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SWR - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
264
Location
Wandsworth Road
I’ve only just found this forum, so I’m a bit late to the party. I applied previously and unfortunately wasn’t successful at the DMI stage in March this year.

I also missed the new vacancy that was posted last week even though I signed up to alerts, which I never get notified from. (Do they actually work?)

It would be great to join the group and keep up with any updates or discussions.
Personally I don’t think the job alerts for SWR especially for Waterloo works. I’ve never gotten a job alert from them. Your best bet is to check the vacancy page on their website every day, throughout the day, as well as this thread.

Waterloo said this was the 6th posting for the year. I over manage to catch it 3 times out of the 6 and they close VERY quickly. They closed vacancy whilst I was filling out the application.
 
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UddinS

New Member
Joined
16 Sep 2026
Messages
3
Location
London
Personally I don’t think the job alerts for SWR especially for Waterloo works. I’ve never gotten a job alert from them. Your best bet is to check the vacancy page on their website every day, throughout the day, as well as this thread. Waterloo said this was the 6th posting for the year. I over manage to catch it 3 times out of the 6 and they close VERY quickly. They closed vacancy whilst I was filling out the application.

I’ve been checking every day, but clearly I’m going to have to step it up to every hour now lol, the recent waterloo post didn't last a day.
 

005leo

Member
Joined
29 May 2026
Messages
17
Location
Hounslow
Hello guys, is there anybody who went to a swr dmi recently and could give me an insight of what questions were asked there? I got mine coming up next week
 

UddinS

New Member
Joined
16 Sep 2026
Messages
3
Location
London
Waterloo won’t ever pop up on indeed. They take down the vacancy so fast from the website, it doesn’t give indeed any chance to post it on their site.
I feel like this wasn't the case a couple of months ago. I first applied around sep/oct time last year and the vacancy was open for a few days. I also saw a vacancy in March but I couldn't apply as it was within 6 months of my previous application.
 

Waterlooville

On Moderation
Joined
19 May 2026
Messages
71
Location
Lambeth, London
No TTD roles ever appear on any third party sites, or will there be alerts from this site either. It is just too fast paced. Some ads have gone up and been down within an hour or two - there is a set number of applications permitted and once the system receives that number the advert digitally withdraws itself (hence why people have found they are mid application and it disappears).

Currently SWR are running 12 courses a year with 10-12 on each course, next year another 122 people will be trained, and in 2028 there will be similar numbers as the drive is ongoing to relieve pressure from retirees.
 

Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
264
Location
Wandsworth Road
I feel like this wasn't the case a couple of months ago. I first applied around sep/oct time last year and the vacancy was open for a few days. I also saw a vacancy in March but I couldn't apply as it was within 6 months of my previous application.
That doesn’t sound right mate. Not this year anyway. I’ve been looking pretty much every since late last year and even before that, I’ve been sent a few links from former work colleagues. I managed to catch 4 of the 6 postings this year, which all of them were gone within the hour. Even complained to SWR as the vacancy closed whilst doing the application. Unless you applied for a different depot besides Waterloo.
 

transportphoto

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Associate Staff
Jobs & Careers
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21 Jan 2010
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5,564
Good evening,

It is timely to remind all members that the forum does not condone, nor allow the advertising or similar, of any externally hosted group chat or conversation platform.

This is not a change in the forums position however it has been decided that it would be sensible to make the position clear for all moving forward.

The “Please read before posting…” guidance sticky thread has this evening been updated.


Specific forum rule on the advertising or similar of any externally hosted conversation or group chat.

The forum asks that to the greatest extent possible discussions are held openly on the public forum.

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alskidel

New Member
Joined
20 Sep 2026
Messages
1
Location
Dorset
Hiya mate,

That’s brilliant. I’m chuffed for you.

Thank you ever so much for narrowing it all down for me in the hope of it helping me next time round.

How did you find the rest of the tests overall as well? Seeing as I’ve seen many people worry more about the group bourdon test i look back and thought that was the easiest to get through. If that’s the correct way to put it.

Can you remind me which depot this is for as I’m not sure if I’d got round to asking you already and if so how many times

Did you attend this day at the Overline House Centre in Southampton? Also, Have you been given a date for when you’re attending stage 2 assessments?
Jumping on this forum as a newbie… I’ve passed the first assessment and I will be going to the second (computer) assessments shortly. Two questions… how tricky is the 2 hand? Will the attached photo setup help? (Don’t laugh…I couldn’t find anything else to secure the pens )
 

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Twin82

Member
Joined
24 Mar 2026
Messages
264
Location
Wandsworth Road
Jumping on this forum as a newbie… I’ve passed the first assessment and I will be going to the second (computer) assessments shortly. Two questions… how tricky is the 2 hand? Will the attached photo setup help? (Don’t laugh…I couldn’t find anything else to secure the pens )
Dunno if you’ve seen this but it’s pretty much spot on. I bought a small drone to get me familiarised with coordinating with 2 hands. Practice is practice so I’d give you brownie points for improvising. What I’d say is during the task, the ball will likely leave the track. Don’t panic. Get it back in and continue. Don’t get flustered if it keeps leaving the track.

 

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