TfW Trainee Conductor

[Matt11]

Thanks to you all for your responses. Good to know we can look out for one another. Take care.

You too, good luck, hopefully you’ll get a response next week

 

[thematrix]

I received all the above details also via email, had a right to work check and had an email to order uniform, I’m assuming they will get in touch regarding course details next. I live over an hour away from the training place, I’m not sure if they are going to get in touch regarding accommodation or if I’m just going to have to travel?

If you live over an hour away i think they can offer hotel accommodation and meal allowance. Email recruitment to ask to take this option so they can arrange for you. They will make more arrangements nearer the time to let you know.

I emailed recruitment yesterday to ask about training and accommodation in Chester as this is two hours drive each way from North Wales. Don't want to be doing a total of 4 hours of driving every day. They emailed me back same day saying they are providing hotel accommodation.

 

[Matt11]

If you live over an hour away i think they can offer hotel accommodation and meal allowance. Email recruitment to ask to take this option so they can arrange for you. They will make more arrangements nearer the time to let you know.

I emailed recruitment yesterday to ask about training and accommodation in Chester as this is two hours drive each way from North Wales. Don't want to be doing a total of 4 hours of driving every day. They emailed me back same day saying they are providing hotel accommodation.

That’s great, thanks for the info, I’m about an hour 20 away on the train plus the commute to the station, and just over an hour in the car not taking the morning rush traffic. Will drop them an email Monday. Thanks again

 

[Tevion539]

That’s great, thanks for the info, I’m about an hour 20 away on the train plus the commute to the station, and just over an hour in the car not taking the morning rush traffic. Will drop them an email Monday. Thanks again

Which depot did you apply for?

 

[Matt11]

Which depot did you apply for?

Carmarthen mate

 

[Tevion539]

Didnt see an option for Carmarthen when I applied. Recently moved to Swansea so the commuting to Cardiff everyday will become very expensive. Especially with parking, even with a 75% discount in parking. I'll be seeing how I get on out of Cardiff but will transfer to Carmarthen if and when I can if it becomes too much. My mate is a driver out if Carmarthen too.

Carmarthen mate

 

[thematrix]

Didnt see an option for Carmarthen when I applied. Recently moved to Swansea so the commuting to Cardiff everyday will become very expensive. Especially with parking, even with a 75% discount in parking. I'll be seeing how I get on out of Cardiff but will transfer to Carmarthen if and when I can if it becomes too much. My mate is a driver out if Carmarthen too.

I heard you can request to transfer depots whilst in training if the opportunity arises. Just email your line manager to put in the request and they will see what they can do for you to book on/off duty at that depot instead.

Machynlleth is an hour away from me but can take an hour and a half if the traffic is bad with roadworks, roads flooding in wet season or if there is an accident on the road causing diversions. I am Going to ask to transfer to Pwlleheli as two guards are becoming drivers and one is retiring. This runs along the same Cambrian line on my route so booking on at Pwllheli is only a 25 minute drive as opposed to an hour and a half on a bad day lol.

Any way in is a good way in. Its £36.5k after 6 months now. Its quicker to try and transfer depot whilst in training as may have to wait 1 year to 2 years with your current allocated route.

 

[Tevion539]

I heard you can request to transfer depots whilst in training if the opportunity arises. Just email your line manager to put in the request and they will see what they can do for you to book on/off duty at that depot instead.

Machynlleth is an hour away from me but can take an hour and a half if the traffic is bad with roadworks, roads flooding in wet season or if there is an accident on the road causing diversions. I am Going to ask to transfer to Pwlleheli as two guards are becoming drivers and one is retiring. This runs along the same Cambrian line on my route so booking on at Pwllheli is only a 25 minute drive as opposed to an hour and a half on a bad day lol.

Any way in is a good way in. Its £36.5k after 6 months now. Its quicker to try and transfer depot whilst in training as may have to wait 1 year to 2 years with your current allocated route.

That's fair enough, Carmarthen also cover the mainline which is the curse I'll be on in Cardiff. I'll ask the question after starting

 

[Fredytrains]

Good evening all, Does anyone know if or when the next course or courses are planned for the North trainee conductors, Im aware that one is currently underway in chester , Ive a colleague in the Talent pool for Holyhead,Llandudno junction and is also within travel of pwllheli for about 18months now and as you can imagine they are getting a bit worried that the 2 yrs will be up before a possible position becomes available. Thank you

 

[Tevion539]

Good evening all, Does anyone know if or when the next course or courses are planned for the North trainee conductors, Im aware that one is currently underway in chester , Ive a colleague in the Talent pool for Holyhead,Llandudno junction and is also within travel of pwllheli for about 18months now and as you can imagine they are getting a bit worried that the 2 yrs will be up before a possible position becomes available. Thank you

Believe they have a few courses starting between now and march, down south. That being said, we have a course running concurrently with the north. I started on the 9th. I would say to ask your colleague to contact recruitment and ask if there's movement. I heard about two months before my course of a start date.

 

[MGF1892]

Hi all,

To cut a long story short, I have completed psychometric testing twice for trainee conductor/guard roles with SWR/GWR in FEB21 and APR22 respectively. AS far as I know I passed the tests twice as I was offered the job with SWR but I never got a start date, but didnt get an interview with GWR (possibly due to personal circumstances at the time.) This leads me to TfW who only recently got back to me with psychometric testing (again.) I completed the SCAAT before emailing them and they said they can confirm my previous tests are valid an will contact me with next steps.

What does all this mean for me? Anyone who can shed light would be a massive help. Also if anyone has details on the process of jobs at TfW after testing, that would be brill. I‘d much prefer to stay in Wales if possible. Is it even worth holding out hope for SWR considering how long I have been waiting? Their training schools still seem to have a “backlog.”

I know I am asking a lot - but I really would like to know because I want to get out of working behind a desk/wheel and really want to get in the railway, in fact, it’s the only thing I have ever wanted to do besides flying.

Again, any information would be smashing ❤️

Ta,

James

Could I ask you about the tests please? I’ve just passed the online SCATT test for TFW, I have now been invited to do the online RAAT test. Would you know what online tests are after this please? I’m guessing a Math test...How difficult is it? I’m not great at Percentages, area etc :/

 

[Tevion539]

Could I ask you about the tests please? I’ve just passed the online SCATT test for TFW, I have now been invited to do the online RAAT test. Would you know what online tests are after this please? I’m guessing a Math test...How difficult is it? I’m not great at Percentages, area etc :/

As mentioned in the thread you have started - the ticket selling and checking (if that is next) may include basic percentages, however, as with all these psychometrics, they're looking for consistentcy and accuracy. Whilst speed is an important factor, they're not expecting all questions to be answered (based in experience.) I know the paper exam I done with SWR had a chart to easily understand the percentages, but the online one I done with GWR didn't. I'd suggest just taking your time and doing the best you possibly can. What depot have you applied for?

 

[MGF1892]

As mentioned in the thread you have started - the ticket selling and checking (if that is next) may include basic percentages, however, as with all these psychometrics, they're looking for consistentcy and accuracy. Whilst speed is an important factor, they're not expecting all questions to be answered (based in experience.) I know the paper exam I done with SWR had a chart to easily understand the percentages, but the online one I done with GWR didn't. I'd suggest just taking your time and doing the best you possibly can. What depot have you applied for?

Thank you. I’ve applied for TFW

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jan 2023 ==

As mentioned in the thread you have started - the ticket selling and checking (if that is next) may include basic percentages, however, as with all these psychometrics, they're looking for consistentcy and accuracy. Whilst speed is an important factor, they're not expecting all questions to be answered (based in experience.) I know the paper exam I done with SWR had a chart to easily understand the percentages, but the online one I done with GWR didn't. I'd suggest just taking your time and doing the best you possibly can. What depot have you applied for?

Sorry you said depot....Cardiff valleys. Would you know where exactly that depot is?

 

[Turn180]

I've had an email today as currently in a talent pool for North west (chester/Crewe) depot, as around when i would be free as courses looking to start . Anyone else had the same?

 

[MON 76]

I've had an email today as currently in a talent pool for North west (chester/Crewe) depot, as around when i would be free as courses looking to start . Anyone else had the same?

Thats good news that Training courses are opening again for the North, Any Update on courses coming up following your Emai?

 

[Tevion539]

I've had an email today as currently in a talent pool for North west (chester/Crewe) depot, as around when i would be free as courses looking to start . Anyone else had the same?

Did you get a start date? Courses are seeming to be relatively frequent now

 

[Turn180]

I've got start date of 15/5 however got medical to get through first.

 

[Tevion539]

Well done! The medical is pretty standard. Weight, height, Eyesight, blood pressure, drugs and alcohol and asking if you've ever had any health problems.

 

[Turn180]

Thank you, I wear glasses atm so hoping that's not a major issue. Rest of it shouldn't be a problem. Got that on the 23rd March. Any1 else having one?

 

[Tevion539]

Glasses shouldn't be an issue. Just make sure you can read a Snellen chart properly

 

[millbatron]

I've been invited for an assessment day following the SCAAT, RAAT and TCT. I can't find any information of people having to do this, it sounds like it was stopped due to COVID. I've applied for Cardiff Mainline with TFW. It says it's 3 hours long and but doesn't detail what the day involves. Has anyone had an experience with this, would the interview take place on this day?

 

[Turn180]

I can't say I had this. I passed interview in sept 2022. So might have been back end of covid

 

[MON 76]

I've been invited for an assessment day following the SCAAT, RAAT and TCT. I can't find any information of people having to do this, it sounds like it was stopped due to COVID. I've applied for Cardiff Mainline with TFW. It says it's 3 hours long and but doesn't detail what the day involves. Has anyone had an experience with this, would the interview take place on this day?

This used to be done Pre covid, I sat the Online scatt tests and was invited to assessment in Chester to carry out the rest of the tests late 2021 But Covid 2nd wave put a stop to that and I had to sit The RAAT and Ticket selling test online at home last july/august, passed them and had Interview in December, This could Be The way they are going forward again now as the Pandemic is over with a further assessment to clarify results maybe?
Good Luck anyway!

 

[Melo]

Hi,

Currently awaiting in talent pool from August 2022 for chester/crewe. Has anyone received a start date for training who entered the talent pool around this time? I have chased with recruitment but nothing back as of yet.

 

[Cheshire1788]

Hi,

Currently awaiting in talent pool from August 2022 for chester/crewe. Has anyone received a start date for training who entered the talent pool around this time? I have chased with recruitment but nothing back as of yet.

Hi

I have been in hold pool since June 2022 for Chester/Crewe. I have emailed for an update. I only live 5 miles from my preferred chosen depot too, so rather frustrating. Fingers crossed we hear something soon

 

[Turn180]

I was in a September talent pool and have a start date on 15th May for Chester.

 

[Tevion539]

Sadly, talent pools are very much dependent on demand. It's a game of patience, but when you get the call it is a very quick turn around.