Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)

[eumcg]

Anyone got an email/call for Yoker depot? I have not received anything as of yet. Passed all testing in Oct 25

 

[scottgl]

Anyone got an email/call for Yoker depot? I have not received anything as of yet. Passed all testing in Oct 25

Seems like all the Glasgow ones haven’t heard anything yet. My guess/hope is that they’ll have us all starting on the same intake, and that’s why we haven’t had any contact yet.

 

[wil2ga]

Starting course on the 18th May. Based out Central Station/Corkerhill, 2 days induction on the 14th m/15th.

Any others on this?

Hopefully everyone else starts to hear soon, long process but they seem to be getting on the ball.

 

[scottgl]

Starting course on the 18th May. Based out Central Station/Corkerhill, 2 days induction on the 14th m/15th.

Any others on this?

Hopefully everyone else starts to hear soon, long process but they seem to be getting on the ball.

When did you hear about your start date/get a medical?

 

[KCIRTAP]

Has anyone waiting on Airdrie depot heard anything? Passed the DMI in December and just waiting on medical etc.

 

[William94]

Has anyone waiting on Airdrie depot heard anything? Passed the DMI in December and just waiting on medical etc.

Waiting for airdrie depot too, so is someone I know.

Both not heard a thing yet and both passed Nov/Dec.

 

[wil2ga]

When did you hear about your start date/get a medical?

Medical completed about 2 weeks ago.

Heard mid February about potential start date and medical, after background checks etc were completed

Contract and paperwork all through this week

 

[SL2008]

Medical completed about 2 weeks ago.

Heard mid February about potential start date and medical, after background checks etc were completed

Contract and paperwork all through this week

When did you pass your last stage?

 

[wil2ga]

When did you pass your last stage?

Last stage was late April last year, found out I had passed this at start of May

 

[LostSoul4Ever]

Waiting for airdrie depot too, so is someone I know.

Both not heard a thing yet and both passed Nov/Dec.

Also waiting on Airdrie. Last assessment (DMI) was a couple weeks before Christmas.

 

[mikeccccccc]

Anyone else just get an email to confirm their ongoing interest?

 

[ontrackforit]

Anyone else just get an email to confirm their ongoing interest?

Yes mate, passed November. Glasgow.

 

[seeitsoon]

Anyone else just get an email to confirm their ongoing interest?

Yup Edinburgh passed end of November

 

[stucol123]

Anyone else just get an email to confirm their ongoing interest?

Is this the email that was meant to be sent 6 monthly after being placed in the talent bank to confirm interest in position?

 

[ontrackforit]

Is this the email that was meant to be sent 6 monthly after being placed in the talent bank to confirm interest in position?

The fact that’s it’s 6 weeks instead of 6 months would suggest not, but the way everything’s gone so far wouldn’t be surprised if it’s every 6 days, weeks months or years mate.

 

[afloattoast]

I’ve not received the email, I passed last stage middle of December. The talent bank email said 6 monthly from completing final assessment, not from the date of the talent bank email

 

[ontrackforit]

I’ve not received the email, I passed last stage middle of December. The talent bank email said 6 monthly from completing final assessment, not from the date of the talent bank email

Just says in contact every 6 months nothing about from date you passed. I was 2nd of November, so unsure. Still 5 months from then not 6. Hopefully good news.

 

[afloattoast]

Just says in contact every 6 months nothing about from date you passed. I was 2nd of November, so unsure. Still 5 months from then not 6. Hopefully good news.

Sorry you’re right, but it does say:

At this stage, we will now be placing you into our Talent Bank for future Trainee Train Driver opportunities for a maximum of 2 years from the date of successfully completing our recruitment process

If the talent bank runs from when you completed everything, it makes sense that the emails will be every 6 months from that date as well

 

[Pobflossy]

Yes mate, passed November. Glasgow.

Yes, me too. Passed in November. Communication at least!

 

[garto123]

I passed in late November, and I am hopefully going to Yoker. I have no email from them other than my job alert emails, I still subscribe to. I did get an email asking if I still wanted to be updated on them.

 

[OLECHRIS]

I passed in late November, and I am hopefully going to Yoker. I have no email from them other than my job alert emails, I still subscribe to. I did get an email asking if I still wanted to be updated on them.

Passed in december was told yoker april/may if successful
Only had the talent bank email so far at beginning of march

 

[garto123]

Passed in december was told yoker april/may if successful
Only had the talent bank email so far at beginning of march

That's the same as me, I had my interview on the 27th December, and I wasn't flat out told April, but it was very much hinted at

 

[lineman]

On the uniform order sheet, it gives the option of long or short sleeve shirts. Can anyone who has started recently let me know if these are formal shirts or polos?

 

[kickin aff]

You have the choice of all 3. Long or short sleeve shirts or, which I more common nowadays, polo shirts.

Stipulated which which one you want.

 

[officewalla]

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 ==


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

Why is Sunday in the working week (appropriately compensated for) a disaster all round. In a customer service industry this is good and when do so many leisure passengers travel? They need a regular reliable service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Apr 2026 ==

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.

Didn't see this before I posted a question but all of your points fail to stand up to scrutiny. Overtime on Sundays costs £millions so no change. The working week will still be 4 days and 35 hours so no change. NR will need to plan work for quieter nights and days; Sunday night through Monday perhaps? Plenty of ToCs operate a Sundays included roster so not exactly untested rostering arrangements. And finally you can hardly claim that railway staff are overworked. That one did make me laugh out loud.

 

[postie156]

It’s really interesting to hear about the pros and cons of Sundays being taken into the working week. But does anyone know if it will actually affect us as trainee drivers? My understanding is that we won’t be allowed to do overtime for the first few years until qualified so Sundays will be non-working anyway. Then by the time we qualify I’m sure they should have ironed this all out (or maybe not!!)

 

[afloattoast]

It’s really interesting to hear about the pros and cons of Sundays being taken into the working week. But does anyone know if it will actually affect us as trainee drivers? My understanding is that we won’t be allowed to do overtime for the first few years until qualified so Sundays will be non-working anyway. Then by the time we qualify I’m sure they should have ironed this all out (or maybe not!!)

But IF Sundays are no longer classed as overtime you’ll be working them, trainee or not as it will just be a normal working day

 

[KelvinM]

Why is Sunday in the working week (appropriately compensated for) a disaster all round. In a customer service industry this is good and when do so many leisure passengers travel? They need a regular reliable service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Apr 2026 ==


Didn't see this before I posted a question but all of your points fail to stand up to scrutiny. Overtime on Sundays costs £millions so no change. The working week will still be 4 days and 35 hours so no change. NR will need to plan work for quieter nights and days; Sunday night through Monday perhaps? Plenty of ToCs operate a Sundays included roster so not exactly untested rostering arrangements. And finally you can hardly claim that railway staff are overworked. That one did make me laugh out loud.

It would cost more, as they would require to give every member of ScotRail an uplift of at least 10-15% of their annual salary.

Whereas overtime, there are less people working, hence why it is financially cheaper to pay OT.

Then to include Sunday, they require to hire more staff, which incurs further costs, wages, pension contributions, NI contributions.

It's not a simple solution.

ScotRail also covers a full country, most TOCs down south cover smaller areas, there is that to factor in.

Are you in the railway currently? Or are you looking to join?

Your comment about railway staff being overworked making you laugh out loud is pretty condescending, I was in the police for 12 years and I can tell you, a day driving trains is mentally tougher than a thing I done in the police. I worked the North of Glasgow into the bargain!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Apr 2026 ==

It’s really interesting to hear about the pros and cons of Sundays being taken into the working week. But does anyone know if it will actually affect us as trainee drivers? My understanding is that we won’t be allowed to do overtime for the first few years until qualified so Sundays will be non-working anyway. Then by the time we qualify I’m sure they should have ironed this all out (or maybe not!!)

It will affect you as a qualified driver. Don't be so short sighted

 

[RiverDon]

On the uniform order sheet, it gives the option of long or short sleeve shirts. Can anyone who has started recently let me know if these are formal shirts or polos?

The form is old and only refers to button up shirts. If you want polos then just add it into the body of the email.

It’s really interesting to hear about the pros and cons of Sundays being taken into the working week. But does anyone know if it will actually affect us as trainee drivers? My understanding is that we won’t be allowed to do overtime for the first few years until qualified so Sundays will be non-working anyway. Then by the time we qualify I’m sure they should have ironed this all out (or maybe not!!)

Some depots let their trainees work a few Sundays before they're verified, it can help if there are unusual stopping patterns or moves or stations you only do on a Sunday. In that case you don't get the Sunday payment but you just take a different day off in lieu during the week. As soon as you pass out you'll be eligible for booked and ad hoc Sundays from the day you pick up your license. But as per the reply above once they are part of the working week, they're no longer overtime and trainees will work them like any other day!

 

[kickin aff]

I'm 7 years a driver and I'm for it. Sundays as part of the working week is pensionable where as OT is not.