Southeastern - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[mickeyC]

Did you do the Magnificent 7 SJT? That was administered by Arctic Shores. I believe the Magnificent 7 has now been replaced.

Yes I did the M7SJT so that explains it. Cheers

 

[newbiewannabe]

check your emails all
DMI booked for January 20th at Gillingham depot

Have you had your MMI?

 

[mickeyC]

Have you had your MMI?

No, was told at the assessment day that it could be either way round

 

[jebby21]

View attachment 193783

I had a slightly different one. At least I passed that online assessment. That was mind boggling.

Got the same one .. on a waiting game now

 

[GemmaLouise]

Congratulations! Could you tell which test centre you attended, and did you do the MMI on the same day?

So sorry I didn't see this reply. I did my tests at the Ashford Centre. We were told that they have now changed the order so you do your DMI first which I still waiting for and then if successful you will then go back to Ashford to do your MMI.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Dec 2025 ==

Good morning. I am currently waiting to be invited for DMI. I have been having a look over the Southeastern website, and then I believe when they send me the invitation for the interview I'll also be sent some material to go over. Is there anything anybody can advise to pay particular attention to, we were told it will be alot of questions about Southeastern. I don't want to waste time revising useless information and overloading myself.

 

[CFRAIL]

So sorry I didn't see this reply. I did my tests at the Ashford Centre. We were told that they have now changed the order so you do your DMI first which I still waiting for and then if successful you will then go back to Ashford to do your MMI.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Dec 2025 ==

Good morning. I am currently waiting to be invited for DMI. I have been having a look over the Southeastern website, and then I believe when they send me the invitation for the interview I'll also be sent some material to go over. Is there anything anybody can advise to pay particular attention to, we were told it will be alot of questions about Southeastern. I don't want to waste time revising useless information and overloading myself.

I'm also awaiting a DMI/MMI so can't advise on specifics. I'd say brush up on why you want the job, and think of examples you can link to scenarios. Remember the STAR technique.

 

[mickeyC]

So sorry I didn't see this reply. I did my tests at the Ashford Centre. We were told that they have now changed the order so you do your DMI first which I still waiting for and then if successful you will then go back to Ashford to do your MMI.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Dec 2025 ==

Good morning. I am currently waiting to be invited for DMI. I have been having a look over the Southeastern website, and then I believe when they send me the invitation for the interview I'll also be sent some material to go over. Is there anything anybody can advise to pay particular attention to, we were told it will be alot of questions about Southeastern. I don't want to waste time revising useless information and overloading myself.

I’ve got my DMI coming up in just over 3 weeks and this is the link I’ve been supplied.

Southeastern - Recruitment process

www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

 

[GemmaLouise]

I'm also awaiting a DMI/MMI so can't advise on specifics. I'd say brush up on why you want the job, and think of examples you can link to scenarios. Remember the STAR technique.

Thankyou. I think I'll be okay with that sort of thing just more the knowledge about the company. Good luck with yours also.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Dec 2025 ==

I’ve got my DMI coming up in just over 3 weeks and this is the link I’ve been supplied.

Southeastern - Recruitment process

www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

Thankyou for that, that is very helpful. Good luck with your interview

 

[Matti boo]

Know about the company such as Mission statement, values, stock . The more you know the better.

Answer questions in the STAR method. Put an emphasis on safety.

They should have sent you information on TPWS, (not sure if this has changed) make sure you memorise and understand this.

 

[I2026]

I just had my DMI interview and prepared:

-The names of the 4 head honchos - Director, Driver Manager, Operating Director and Finance Director
-Company history and current position (for me the only public owned TOC so far under GBR)
-Mission and Values
-Network information and routes
-Locomotive situation, outgoing and incoming
-Stats - journeys per year, total staff, number of stations e.t.c.

And then all the whys and wherefores of why I wanted that TOC etc. Never got asked any of it, but went in very confident. Only thing I was asked was "Tell us about yourself" to which I engineered an answer ending in why I matched the values and mission of the company.

 

[newbiewannabe]

I just had my DMI interview and prepared:

-The names of the 4 head honchos - Director, Driver Manager, Operating Director and Finance Director
-Company history and current position (for me the only public owned TOC so far under GBR)
-Mission and Values
-Network information and routes
-Locomotive situation, outgoing and incoming
-Stats - journeys per year, total staff, number of stations e.t.c.

And then all the whys and wherefores of why I wanted that TOC etc. Never got asked any of it, but went in very confident. Only thing I was asked was "Tell us about yourself" to which I engineered an answer ending in why I matched the values and mission of the company.

Wow! I’ve been reading up on all this stuff everyday in preparation! I guess theres always the chance you will get asked.

 

[GemmaLouise]

Know about the company such as Mission statement, values, stock . The more you know the better.

Answer questions in the STAR method. Put an emphasis on safety.

They should have sent you information on TPWS, (not sure if this has changed) make sure you memorise and understand this.

I believe they will send information on TPWS when they send me the actual DMI invitation.

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

I just had my DMI interview and prepared:

-The names of the 4 head honchos - Director, Driver Manager, Operating Director and Finance Director
-Company history and current position (for me the only public owned TOC so far under GBR)
-Mission and Values
-Network information and routes
-Locomotive situation, outgoing and incoming
-Stats - journeys per year, total staff, number of stations e.t.c.

And then all the whys and wherefores of why I wanted that TOC etc. Never got asked any of it, but went in very confident. Only thing I was asked was "Tell us about yourself" to which I engineered an answer ending in why I matched the values and mission of the company.

This sounds like the best thing to do. I haven't even got a date for my DMI yet but want to be as prepared as possible. Thanks for your help

 

[forgetmyname69]

Question about the DMI, do they generally tell you if successful there and then? Or do you have to sweat it out for weeks after having it before finding out

 

[driver333]

Question about the DMI, do they generally tell you if successful there and then? Or do you have to sweat it out for weeks after having it before finding out

You won’t know until they finish their interviews, if they have other candidates, as they like to say “you’ve passed, and you’ll be on a course this date” or you’ve passed but will be in the talent pool, or failed etc. could wait a week or 2

 

[I2026]

I found that it was obvious by the end of the interview (in fact I would say from the start actually). You will know if you have done enough or not. I had a phonecall the following day from recruitment to confirm.

 

[NeoNeko]

Does anyone have their induction at Ashford on Monday? My group has just started our traction course after we finished rules and regs in December, so we're keen to see all the new starters arriving at the school!

 

[hugo007]

Does anyone have their induction at Ashford on Monday? My group has just started traction there, so we're keen to see all the new starters arriving at the school!

Hi! Yes. I’ve got my induction at Ashford on Monday Looking forward to getting started and meeting everyone.

 

[mickeyC]

Hi! Yes. I’ve got my induction at Ashford on Monday Looking forward to getting started and meeting everyone.

Good luck.
Have you already passed rules and reg’s?
Traction I thought was after the first part.

 

[NeoNeko]

Hi! Yes. I’ve got my induction at Ashford on Monday Looking forward to getting started and meeting everyone.

Cool, enjoy! Induction week feels like a lifetime ago - the first week is pretty light and chill Will you be training at Ashford or Orpy?

Good luck.
Have you already passed rules and reg’s?
Traction I thought was after the first part.

It is, but I was curious if any of the new starters for the Jan course were on the forum My group passed rules and regs in December, so we're currently the only group at school, lol.

 

[hugo007]

Good luck.
Have you already passed rules and reg’s?
Traction I thought was after the first part.

No, not yet — I’m starting from scratch. I thought traction came a bit later too, so it’ll be interesting to see how it all works.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jan 2026 ==

Cool, enjoy! Induction week feels like a lifetime ago - the first week is pretty light and chill Will you be training at Ashford or Orpy?


It is, but I was curious if any of the new starters for the Jan course were on the forum My group passed rules and regs in December, so we're currently the only group at school, lol.

Thanks! That’s good to hear
I’ll be mostly based at Ashford, so looking forward to getting started there.

 

[NeoNeko]

No, not yet — I’m starting from scratch. I thought traction came a bit later too, so it’ll be interesting to see how it all works.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jan 2026 ==


Thanks! That’s good to hear
I’ll be mostly based at Ashford, so looking forward to getting started there.

I really like being at Ashford, even with it being a bit of a trek for me! You’ll have 1 week for induction and then 10 weeks of rules

I know who your trainers are, and they’re both really nice

Also, if you see a tall-ish redhead around the school, that’s me

 

[MrJMT28]

Hello everyone, this is my first post so forgive me if I have done something incorrectly.

I have recently been invited to an Assessment day with Southeastern for Trainee Train driver which is coming up next week - needless to say I am quite nervous about the day so was wondering if anyone has recently attended one that could share some information about the day and structure? I understand it includes a lot of tests and also an interview but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you also have any interview questions that are likely to be asked, this would also be great as this is the section of the day I am most anxious about.

Thank you in advance.

 

[vc99]

I really like being at Ashford, even with it being a bit of a trek for me! You’ll have 1 week for induction and then 10 weeks of rules

I know who your trainers are, and they’re both really nice

Also, if you see a tall-ish redhead around the school, that’s me

Hey.
I was just curious to know how many are in your group?
Thanks

 

[I2026]

Hello everyone, this is my first post so forgive me if I have done something incorrectly.

I have recently been invited to an Assessment day with Southeastern for Trainee Train driver which is coming up next week - needless to say I am quite nervous about the day so was wondering if anyone has recently attended one that could share some information about the day and structure? I understand it includes a lot of tests and also an interview but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you also have any interview questions that are likely to be asked, this would also be great as this is the section of the day I am most anxious about.

Thank you in advance.

There is loads of info already on here about it - look at the assessment and careers forum above in the pinned section.

You should be getting a list of what assessments you will have as generally they are spread across 2 days - what are the ones you will be doing?

 

[CFRAIL]

Has anyone else who has completed the assessment centre since been invited to complete online assessments?

 

[newbiewannabe]

good afternoon all! I’ve already passed the M7SJT And passed all of my assessments at the assessment centre. I was awaiting an interview be it MMI or DMI. I’ve just received an email asking me to complete an online assessment Arctic Shores. Has this happened to anybody else? I was under the impression that Arctic Shores was a replacement for the M7SJT. I’m a bit confused now.

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

Has anyone else who has completed the assessment centre since been invited to complete online assessments?

Ha! Just now. What’s going on?

 

[Chibi_robo]

good afternoon all! I’ve already passed the M7SJT And passed all of my assessments at the assessment centre. I was awaiting an interview be it MMI or DMI. I’ve just received an email asking me to complete an online assessment Arctic Shores. Has this happened to anybody else? I was under the impression that Arctic Shores was a replacement for the M7SJT. I’m a bit confused now.

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


Ha! Just now. What’s going on?

Same. Passed all the assessments so far and am waiting for DMI, very confused why I've been sent Artic Shores this morning.

 

[newbiewannabe]

Same. Passed all the assessments so far and am waiting for DMI, very confused why I've been sent Artic Shores this morning.

All seems a little unfair to me that we have to do extra assessments. I had a look at the practice sample contained within the email and it was dead easy so, hopefully they shouldn’t be too difficult!

 

[CFRAIL]

I might contact the train driver recruitment inbox to see if it's an error? I wondered whether it was a prior to MMI thing?

 

[newbiewannabe]

I might contact the train driver recruitment inbox to see if it's an error? I wondered whether it was a prior to MMI thing?

I was thinking the same thing, just seems odd that more recent applicants had to do the artic shores straight after application, whereas we had to do the M7SJT.