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Southern - Trainee Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

NyameNeHene

Member
Joined
8 Aug 2026
Messages
10
Location
Woking
Congrats and thanks for reaching out. Any advice or guidance prior to the day, please? And yeah did you do all 8 tests (including MMI) same day or you did it in stages? Any recommended materials since all I’ve got is the attached material in the invitation email, please? Any question you remember on your pre MMI interview sheet?
@Saadi410 any help on the above, please?

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Done mine 2 weeks ago, got the pass email 2 days later, feel free to PM.
Congrats and thanks for reaching out. Any recommended materials since all I’ve got is the attached material in the invitation email, please? Any question you remember on your pre MMI interview sheet? Thank you in advance.
 
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adedoyin1925

New Member
Joined
19 Dec 2025
Messages
3
Location
leeds
Please I’ve got my 1st assessment coming up at go-ahead house and would be glad if anyone could help of what to expect and how to prep (materials). Thank you in advance.
I applied December 2025 for trainee train driver with southern and I got a mail last week to complete my mini scaat assessment. Please after completing the mini scaat assessment long does it take for the results to be out?

What assessment are you talking about?
 

Saadi410

Member
Joined
1 Apr 2026
Messages
5
Location
cheam
I applied December 2025 for trainee train driver with southern and I got a mail last week to complete my mini scaat assessment. Please after completing the mini scaat assessment long does it take for the results to be out?

What assessment are you talking about?
Result times vary, mine took 2 weeks. They’re talking about the assessment centre which is the stage after the miniscaat
 

intercityG

New Member
Joined
24 Aug 2026
Messages
2
Location
London
Hi all, just joined the forum. I have a trainee driver assessment with Southern at the OPC in Watford today and was wondering if anyone who has done the Southern process there recently could clarify what to expect.


Is the Watford assessment split into Stage 1 and Stage 2, with the MMI on a separate date, or if you pass the psychometric tests on the day do you go straight on to the MMI?


Also, which tests did you complete at Stage 1?


Any help from anyone who’s done the Southern/OPC process recently would be really appreciated. Thanks!
 

Purplerain77

Member
Joined
31 Jan 2026
Messages
69
Location
Dartford
Hi all, just joined the forum. I have a trainee driver assessment with Southern at the OPC in Watford today and was wondering if anyone who has done the Southern process there recently could clarify what to expect.


Is the Watford assessment split into Stage 1 and Stage 2, with the MMI on a separate date, or if you pass the psychometric tests on the day do you go straight on to the MMI?


Also, which tests did you complete at Stage 1?


Any help from anyone who’s done the Southern/OPC process recently would be really appreciated. Thanks!
Hi mate, good luck today! I did mine here for Thameslink and it’s split into 2. Stage 1 is just your paper tests. There will be a lot about them on other threads but I think it’s group bourdon, trp1, trp2, dfft and tea-occ.

The I had my MMI included on the day I did stage 2 if we passed the computer tests. Shouldn’t have to worry about either of these today. Hope that helps !
 

Unobrow

Member
Joined
19 Nov 2024
Messages
232
Location
Manchester
Hi all, just joined the forum. I have a trainee driver assessment with Southern at the OPC in Watford today and was wondering if anyone who has done the Southern process there recently could clarify what to expect.


Is the Watford assessment split into Stage 1 and Stage 2, with the MMI on a separate date, or if you pass the psychometric tests on the day do you go straight on to the MMI?


Also, which tests did you complete at Stage 1?


Any help from anyone who’s done the Southern/OPC process recently would be really appreciated. Thanks!
Surely your email tells you which tests you sit for stage 1 and if you’ll be doing stage 2 on the same day?
 

intercityG

New Member
Joined
24 Aug 2026
Messages
2
Location
London
Hi mate, good luck today! I did mine here for Thameslink and it’s split into 2. Stage 1 is just your paper tests. There will be a lot about them on other threads but I think it’s group bourdon, trp1, trp2, dfft and tea-occ.

The I had my MMI included on the day I did stage 2 if we passed the computer tests. Shouldn’t have to worry about either of these today. Hope that helps !
Thanks mate, really appreciate that! I was familiar with the Stage 1 tests, it was mainly the MMI I wasn’t sure about and whether that could be included today, so that’s really helpful. Cheers

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Surely your email tells you which tests you sit for stage 1 and if you’ll be doing stage 2 on the same day?
Yeah, it tells me which tests I’m sitting today, it just doesn’t mention the if MMI is done separately at Stage 2. I’ve seen mixed information about it, hence why I was checking with anyone who’s done the GTR process at Watford recently
 

hawkster26

Member
Joined
20 Jan 2026
Messages
94
Location
iver
Thanks mate, really appreciate that! I was familiar with the Stage 1 tests, it was mainly the MMI I wasn’t sure about and whether that could be included today, so that’s really helpful. Cheers

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Yeah, it tells me which tests I’m sitting today, it just doesn’t mention the if MMI is done separately at Stage 2. I’ve seen mixed information about it, hence why I was checking with anyone who’s done the GTR process at Watford recently
Stage 2 & MMI will be at a later stage if you pass the stage 1. You will get your results within a week. How did it go ?
 

Fig

Member
Joined
9 Jan 2010
Messages
21
Location
NW London
Hello mate, does this apply for gx drivers too?
The earliest start at GX is currently 0541 (Mon-Fri), 0450 (Sat), 0526 (Sun). You will be entitled to a taxi from home for any book on before 5am.
Same parking arrangements at Vic as Southern drivers, AFAIK.The car park at Victoria is outside the Congestion Charge zone, just. Make sure you plan your route carefully.
 

EssexBound

Member
Joined
5 Jun 2026
Messages
14
Location
London
Excited to hopefully be joining the GTR team soon as an Apprentice Trainee Train Driver. I’m at the referencing stage, and wondered if anyone can advise whether Recruitment will contact me to confirm I’ve cleared that final hurdle? Or should I just assume no news is good news and all my references were satisfactory?
Many thanks
 

hawkster26

Member
Joined
20 Jan 2026
Messages
94
Location
iver
Excited to hopefully be joining the GTR team soon as an Apprentice Trainee Train Driver. I’m at the referencing stage, and wondered if anyone can advise whether Recruitment will contact me to confirm I’ve cleared that final hurdle? Or should I just assume no news is good news and all my references were satisfactory?
Many thanks
Have you signed your contract ?
 

hawkster26

Member
Joined
20 Jan 2026
Messages
94
Location
iver
Someone drastic must have to happen to fail reference checks. It’s just a box ticking exercise.
 

JoeRich

Member
Joined
6 Sep 2026
Messages
7
Location
south london
Hi all, passed my assessment center back in early August at Go Ahead house. Im booked in for my line manager interview on Tuesday. Does anyone have any advice or a little bit of information as to what to expect. I presume if I pass this stage I'll have to return to do the MMI.
 

Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
264
Location
Wandsworth Road
Hi all, passed my assessment center back in early August at Go Ahead house. Im booked in for my line manager interview on Tuesday. Does anyone have any advice or a little bit of information as to what to expect. I presume if I pass this stage I'll have to return to do the MMI.
You should try posting this question in the assessment and medical thread. Maybe you will get a response there.

I’ve done it with a different TOC. What I would suggest is to research the company. Know their ways of working, little background knowledge, definitely know what train types they use. Know their London terminals as well as some of the destinations. Have good answers to why their company and train driving. Look into the day in the life of a train driver. Stuff like what motivates you, how do you manage fatigue and shift work. And how would you get to the depot. Plus a few competency answers similar to what you would of done in the MMI. Good luck for Tuesday mate.
 

ZiggyElmo

New Member
Joined
14 Sep 2026
Messages
2
Location
Seaford
Hi all, passed my assessment center back in early August at Go Ahead house. Im booked in for my line manager interview on Tuesday. Does anyone have any advice or a little bit of information as to what to expect. I presume if I pass this stage I'll have to return to do the MMI.
Yes that's correct. I did my DMI back in June and passed that getting an email 10 days later. Did MMI at the end of August at Go Ahead house with someone from the OPC, and haven't heard anything yet. It's been about 3 weeks. I have no clue how it went so at the moment I'm going with no news is good news. I know the team are busy.

Good luck for tomorrow. Just a word of warning to take ID and proof of right to work to the MMI as I was asked for it again and it wasn't that clear that I needed to provide that again after I had given it at the assessment day back in May.
 

adedoyin1925

New Member
Joined
19 Dec 2025
Messages
3
Location
leeds
I all,
I did my miniSCAAT since 17/08 but till now I have not heard back from them if I fail or pass…..or how long does it takes to get a reply
 

adedoyin1925

New Member
Joined
19 Dec 2025
Messages
3
Location
leeds
Best to email them and ask for an update. What depot did you apply for?
London Bridge, London Victoria

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London Bridge, London Victoria
I finally got an invite for assessment centre……pls I would need any resources to prepare me for the assessment
 
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NyameNeHene

Member
Joined
8 Aug 2026
Messages
10
Location
Woking
Hi all, passed my assessment center back in early August at Go Ahead house. Im booked in for my line manager interview on Tuesday. Does anyone have any advice or a little bit of information as to what to expect. I presume if I pass this stage I'll have to return to do the MMI.
Mate how did it go and advice or info for us yet to attend please?
 

JoeRich

Member
Joined
6 Sep 2026
Messages
7
Location
south london
Mate how did it go and advice or info for us yet to attend please?
Hi there, its went really well, heard I passed this morning. They made it as laid back as possible. Two people on the panel a DM and DI. Make sure you research the company and what its like to be a train driver, coupled with your relevant experience

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Yes that's correct. I did my DMI back in June and passed that getting an email 10 days later. Did MMI at the end of August at Go Ahead house with someone from the OPC, and haven't heard anything yet. It's been about 3 weeks. I have no clue how it went so at the moment I'm going with no news is good news. I know the team are busy.

Good luck for tomorrow. Just a word of warning to take ID and proof of right to work to the MMI as I was asked for it again and it wasn't that clear that I needed to provide that again after I had given it at the assessment day back in May.
Hi Ziggy, so ive got my mmi on the 29th September. When I had my assessment day they asked me to write responses to 6 questions, I presume this is for the mmi. Ive made a hash of at least one of them. Do you know if you can redo them, or offer a different response/example to the questions in the interview.
 

Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
264
Location
Wandsworth Road
Hi there, its went really well, heard I passed this morning. They made it as laid back as possible. Two people on the panel a DM and DI. Make sure you research the company and what its like to be a train driver, coupled with your relevant experience

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Hi Ziggy, so ive got my mmi on the 29th September. When I had my assessment day they asked me to write responses to 6 questions, I presume this is for the mmi. Ive made a hash of at least one of them. Do you know if you can redo them, or offer a different response/example to the questions in the interview.
I believe you can give different response in the actual MMI. Just tell them before hand if you remember what question you meddled up.
 

JoeRich

Member
Joined
6 Sep 2026
Messages
7
Location
south london
I believe you can give different response in the actual MMI. Just tell them before hand if you remember what question you meddled up.
Thanks mate. Can you give me a bit of information to as how the interview goes, do you have time before being put before the panel to look through your questions and answers
 

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