives for other nonessential driving positions and they certainly will do again if the Sunday working day becomes implemented.

Whilst I completely accept you’ve viewpoint, I’d rather listen to @scotraildriver view as they are an existing driver who can give an honest viewpoint of how it will affect drivers

All due respect drivers don’t care about people waiting to start training.

It’s all a moot point unless it’s voted through anyway.

I know a lot at my depot who are outright against Sunday being brought into the working week. They’re scared of losing their long weekends and losing their extra lieu days etc.

Personally I would vote for in favour of it , potential better rostering could get rid of the 7 days on, wage increase that would contribute to pensions etc.

 

[afloattoast]

All due respect drivers don’t care about people waiting to start training.

It’s all a moot point unless it’s voted through anyway.

I know a lot at my depot who are outright against Sunday being brought into the working week. They’re scared of losing their long weekends and losing their extra lieu days etc.

Personally I would vote for in favour of it , potential better rostering could get rid of the 7 days on, wage increase that would contribute to pensions etc.

I tend to agree with the drivers not caring about people waiting to start (something I never implied), but doubt all would? Especially those who feel they are being overstretched, surely more drivers starting would ease that? Not as if we are waiting to take their jobs.

There will always be people for and against it, same at my work currently, we are contractors and don’t get sickpay. We were offered either a wage increase or sickpay and the majority went for the wage increase. Too many people can’t see past the £ sign, the increase won’t help them when they are off work unpaid for a month or worse. I’m sure the same people who are scared of losing their long weekends are also the same that moan about the run of 7 working days around it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Apr 2026 ==

Anyone have any idea around the 6 monthly contact when you’re in the talent bank? Had a thought last night, is it 6 monthly from when you go into the talent bank, or 6 monthly from when you’ve passed all assessments (as it’s based on 2 years from when you passed)? Don’t really see any point in emailing recruitment as they don’t appear to have replied to the many of us who emailed last month when this all happened

 

[ATG01]

Everything is based upon when we received the email so our 2 years in the bank all started at the same time

 

[afloattoast]

Everything is based upon when we received the email so our 2 years in the bank all started at the same time

That’s good to know!

 

[ChernoSamba]

Everything is based upon when we received the email so our 2 years in the bank all started at the same time

I’m still unclear on the wording from the talent bank email.

Do we reckon it means you’ll be held in the talent bank for a maximum of 2 years after which you’ll be wiped from the process if a position hasn’t become available.

Or does it mean you’ll be held in the talent bank for a maximum of 2 years as a position will definitely become available within that 2 years?

 

[William94]

I’m still unclear on the wording from the talent bank email.

Do we reckon it means you’ll be held in the talent bank for a maximum of 2 years after which you’ll be wiped from the process if a position hasn’t become available.

Or does it mean you’ll be held in the talent bank for a maximum of 2 years as a position will definitely become available within that 2 years?

I understood it as if theres not a position that becomes available within the two years then my application will be removed.

I hope im wrong though, as after a process this long, that would be gutting.

 

[ATG01]

Yeah I would have thought it is the end of an application if a vacancy hasn't become available for us within the two years. I think the purpose of talent banks are so they have quick access to applicants if/when vacancies arise but there is no guarantees!

 

[scotraildriver]

Everything about it really.

Would mean a significant change in rostering/days off and how that would work. Would the shift pattern change to 4 on 4 off? When do you change from earlies to backs and vice versa. The significant impact that this will have in staff rest, fatigue etc.

How does it work with possession of the railway / planned engineering works if Scotrail want to run a full service?

Then there’s the financial cost to a public company. At the moment Sunday’s are overtime and paid as such. Staff are expected to work around 13 per year as per roster and are paid these over and above the wages (driver grade can take a lieu day in the bank instead of money) so this becoming contracted and part of the working week means that the OT element is lost? Therefore meaning that it would have to be bought from staff and financial compensation offered. Would cost millions per year, for all grades. Or is it still paid over and above and effectively still a big wage rise for staff.

If you were to implement Sunday into the working week then realistically you’re adding X amount of days and work onto an already overworked body of staff.

As far as I’m aware, the only union that is in support of this change is ASLEF, RMT are against this.

No it won't ever be 4 on 4 off as that's not enough shifts in a year. Whilst long weekends wouldn't be as regular as currently you could get 8 or more days off consecutively every 5 weeks. (From other TOC rosters). That would be extremely attractive to anyone with kids as they're guaranteed at least a week off in the summer holidays no matter where your holiday blocks lie. It's also extremely attractive to anyone nearing retirement as it will significantly increase the pension. We'll just need to wait and see if the Scottish Government make a reasonable offer, unfortunately I don't think they can now until after the election.

 

[KelvinM]

I’m in the training school this week and apparently it’s still being discussed, speaking to a few of the trainer’s.

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.

 

[LoogaBarooga]

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