Southern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[mwest123]

Moderator note: This is for applications that opened from December 2025 onward.

GTR Careers

GTR stands for Greater Thameslink Railway, and includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express. GTR and Greater Thameslink Railway are trading names of Thameslink Southern Great Northern Limited (TSGNL).

www.gtrailwaycareers.com

Good luck to all those applying

 

[inock200]

GTR Careers

GTR stands for Greater Thameslink Railway, and includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express. GTR and Greater Thameslink Railway are trading names of Thameslink Southern Great Northern Limited (TSGNL).

www.gtrailwaycareers.com

Good luck to all those applying

Have they started responding to anyone that applied

 

[Suley91]

Have they started responding to anyone that applied

I applied yesterday as soon as they posted and then very quickly received an email for the online tests.

 

[trainp165]

I applied yesterday as soon as they posted and then very quickly received an email for the online tests.

I've applied too. Was it the SJT they sent to you also?

 

[Mins]

I just applied - what is the test after the application?

I also have 2 applications submitted with other TOC - and have been invited for 1 OPC assessment centre and other on hold at the moment until further dates. how many time can i go to these assesment centers or only can go and do 1 assesment center?

TIA

 

[Suley91]

I've applied too. Was it the SJT they sent to you also?

Yeah SJT, I’ve just sat mine. Wasn’t the easiest, questions are quite long and some answers are very similar so at times was unsure what to put as the least appropriate… Now I await my fate

 

[Mins]

Yeah SJT, I’ve just sat mine. Wasn’t the easiest, questions are quite long and some answers are very similar so at times was unsure what to put as the least appropriate… Now I await my fate

oh okay, i done the tests last year and failed the OPC online test. hoping to pass this time round!

All the best!

 

[trainp165]

Yeah SJT, I’ve just sat mine. Wasn’t the easiest, questions are quite long and some answers are very similar so at times was unsure what to put as the least appropriate… Now I await my fate

Same here, I'm quite positive on the outcome as the SJT is literally the same as SWR

 

[Suley91]

Same here, I'm quite positive on the outcome as the SJT is literally the same as SWR

Yeah that’s helps I guess! let us know when you hear back

 

[stbtraindriver]

Is anyone aware of any other vacancies

 

[BarneyGumble]

Is anyone aware of any other vacancies

GWR are recruiting right now

 

[newbiewannabe]

Got the email today to say I’d failed the online assessment. Luckily I’ve already passed all assessments for southeastern, just have to give it my best shot when it comes to the interviews!

 

[Djibreellusasa]

Got the email today to say I’d failed the online assessment. Luckily I’ve already passed all assessments for southeastern, just have to give it my best shot when it comes to the interviews!

All the best with your interview. I also failed the online assessment.

 

[BarneyGumble]

I haven't been told anything yet, I'm assuming this is with the latest vacancy that just closed?

 

[newbiewannabe]

All the best with your interview. I also failed the online assessment.

Thank you

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Dec 2025 ==

I haven't been told anything yet, I'm assuming this is with the latest vacancy that just closed?

Yes, that could be a good sign!

 

[Suley91]

I haven't been told anything yet, I'm assuming this is with the latest vacancy that just closed?

Me neither, still waiting.

 

[inock200]

Me neither, still waiting.

If you’ve not received anything then u still in the pool

 

[D3WY]

Just for everyone's peace of mind, not that you would have to wait as long as I did but I waited nearly 5 years (applied right before covid so it all got delayed) but i just emailed them every few months, sometimes they replied, sometimes they didnt, but if you had failed to proceed youd have heard by now. Just make sure your application portal is still active on the GTR website thats all I did, will just say application pending or something like that.

Don't threat, no news is good news.

 

[trainp165]

Just for everyone's peace of mind, not that you would have to wait as long as I did but I waited nearly 5 years (applied right before covid so it all got delayed) but i just emailed them every few months, sometimes they replied, sometimes they didnt, but if you had failed to proceed youd have heard by now. Just make sure your application portal is still active on the GTR website thats all I did, will just say application pending or something like that.

Don't threat, no news is good news.

Hi @D3WY
Weird Question, but how does it feel when braking a train? Is it a force you feel, such as when you push a pedal or grab a bike lever and feel the force, or is it something where you need to adjust the pressure adjacent to the speed

 

[SDS1991]

Hi Everyone! Has anyone who has applied heard anything back as of yet, as I still have not heard nothing?

 

[trainp165]

Hi Everyone! Has anyone who has applied heard anything back as of yet, as I still have not heard nothing?

This was the timeline the last time I applied with Southern. I couldn't continue because I was starting with SWR, but I do hope it will be something like this, this time round.

 

[BarneyGumble]

That seems shockingly fast by railway recruitment standards!

 

[trainp165]

That seems shockingly fast by railway recruitment standards!

Let's hope it's the same in 2026

 

[stbtraindriver]

Got the email today to say I’d failed the online assessment. Luckily I’ve already passed all assessments for southeastern, just have to give it my best shot when it comes to the interviews!

Hey how were you able to continue to the interview stage cos I failed the online assessment but passed all the stages for another depot but I wasn’t able to do a interview

 

[newbiewannabe]

Hey how were you able to continue to the interview stage cos I failed the online assessment but passed all the stages for another depot but I wasn’t able to do a interview

Was this with southeastern? Mine was, I passed the situational judgement test first, then the practical assessments at the assessment centre in September last year. I’m now awaiting interview dates.

 

[trainp165]

Did anyone get a MiniSCAAT assessment link as well

 

[BarneyGumble]

Did anyone get a MiniSCAAT assessment link as well

Not yet, hopefully soon. Kinda nervous I haven't.

 

[jpmateta14]

Did anyone get a MiniSCAAT assessment link as well

Hi yes I've got mine too! Best of luck in yours

 

[stbtraindriver]

Was this with southeastern? Mine was, I passed the situational judgement test first, then the practical assessments at the assessment centre in September last year. I’m now awaiting interview dat

ohhhu ok I understand I was referencing to gtr (where I did all the assessment stages) but southeastern they emailed me last week about an online assessment which I’m planning to do this week

 

[FR510]

Hi @D3WY
Weird Question, but how does it feel when braking a train? Is it a force you feel, such as when you push a pedal or grab a bike lever and feel the force, or is it something where you need to adjust the pressure adjacent to the speed

There is no pressure felt. It is a handle/lever which on most SE trains (not 707s or 395s) has 4 notches. Each notch increases the air pressure in the brake cylinders which then applies more pressure to slow the train down faster. There are also rheostatic brakes on most trains which also help to decrease the stopping distance, which work in conjunction with the air brakes. Very simplistic explanation but maybe that'll help!