Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[Jammy216]

Well done both. Good luck with the next stage.

 

[Dorian Grey]

Congratulations

Congrats all and thanks for advice given, on to Cardiff now

 

[rdw1987]

I've had confirmation I passed the DMI and now in the talent pool!!. Massive thanks for everyone that has provided advice and guidance on this thread, it has proved invaluable. Thank you

 

[Jammy216]

I've had confirmation I passed the DMI and now in the talent pool!!. Massive thanks for everyone that has provided advice and guidance on this thread, it has proved invaluable. Thank you

Well done. It's all moved pretty fast since I found out I passed the DMI so I'm guessing you'll be offered a start date soon.

 

[rdw1987]

Well done. It's all moved pretty fast since I found out I passed the DMI so I'm guessing you'll be offered a start date soon.

Thanks, I’ve got a family holiday booked end of April so hopefully start a course soon after that.

 

[Wincey123]

Passed my DMI and awaiting a start date! Very exciting times!!

 

[kallyvintage]

I see Avanti are hiring. Are we able to apply for more than one TOC at a time?

 

[Jammy216]

Passed my DMI and awaiting a start date! Very exciting times!!

Well done. Hopefully won't be long for you.

 

[RyanC87]

Anyone for cardiff keep an eye on phones for withheld number. You will be getting a start date between April and September

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I see Avanti are hiring. Are we able to apply for more than one TOC at a time?

Yes, but be aware that if you've sat testing with TfW already but do not meet Avanti's pass score you won't be able to resit testing until the 6 month grace period has elapsed.

 

[Jaylfc147]

Did anyone purchase any software for the computer tests for practice? With Cardiff being a 4 hour drive I don't want to mess it up.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Did anyone purchase any software for the computer tests for practice? With Cardiff being a 4 hour drive I don't want to mess it up.

If at all possible, travel down the day before so that you are well rested prior to testing, especially with having a long concentration test to do.
In my opinion, you don't need anything other than the practice materials. Though being used to gaming controllers does help with the 2 hand test.

 

[Jaylfc147]

Brill, thanks for the quick response

 

[7819Hinton]

Did anyone purchase any software for the computer tests for practice? With Cardiff being a 4 hour drive I don't want to mess it up.

TraineeTraindriverinfo.com is the best software in my experience.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2023 ==

Good practice software for all three tests.
ATAVT practice material is much harder thn the actual test IMO.
WAFV is very accurate.
Two handed- Like above poster stated, its just being comortable with gaming type controller, but again, really good software for left/right hand co ordination that is required.

 

[kallyvintage]

Yes, but be aware that if you've sat testing with TfW already but do not meet Avanti's pass score you won't be able to resit testing until the 6 month grace period has elapsed.

Yes, makes sense. Best just to see how I get on with TfW. Could fail the next stage in which case I have to wait 6 months or go all the way and get the job I want.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Yes, makes sense. Best just to see how I get on with TfW. Could fail the next stage in which case I have to wait 6 months or go all the way and get the job I want.

Yes that is the other thing to be aware of, if you apply with Avanti but fail any of the TfW tests then you won't be able to even sit the Avanti ones. Ideally wait until you (hopefully) pass all the testing and then feel free to apply elsewhere if you wish

 

[Andrewep86]

I passed all the tests apart from the Wafv. I remember once pressing the green button on a grey square but pretty confident I pressed the green button for all the black squares. I’m feeling really gutted but feedback wasn’t given. Can you apply to other TOCs for train driver positions and if not is the 6 months from when you submitted your application or when you completed the tests? Thanks

 

[Leavesontrack]

I passed all the tests apart from the Wafv. I remember once pressing the green button on a grey square but pretty confident I pressed the green button for all the black squares. I’m feeling really gutted but feedback wasn’t given. Can you apply to other TOCs for train driver positions and if not is the 6 months from when you submitted your application or when you completed the tests? Thanks

Hey, dont worry you can go again, so annoying they dont tell you, but you will have to wait 6 months from the date of the fail. I believe this 6 month rule is for all train operating companies. Let it slide, dont beat yourself up about it and have another go in 6 months..

 

[deanboy7]

I passed all the tests apart from the Wafv. I remember once pressing the green button on a grey square but pretty confident I pressed the green button for all the black squares. I’m feeling really gutted but feedback wasn’t given. Can you apply to other TOCs for train driver positions and if not is the 6 months from when you submitted your application or when you completed the tests? Thanks

Same boat mate. Failed atavt. You will have to wait atleast 6 months from the fail date before you can re-apply to any other TOC. It's a national standard / policy. Your papers tests will stay valid for 2 years from the date of passing them.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Same boat mate. Failed atavt. You will have to wait atleast 6 months from the fail date before you can re-apply to any other TOC. It's a national standard / policy. Your papers tests will stay valid for 2 years from the date of passing them.

2 years for TfW, 5 years for pretty much any other TOC/FOC

 

[Andrewep86]

Same boat mate. Failed atavt. You will have to wait atleast 6 months from the fail date before you can re-apply to any other TOC. It's a national standard / policy. Your papers tests will stay valid for 2 years from the date of passing them.

It is really disappointing to be fair. I honestly feel it’s because I accidentally pressed the green button on a grey box but who knows. It will be even more stressful next time as it will be my last attempt. Hope it works out for you next time mate. When we resit do we have to do all three of the computer tests again or just the one we failed on?

 

[deanboy7]

Not 100% on that mate. I've heard mixed things but I wouldn't be surprised if we have to sit the 3 tests as I imagine it may be awkward to slot someone into the room just to do 1 of the tests whilst others may be doing all 3. Unless they group people together that have to sit the same test. Anyone know?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

It is really disappointing to be fair. I honestly feel it’s because I accidentally pressed the green button on a grey box but who knows. It will be even more stressful next time as it will be my last attempt. Hope it works out for you next time mate. When we resit do we have to do all three of the computer tests again or just the one we failed on?

Just the one you didn't pass

 

[Manda2194]

2 years for TfW, 5 years for pretty much any other TOC/FOC

Ive been wondering this for a while. I did my stage 1 and stage 2 nearly 18 months apart so for TFW my stage 1 are coming up to expiry in May 2023. If i applied after after the stage 1 expired would I just have to sit stage 1 again or would i have to sit the stage 2 as well.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Ive been wondering this for a while. I did my stage 1 and stage 2 nearly 18 months apart so for TFW my stage 1 are coming up to expiry in May 2023. If i applied after after the stage 1 expired would I just have to sit stage 1 again or would i have to sit the stage 2 as well.

You'd have to sit any that could expire before any job offer. So if you sat in May 21 & Nov 22, I'd say definitely paper testing, computer testing would be fine but up to TfW I guess.

I was in a not too disimilar situation as my results were just over the 2 years and had to resit everything for TfW

 

[Plodster]

It is really disappointing to be fair. I honestly feel it’s because I accidentally pressed the green button on a grey box but who knows. It will be even more stressful next time as it will be my last attempt. Hope it works out for you next time mate. When we resit do we have to do all three of the computer tests again or just the one we failed on?

It won’t be down to pressing once when you didn’t have to - I did once and passed and know others who did too.
I don’t know how it’s scored but its probably down to missing some changes or not acknowledging changes within a required ‘window’.
Consistency over the 30 minutes probably plays a part too - so you are as quick at the end of the test as you were at the start, maintaining concentration and reaction.
There is practice software you can purchase and having sat the test once you will know what to expect.

Good luck next time.

 

[Manda2194]

You'd have to sit any that could expire before any job offer. So if you sat in May 21 & Nov 22, I'd say definitely paper testing, computer testing would be fine but up to TfW I guess.

I was in a not too disimilar situation as my results were just over the 2 years and had to resit everything for TfW

I think i might email the OPC on this just to confirm. I dont mind doing the stage 1 testing again but i found stage 2 so much harder so i certainly dont fancy doing that again!

As far as we know are TFW the only ones that allow the tests for 2 years, I am sure i read elsewhere Northern and TPE are 3 years at least and most 5.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

It won’t be down to pressing once when you didn’t have to - I did once and passed and know others who did too.
I don’t know how it’s scored but its probably down to missing some changes or not acknowledging changes within a required ‘window’.
Consistency over the 30 minutes probably plays a part too - so you are as quick at the end of the test as you were at the start, maintaining concentration and reaction.
There is practice software you can purchase and having sat the test once you will know what to expect.

Good luck next time.

Indeed, accuracy and consistency are key. I believe if you start with quick reaction and get progressively slower then you're likely to fail even if you hit 100% accuracy.

Think of it as a 30 minute concentration window into how you would cope driving a train for 2hrs, of you seem to start to drop off, it's likely that would continue to get lower over time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2023 ==

I think i might email the OPC on this just to confirm. I dont mind doing the stage 1 testing again but i found stage 2 so much harder so i certainly dont fancy doing that again!

As far as we know are TFW the only ones that allow the tests for 2 years, I am sure i read elsewhere Northern and TPE are 3 years at least and most 5.

I'm sure if you drop TfW a message they will respond, likely if the computer tests are in date they will be happy with that

 

[Andrewep86]

It won’t be down to pressing once when you didn’t have to - I did once and passed and know others who did too.
I don’t know how it’s scored but its probably down to missing some changes or not acknowledging changes within a required ‘window’.
Consistency over the 30 minutes probably plays a part too - so you are as quick at the end of the test as you were at the start, maintaining concentration and reaction.
There is practice software you can purchase and having sat the test once you will know what to expect.

Good luck next time.

Thank you

 

[Saxon79]

Got my computer tests on 14th March, other than the practice material what else can I do to help me? I don't play computer games anymore but I'm going to have a go at a bit of gaming for the 2 hand coordination practice, not sure what games my lad has that could help me. Is there any free stuff online anywhere other than the odd YouTube video?