Southeastern - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[forgetmyname69]

How long has everyone waited for a DMI? Initially applied sept 24, done all assessments and MMI however still waiting nearly a year on for a DMI. Assume it's all depo to depo recruitment needs.

 

[NeoNeko]

How long has everyone waited for a DMI? Initially applied sept 24, done all assessments and MMI however still waiting nearly a year on for a DMI. Assume it's all depo to depo recruitment needs.

I applied for Dartford, and had my DMI 3 weeks after my MMI. Which depot have you applied for? Some people have had some luck by chasing up the recruitment team, but I don't know if you've already spoken to them.

 

[forgetmyname69]

I applied for Dartford, and had my DMI 3 weeks after my MMI. Which depot have you applied for? Some people have had some luck by chasing up the recruitment team, but I don't know if you've already spoken to them.

I applied for Hastings. Have chased them a few times just a waiting game i guess.

 

[newbiewannabe]

July this year? I'm still waiting from July last year

Same here…. June last year! I emailed them and they said I’d be prioritised over new applicants…… clearly not.

 

[CFRAIL]

July this year? I'm still waiting from July last year

Snap

 

[NCDA79]

Hello, new to the forum.
I have applied for the Grove Park position and just completed the Arctic Shores assessment which was tough. Just wondering if anyone knows how long it takes to hear back if you have been successful or not? And where on the scale they want you to be? For the first part I was second from the left (on the four dot scale) and for the next two sections I was the final dot on the right. Is this good???
Thanks

 

[jjjjjjonny]

Hello, new to the forum.
I have applied for the Grove Park position and just completed the Arctic Shores assessment which was tough. Just wondering if anyone knows how long it takes to hear back if you have been successful or not? And where on the scale they want you to be? For the first part I was second from the left (on the four dot scale) and for the next two sections I was the final dot on the right. Is this good???
Thanks

I heard back with an invite to an assessment day about 30 minutes after finishing the assessment but YMMV. I was 3/4 then 4/4 then 2/4 on the dot scales, not sure exactly what that means though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jul 2025 ==

I guess this is an impossible question but does anybody know roughly what percentage of people are expected to pass an assessment day? And would the next step be a formal interview?

 

[NeoNeko]

I guess this is an impossible question but does anybody know roughly what percentage of people are expected to pass an assessment day? And would the next step be a formal interview?

I know that when I applied in September of last year, they had 15,000 applicants, and the initial application and M7SJT whittled that down to 5000. We had 16 people at our assessment day, and 6 got through, but at the DMI, they said that was massive and you'd normally expect a couple to pass everything. So maybe around 1000 or will get through to the MMI, which is the next stage after the assessments, and the DMI is the final stage after everything else.

 

[jjjjjjonny]

I know that when I applied, they had 15,000 applicants, and the initial application and M7SJT whittled that down to 5000. We had 16 people at our assessment day, and 6 got through, but at the DMI, they said that was massive and you'd normally expect a couple to pass everything. So maybe around 1000 or will get through to the MMI, which is the next stage after the assessments, and the DMI is the final stage after everything else.

So not many then! I've actually funnily enough just been offered a different job on the railway so if I don't pass the assessment I won't be too gutted, think it'll be good practice.

 

[NCDA79]

I heard back with an invite to an assessment day about 30 minutes after finishing the assessment but YMMV. I was 3/4 then 4/4 then 2/4 on the dot scales, not sure exactly what that means though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jul 2025 ==

I guess this is an impossible question but does anybody know roughly what percentage of people are expected to pass an assessment day? And would the next step be a formal interview?

Thank you. That’s really interesting. So not hearing anything for 24 hours isn’t a great sign then?

 

[NeoNeko]

Thank you. That’s really interesting. So not hearing anything for 24 hours isn’t a great sign then?

When I applied in September, it was the M7SJT rather than Arctic Shores, but I think I heard back within a couple of days. I'm 99% certain they will let you know either way rather than just leaving you hanging.

 

[NCDA79]

When I applied, it was the M7SJT rather than Arctic Shores, but I think I heard back within a couple of days. I'm 99% certain they will let you know either way rather than just leaving you hanging.

That’s good then, maybe they are just swamped. Did you apply recently?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

Just got an invite to the assessment. Phew!

 

[captainmorgan]

how did you find out the number of applicants? Was it published somewhere?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

That’s good then, maybe they are just swamped. Did you apply recently?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

Just got an invite to the assessment. Phew!

Did you get the invite today? I am still waiting for one.

 

[NCDA79]

how did you find out the number of applicants? Was it published somewhere?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==


Did you get the invite today? I am still waiting for one.

Yes I did the Arctic Shores test yesterday morning and heard back today.

 

[NeoNeko]

how did you find out the number of applicants? Was it published somewhere?

After I passed the M7SJT, the email I received specified the number of applicants, mainly because they were asking everyone to be patient while waiting for an assessment date.

 

[captainmorgan]

Yes I did the Arctic Shores test yesterday morning and heard back today.

Nice. Congratulations on making it through to the next stage. Were you able to select a date for the assessment? I received an email inviting me to book a date to attend the assessment centre last week, but by the time I checked work commitments, etc the dates were all gone. I’m now waiting for further dates to be released. I’m filled with a lot of regret that I didn’t book a date there and then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

After I passed the M7SJT, the email I received specified the number of applicants, mainly because they were asking everyone to be patient while waiting for an assessment date.

Ah fair enough. I don’t recall such information being provided, but I’ve just read the other messages and note that you applied for Dartford.

 

[NeoNeko]

Nice. Congratulations on making it through to the next stage. Were you able to select a date for the assessment? I received an email inviting me to book a date to attend the assessment centre last week, but by the time I checked work commitments, etc the dates were all gone. I’m now waiting for further dates to be released. I’m filled with a lot of regret that I didn’t book a date there and then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==


Ah fair enough. I don’t recall such information being provided, but I’ve just read the other messages and note that you applied for Dartford.

I applied back in September when applications were open for all depots, so that's why there were so many applicants. I wager that number will be far smaller now that the recent applications were only open for Charing X and Grove Park.

 

[NCDA79]

Nice. Congratulations on making it through to the next stage. Were you able to select a date for the assessment? I received an email inviting me to book a date to attend the assessment centre last week, but by the time I checked work commitments, etc the dates were all gone. I’m now waiting for further dates to be released. I’m filled with a lot of regret that I didn’t book a date there and then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==


Ah fair enough. I don’t recall such information being provided, but I’ve just read the other messages and note that you applied for Dartford.

Yes they had 5 or 6 dates in August - can you call them and get on one of these?

 

[captainmorgan]

Yes they had 5 or 6 dates in August - can you call them and get on one of these?

I’ve sent an email now, thank you. When I did so before they said all the dates were booked. Weird.

 

[vc99]

What was the 6 questions for mmi?

 

[NeoNeko]

What was the 6 questions for mmi?

I can't remember all of mine (emergency situation was one, as was a time when I'd done something similar to driving a train), but I think there's a pool of potential ones - I prepared about 16 or so when I was practising.

 

[Carrot12345]

How long did it take to hear after the MMI? also how long was the wait for the DMI? Cheers

 

[theasdf]

How long did it take to hear after the MMI? also how long was the wait for the DMI? Cheers

Unofficially, I was told I’d passed the MMI before I’d even left, and officially via email about 20 minutes later. I then waited just over three months for my DMI.

 

[dub]

Unofficially, I was told I’d passed the MMI before I’d even left, and officially via email about 20 minutes later. I then waited just over three months for my DMI.

Same I got a wink and a nudge. Then for the DMI I was invited about three weeks later. I think it depends on the demand in the depots you have applied for.

 

[Carrot12345]

Thank you just waiting to hear about my arctic shores that I submitted yesterday as I have done everything else

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2025 ==

Has anyone been given a start date for Grove Park?

 

[NCDA79]

I only have my assessment day next week so no idea if they are already offering Grove Park positions yet. I think some others are probably already through the assessment stage though.

 

[newbiewannabe]

I only have my assessment day next week so no idea if they are already offering Grove Park positions yet. I think some others are probably already through the assessment stage though.

I’m still waiting for an assessment date for Grove Park. I applied June last year!!

 

[jjjjjjonny]

Does anybody know exactly what tests we will sit for the Grove Park assessment day? The booklet they sent says; Group Bourdon and Tea-Occ, TRP1b & TRP2, WAFV; ATAVT, 2-Hand, PIF, SJE, MMI and they also include a separate practice test for VSE. But other comments on here from before say they don't conduct the MMI on the same day? I'm confused...

 

[dub]

Does anybody know exactly what tests we will sit for the Grove Park assessment day? The booklet they sent says; Group Bourdon and Tea-Occ, TRP1b & TRP2, WAFV; ATAVT, 2-Hand, PIF, SJE, MMI and they also include a separate practice test for VSE. But other comments on here from before say they don't conduct the MMI on the same day? I'm confused...

The booklet is generic for all assessment centres across the railway so doesn't tell you specifically what will happen on each day.

Each TOC does it differently but when I had my assessments it was computer first, paper second then VSE.

Then a second day which was the MMI.

Hope that helps!

 

[jjjjjjonny]

The booklet is generic for all assessment centres across the railway so doesn't tell you specifically what will happen on each day.

Each TOC does it differently but when I had my assessments it was computer first, paper second then VSE.

Then a second day which was the MMI.

Hope that helps!

Ah okay thanks, hopefully not the MMI on the same day then but I'll prepare just in case.