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Trainee Driver Vacancy - Thameslink
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I thought I'd pop back to the thread which helped me throughout my application to give an update.
I applied for the Gillingham role at the beginning of September 2016 and was successful at all stages of the process.
I started as a trainee train driver in December 2016 and other than the initial 4 day induction at Kentish Town and around 5 weeks of "front ending", the training (which so far has been all about rules) has been in rented offices at Cannon Street.
At the end of each week an assessment is held to check your understanding of the week's topics, with a major assessment at the end of week 5 and the final assessment at the end of week 14.
Any questions answered incorrectly in the intermediate assessments are marked for 'review' and you will be questioned about the subject again during your week 5 or week 14 assessment, along with any reviews from the retrospective major assessment.
Each of our group had their own weaknesses and strengths and one or two of them flew through with minimal reviews.
Personally, I would always end up with quite a few reviews, but this was purely because I wasn't able to convey my knowledge fully in written answers. During the review sessions at the end of weeks 5 and 14, I flew through the reviews because the knowledge was all there. As long as you can demonstrate this, you don't have anything to worry about.
The week 14 assessment, which took over 5 hours to complete, was held last Thursday and we didn't find out how we'd done until yesterday- it was a long night's sleep!
I, along with the rest of my group, passed without any problems (each of us with different amounts of reviews) but we all worked well together as a group, including helping and supporting each other through our own WhatsApp group. We recieved our keys yesterday and it was an amazing feeling.
It's hard work and you really have to put the effort in, revising every evening and on the weekends. The hard work is worth it and the trainers will support you all of the way.
We now have a week off and then 3 weeks of "front ending", before starting our traction training. I'm loving every bit of it and know that applying for this is the best decision I've ever made.
I applied for the Gillingham role at the beginning of September 2016 and was successful at all stages of the process.
I started as a trainee train driver in December 2016 and other than the initial 4 day induction at Kentish Town and around 5 weeks of "front ending", the training (which so far has been all about rules) has been in rented offices at Cannon Street.
At the end of each week an assessment is held to check your understanding of the week's topics, with a major assessment at the end of week 5 and the final assessment at the end of week 14.
Any questions answered incorrectly in the intermediate assessments are marked for 'review' and you will be questioned about the subject again during your week 5 or week 14 assessment, along with any reviews from the retrospective major assessment.
Each of our group had their own weaknesses and strengths and one or two of them flew through with minimal reviews.
Personally, I would always end up with quite a few reviews, but this was purely because I wasn't able to convey my knowledge fully in written answers. During the review sessions at the end of weeks 5 and 14, I flew through the reviews because the knowledge was all there. As long as you can demonstrate this, you don't have anything to worry about.
The week 14 assessment, which took over 5 hours to complete, was held last Thursday and we didn't find out how we'd done until yesterday- it was a long night's sleep!
I, along with the rest of my group, passed without any problems (each of us with different amounts of reviews) but we all worked well together as a group, including helping and supporting each other through our own WhatsApp group. We recieved our keys yesterday and it was an amazing feeling.
It's hard work and you really have to put the effort in, revising every evening and on the weekends. The hard work is worth it and the trainers will support you all of the way.
We now have a week off and then 3 weeks of "front ending", before starting our traction training. I'm loving every bit of it and know that applying for this is the best decision I've ever made.
Great post and congrats on getting to where you have. Have just had my last mmi interview on Thursday for a role at Gillingham so just waiting to here if I have passed this or not.
If I pass I cannot wait to get started and start to learn something new. Can I ask the class room training at Cannon street do they pay for your journey up there each day or do you stay up there etc.
Many thanks
If I pass I cannot wait to get started and start to learn something new. Can I ask the class room training at Cannon street do they pay for your journey up there each day or do you stay up there etc.
Many thanks
Well done, ninhog and your group.
Same here we all pulled and pushed our way though rules together, each having areas we had a little trouble with.
Traction will be a breeze, had ours at Grosvenor sidings on 377 although by the time we get DI's we prob won't get to drive them. Did our 700 traction at Hornsey.
We got travelling time and lunch allowance each day we were training away from our depot.
Tracerboy, you get travelling time built into your day, anything over the normal working day is overtime. Makes a difference on trainee money so make sure you claim it.
Now have a wait for a DI, the group above us have been waiting since July last year and only now getting a DI.
Long wait but worth it, love every minuet of it.
See you out there.
Same here we all pulled and pushed our way though rules together, each having areas we had a little trouble with.
Traction will be a breeze, had ours at Grosvenor sidings on 377 although by the time we get DI's we prob won't get to drive them. Did our 700 traction at Hornsey.
We got travelling time and lunch allowance each day we were training away from our depot.
Tracerboy, you get travelling time built into your day, anything over the normal working day is overtime. Makes a difference on trainee money so make sure you claim it.
Now have a wait for a DI, the group above us have been waiting since July last year and only now getting a DI.
Long wait but worth it, love every minuet of it.
See you out there.
Great post, I start my induction at Kentish Town on the 27th so thank you for the heads up of what to expect.
@Tracerboy
Good luck- I hope you get that phone call!
As Januss said, you get paid 'travel time' (ours has always been for an additional 1hr 45mins each day) when you're working from anywhere other than a fixed depot. You need to check your time sheet when it's released each week to ensure that it's showing the correct hours.
@Januss
I think we'll find it easier to get a DI now because in reality, there isn't much time to get everything sorted now! Well done on you and your group getting through the rules course!
@Dave999 (ex/current emergency services?)
Congratulations on getting through!
The inductuon is quite generic but it needs to be done. You'll be issued with a 'permit to travel', which officially covers only Govia Thameslink services and which doesn't include Southeastern. However, Southeastern staff are more than helpful in this respect and you'll have your staff passes by the Thursday of your induction week.
Don't forget to visit the ATOC website to download forms to apply for a spouse travel pass and also the form to obtain a discounted Oyster pass (75% off of LuL PAYG travel). You'll automatically receive a Privilige rate card to obtain a 75% discount on any other rail travel not provided by GTR and in a years time, you can apply for the European equivalent. Lots of travel benefits to utilise ??????
Good luck- I hope you get that phone call!
As Januss said, you get paid 'travel time' (ours has always been for an additional 1hr 45mins each day) when you're working from anywhere other than a fixed depot. You need to check your time sheet when it's released each week to ensure that it's showing the correct hours.
@Januss
I think we'll find it easier to get a DI now because in reality, there isn't much time to get everything sorted now! Well done on you and your group getting through the rules course!
@Dave999 (ex/current emergency services?)
Congratulations on getting through!
The inductuon is quite generic but it needs to be done. You'll be issued with a 'permit to travel', which officially covers only Govia Thameslink services and which doesn't include Southeastern. However, Southeastern staff are more than helpful in this respect and you'll have your staff passes by the Thursday of your induction week.
Don't forget to visit the ATOC website to download forms to apply for a spouse travel pass and also the form to obtain a discounted Oyster pass (75% off of LuL PAYG travel). You'll automatically receive a Privilige rate card to obtain a 75% discount on any other rail travel not provided by GTR and in a years time, you can apply for the European equivalent. Lots of travel benefits to utilise ??????
Any ideas who your DI's will be ? Have they told you anything as yet ?
Are you in London by any chance?
@ComUtoR We've only just passed rules, so don't expect to be thinking about a DI until around about June.
@Dave999 It involves some form-filling but it's worth it. Most weekends now our family just go for a jolly to one of the many seasides on the Kent/Sussex coast just for the hell of it. Only paying £0.60 for underground journeys is nice too!
@tracerboy It depends on the instructor, but either 09:00 or 09:30. To be honest it was easier to get there for 09:00 anyway as there is a direct train to Cannon Street from Medway.
@Dave999 It involves some form-filling but it's worth it. Most weekends now our family just go for a jolly to one of the many seasides on the Kent/Sussex coast just for the hell of it. Only paying £0.60 for underground journeys is nice too!
@tracerboy It depends on the instructor, but either 09:00 or 09:30. To be honest it was easier to get there for 09:00 anyway as there is a direct train to Cannon Street from Medway.
Great post ninhog, congrats on the assessments.
I've finally got some light at the end of the tunnel (pun intended), I had my safety critical hearing test with my hearing aids last week and passed with no problems. Just waiting for one more risk assessment. I was pencilled in for the 10th April course but I wouldn't have time to hand my notice in at work so I'm looking at the 8th May now and am being switched to the Ashford depot. Which actually suits me pretty well as I live next to the A20.
Would still have been nice to have started last November like I was originally supposed to and be where you are but I can't wait to start. Posts such as yours only make the wait worse!
Good luck to the rest of you that are starting soon too.
I've finally got some light at the end of the tunnel (pun intended), I had my safety critical hearing test with my hearing aids last week and passed with no problems. Just waiting for one more risk assessment. I was pencilled in for the 10th April course but I wouldn't have time to hand my notice in at work so I'm looking at the 8th May now and am being switched to the Ashford depot. Which actually suits me pretty well as I live next to the A20.
Would still have been nice to have started last November like I was originally supposed to and be where you are but I can't wait to start. Posts such as yours only make the wait worse!
Good luck to the rest of you that are starting soon too.
No im in Cambridgeshire.
@NickR Thanks. I was in a similar situation as yourself with my employer and things got a little tight due to me failing my medical on eyesight (I had to get an urgent optician appointment and beg them to get my glasses sent as quickly as possible). By the time I'd passed my eye test, the start date was only 2 weeks away.
During this time, I'd made my employer aware of my application process and that I really wanted to do this. Given the very specific nature of the job, it was clear it wasn't simply a case of me trying to leave! I was honest and told them that once I'd passed the medical, I would definitely hand in my notice and that the intended start date was when it was- having to work notice for a longer period than required or than intended would make it hard to give my job the full attention it deserved (due to the training start dates, I would have had to work for an extra 6 weeks at my old job, knowing that I'd landed a job as a trainee train driver! I ended up giving only 2 weeks notice, which wasn't so bad because they knew of my intentions.
Is there any chance you can work a shorter notice period? Is it worth having a chat with your employer?
@GMT I don't know if Gillingham has been filled, but I believe the group which started after our one were the last group for Gillingham as other groups since are for Three Bridges and Ashford. However, this is an assumption I've only based upon my discussions with members of other groups, so I can't guarantee any accuracy in what I said.
During this time, I'd made my employer aware of my application process and that I really wanted to do this. Given the very specific nature of the job, it was clear it wasn't simply a case of me trying to leave! I was honest and told them that once I'd passed the medical, I would definitely hand in my notice and that the intended start date was when it was- having to work notice for a longer period than required or than intended would make it hard to give my job the full attention it deserved (due to the training start dates, I would have had to work for an extra 6 weeks at my old job, knowing that I'd landed a job as a trainee train driver! I ended up giving only 2 weeks notice, which wasn't so bad because they knew of my intentions.
Is there any chance you can work a shorter notice period? Is it worth having a chat with your employer?
@GMT I don't know if Gillingham has been filled, but I believe the group which started after our one were the last group for Gillingham as other groups since are for Three Bridges and Ashford. However, this is an assumption I've only based upon my discussions with members of other groups, so I can't guarantee any accuracy in what I said.
I did think about asking if I could work a shortened notice period and the supervisors in my team are fully aware that I'm leaving at some point. In the police it would be down to my Chief Superintendent though and I know recently they've made it difficult for people, particularly with those with desirable skills like mine (taser, response driving), to leave with little notice. Which I can kind of understand as it means shuffling people around on teams.
Now I'm on the 8th May course it shouldn't be too much of a problem. One question though, did you get your contract through the post or was it electronic?
Now I'm on the 8th May course it shouldn't be too much of a problem. One question though, did you get your contract through the post or was it electronic?
My contract and all other paperwork (including uniform and equipment ordering) was sent electronically, pretty quickly after the medical. I suspected my excited phone calls to the recruitment team may have contributed to this, just to get me off their backs!
I cannot say whether Gillingham is full but I applied for the Gillingham depot and only have the medical to go. Got offered Orpington (but couldn't get a medical in time) then offered Ashford as "there are not any spaces at Gillingham".
I don't know if that means spaces for now or spaces forever!
I think there's 4 groups of 8 destined for Gillingham. There's drivers who will be transferring to Gillingham when Blackfriars depot is closed down and logically thinking, some of the new Kent Thameslink services will be taken from Southeastern, so they'll have to move those drivers over to Thameslink.
That probably more than accounts for all the positions at Gillingham which need filling.
That probably more than accounts for all the positions at Gillingham which need filling.
Haha that is exactly like me! I think they thought that moving me to Ashford was going to be a problem for me but its completely the opposite. Apparently I need to do one final risk assessment although I've no idea what that could entail having already completed the safety critical hearing test.
For those who have recently passed rules and traction and expect to get a DI soon then don't get your hopes up too much.
A group from July have only just been allocated them and not all of them yet.
They've been doing front end turns up until now
A group from July have only just been allocated them and not all of them yet.
They've been doing front end turns up until now
Thanks for replying. Anyway, should I pass my MMI next time, I would be very willing to relocate anywhere (except for central London). Ashford wouldn't be a problem.
I live in Gillingham. I do know that passing the MMI doesn't mean landing the job, but at the end of the day at the the medical I don't have to do anything really, I just have to hope for good luck, that I'm physically OK. If I'm not, so be it, it wasn't meant to be.
However, I'm already in a talent pool (shunter driver) for Southeastern, I've been for the past two years...nearly :roll:
Fingers crossed for you!
From my own experience with the medical, I should have gone for a sight test before attending it as it transpires that I have a small prescription. Fortunately, I was able to get glasses and re-attend a medical within a week.
There is a forum member who failed with his hearing during the medical, so had to get hearing aids to pass.
So whilst luck has a small part to play in the medical, there's a few things that you could look into first of all.
Never heard from them again after they said I needed a further risk assessment. Was told a manager needed to arrange it the nothing. Sent numerous e-mails and called the HR team a number of times. Always got the same lady who would always pass on the same message and would never get a call back.
Had a feeling I was going to be messed around at the start of the year so put in an application with Crossrail. Signed my contract with them last week for a start in January.
So all worked out well in the end!
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