Southeastern trainee driver scheme - which depot?

[Bromley boy]

Hi guys,

First post on the forum so please go easy .

I've was fortunate enough to be successful at the trainee driver assessment centre for Southeastern, and am now awaiting driver manager interview for the Orpington depot.

I'm keen to know what others think of the Orpington depot as one to train at/work at. From what Ive read on here, I understand it's Metro only with drivers signing from Blackfriars/Vic/Charing + as far as Sevenoakes and Dartford, but with "top link" working the Thameslink services to Bedford. I assume it would take a few years to reach "top link" so if I trained here I'd be looking at a long period of metro work only.

Would Grove Park as a larger depot offer more longer term progression opportunities (from metro to mainline) and a wider route network without having to apply to transfer depots? Do metro drivers get bored with the quite limited range of routes available or do the stopping frequencies/business of the routes maintain interest? Obviously I'm writing this as someone with no experience of doing the actual job so keen to hear the thoughts of experienced drivers who've worked both metro and mainline routes.

If I end up with an offer for any depot I will be extremely grateful and I realise I'm "putting the cart before the horse" in the sense I have yet to get through the DM interview but I'm thinking more about the realities of the job etc. now that I'm (hopefully) getting closer to it!

Also, how long are people currently waiting for DM interview after passing the assessment centre?

Thanks in advance.

Bromley boy.

 

[Coxie]

Hello mate, probably applied the same time as you but I had my interview for Orpington in April and now start in September. I've heard from other people who have enquired there's another course starting in November and there will be another round of interviews in mid July.
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After passing the assessment I waited just over a week for a DM interview but I was extremely fortunate mate. A friend of mine applied too and he's still waiting, you'll get one eventually but I know people who have waited 2 years although with this set of recruitment it shouldn't be that long because they are taking on a lot.

 

[Bromley boy]

Thank for the reply Coxie. One week isn't long to wait at all - fingers crossed I'm not hanging on too long.
Congrats on getting the job! I've tried to PM you but apparently don't yet have privileges to use this service could you drop me one?
Thanks.
BB

 

[Coxie]

Sent you one

 

[Class2ldn]

Grove Park has a ten year waiting list for mainline work, to put it bluntly unless you go to a coastal depot you won't be getting away from metro for a long time.
Just worry about getting in first, yes metro isn't great but when your being paid 50k it's not something you should grumble about. Do a couple of years and put in for a move to a better depot.
Grove Park is a decent depot, good people and the managers are generally ok.

 

[ComUtoR]

I understand it's Metro only with drivers signing from Blackfriars/Vic/Charing + as far as Sevenoakes and Dartford

+Tunbridge Wells and Gillingham

Would Grove Park as a larger depot offer more longer term progression opportunities (from metro to mainline) and a wider route network without having to apply to transfer depots?

Nope

Do metro drivers get bored with the quite limited range of routes available

In terms of routes I would say that Metro have a larger route knowledge than Mainline.

If I end up with an offer for any depot I will be extremely grateful and I realise I'm "putting the cart before the horse" in the sense I have yet to get through the DM interview but I'm thinking more about the realities of the job etc. now that I'm (hopefully) getting closer to it!

Do you have an interview "at Orpington" or "For Orpington" It sounds like you have already been allocated Orpington and will only be offered Orpington.

If you are at this point already and are starting to question whether or not metro driving is right for you then you should bring that up in the interview. The realities of the job can hit quite hard and the interview is a good place to find out your suitability for the role. Ask questions direct to the DM's at Orpington as they can give you a much more accurate description of their depot.

If you are already thinking about long term progression to mainline driving then you need to start asking yourself about what you want to get out of your career and how long you intend that to be. You are at a late stage and should make these decisions now before you make a choice that may be wrong for you.

 

[Bromley boy]

Thanks for the further responses.

ComUtoR yes indeed I fully intend to ask questions at every stage and get a clear idea of the job. The salary is excellent but I've learned the hard way that doing a job purely for the £ is a one way ticket to unhappiness.

I'm already convinced train driving would be the job for me, hopefully for the rest of my career, but I'm still relatively young so keen to ensure its something that will give me progression / satisfaction over 30+ working years.

I have spent years commuting on southeastern services and feeling jealous of the guy sitting up front - hence applying when the opportunity finally arose!
I've also seen the other side of it - late Friday and Saturday night trains on the metro routes aren't always nice places to be as a passenger let alone a member of staff...

Yes the interview is at Orpington for a role at Orpington but other depots have also recruited recently. As you say, rather than worrying about depot, my priority is getting in, getting through the training and then seeing how things are after a couple of years.

bb

 

[Economist]

it shouldn't be that long because they are taking on a lot

I'm aware that Southeastern probably have a backlog of people they want to interview but does anyone know if there is a likelihood they'll advertise externally again soon?

 

[Bishaaj]

Hi all, I'm new in this forum but I need a help from anyone who can render it. I'm having a trainee train driver assessment with Southeastern train in three weeks time. I heard that the assessment pattern has been changed since January 2015 and I wonder if anyone is here that takes it recently since the beginning of the year might want to help me. Just to give me an headstart of what to expect or practice for in other to pass it will be appreciated. Bishaaj.r

 

[Coxie]

You should get the practice booklet in the email, pretty much covers a lot of it. Dot test, hearing and concentration test, memory test. Structured interview will follow if you pass the tests but you'll be given about half an hour to write and prepare your answers. I took mine in February, passed everything and now I start in 3 weeks. It's not particularly hard so don't worry, you will find you probably quite enjoy it once you get started.

 

[Rosstifer25]

Good evening, I'm relatively new to trying to find a job in the industry, but SouthEastern are my local train company and I see that Bishaaj has got a Trainee Train Driver Assessment in a few weeks, but I hadn't seen one advertisement for a position with SouthEastern at all. Am I looking in the wrong places or is there something I'm missing?

Any answers or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Bishaaj]

Thank you Coxie, much appreciate.
@Rosstifer25, I guess you are looking at the right place. I've applied for it since August 2014, so just got a call now for assessment.
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Victoria

 

[Coxie]

Yes I too applied in august 2014, I stArt my training in September. There haven't been anymore orpington or grove park vacancies since. Good luck bishaaj

 

[Bishaaj]

Thank you very much Coxie, I will take your advice and I hope to join the next batch ofbtrainee soon. But does means Ishould be expecting three test or tthere's more to dots, memory and concentration and memory tests?

 

[Bigticket]

I start in Orpington on the 14th of September, really excited about the new career. Spent nearly 17 years in aviation engineering but this industry is getting worse so looking forward to a different lifestyle.

 

[Coxie]

Good luck mate, I've been at Orpington since last September