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West Midlands Trains (inc. LNWR) - Trainee Driver - Recruitment Discussion

MLR95

Member
Joined
22 Dec 2025
Messages
5
Location
West Midlands
Talent pool for West Midlands travel? I have a cousin who’s in a talent pool for cov for 2 years now and has not had a call either. But he doesn’t live that local maybe around 55 minutes away from that depot

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Just received next round email for online OPC assessment wolves. Anyone else hear back?

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Also anyone here applied from Jan 2025? And when do u start? Or what part of the process are you. I am in the November 2025 application

I had my email today for the online OPC assessment for Wolves
 
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tadhg1999

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2025
Messages
31
Location
Birmingham
Had my email a couple of days ago on the Wolverhampton job. Through to the OPC sift. They say Jan/Feb time.
Congrats! Am I right in saying if we are in the talent pool awaiting stage 1 OPC test, that we will absolutely put forward for that af some point or is it subject to role needs etc? And, if we pass those, is a DMI for certain? Quite new to this so still working out the process - thanks!
 
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Neatro

Member
Joined
30 May 2018
Messages
536
Location
Birmingham
Congrats! Am I right in saying if we are in the talent pool awaiting stage 1 OPC test, that we will absolutely put forward for that af some point or is it subject to role needs etc? And, if we pass those, is a DMI for certain? Quite new to this so still working out the process - thanks!
There's no guarantee that you'll progress if you're in a talent pool.

Think of it as a bucket of apples, if they need X amount of recruits they'll pull x amount of apples out of the bucket, usually from the top. If some get pulled, you'll move up and it's just a process of trying to get to the top and pulled out before your talent pool period ends.

You could be in the talent pool for 2 years and hear absolutely nothing, or you could be in it a couple of weeks and hear something.

I was in an XC talent pool for about 6 months before I heard anything from them.
 

tadhg1999

Member
Joined
18 Nov 2025
Messages
31
Location
Birmingham
There's no guarantee that you'll progress if you're in a talent pool.

Think of it as a bucket of apples, if they need X amount of recruits they'll pull x amount of apples out of the bucket, usually from the top. If some get pulled, you'll move up and it's just a process of trying to get to the top and pulled out before your talent pool period ends.

You could be in the talent pool for 2 years and hear absolutely nothing, or you could be in it a couple of weeks and hear something.

I was in an XC talent pool for about 6 months before I heard anything from them.
Gotcha - thanks for that clarification! Really is just a waiting game then isn’t it. Still, glad I got in there. Also am I right in saying you can only be on one talent pool per TOC? As in I’m in it based on my Coventry application, but could I apply and be added to a Birmingham talent pool? Thanks!
 

Neatro

Member
Joined
30 May 2018
Messages
536
Location
Birmingham
Gotcha - thanks for that clarification! Really is just a waiting game then isn’t it. Still, glad I got in there. Also am I right in saying you can only be on one talent pool per TOC? As in I’m in it based on my Coventry application, but could I apply and be added to a Birmingham talent pool? Thanks!
No, the application you went through puts you in the talent pool for that TOC and they don't really like you applying for the same role in different areas within the same TOC so highly unlikely you'd get into two separate talent pools.

Infact I've seen people progress with certain TOCs once they've pulled out of another area.

That being said, there's nothing stopping you from being in talent pools with multiple TOCs although it's not really advised within this forum.
 

traintee

Member
Joined
13 Feb 2013
Messages
84
I don't think there is any issue being in multiple talent pools with different TOCs. Wmt only state one application per depot with them, they have no control on what you do with other companies.
 

dtr1989

Member
Joined
15 Jan 2025
Messages
14
Location
Milton Keynes
Good luck to those who were on Day One for Bletchley today.

I passed day one around this time last year, just need to retake one test on Day Two. Would anyone be so kind to advise of the date of Day Two when they have it? I suspect it’ll be the end of Jan.
 

cwww

Member
Joined
1 Oct 2025
Messages
59
Location
Luton
Just got my email advising I have a group assessment in Birmingham on the 22nd of January AM, is anyone else on this, what should I expecttt!? TIA
 

dtr1989

Member
Joined
15 Jan 2025
Messages
14
Location
Milton Keynes
Hey. I’ve just got the email also but I already passed Stage One to enhanced standard last year so I’m a bit confused.

The email says results have been checked etc. However I emailed recruitment and they said, ‘any discrepancies with results will be checked’. I booked on as it says you need to do that within 48 hours and I don’t want my application to be withdrawn.

Has anyone been in this situation before?

As to what to expect. Basically a big room of desks. You are given a number of paper based tests throughout the morning or afternoon. It’s hard to explain but the tests you do are all in this forum. There’s nothing catching you out or awkward in terms of going around introducing yourself.
 

cwww

Member
Joined
1 Oct 2025
Messages
59
Location
Luton
Hey. I’ve just got the email also but I already passed Stage One to enhanced standard last year so I’m a bit confused.

The email says results have been checked etc. However I emailed recruitment and they said, ‘any discrepancies with results will be checked’. I booked on as it says you need to do that within 48 hours and I don’t want my application to be withdrawn.

Has anyone been in this situation before?

As to what to expect. Basically a big room of desks. You are given a number of paper based tests throughout the morning or afternoon. It’s hard to explain but the tests you do are all in this forum. There’s nothing catching you out or awkward in terms of going around introducing yourself.
That’s great thanks mate
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
Afternoon all,

I took the OPC Stage 1 psychometric assessments last week for a WMR Trainee Train Driver and happy to say that I passed! I am now waiting to be invited for stage 2 assessments which will be the computer-based stuff. I'm really happy to have made it this far and would like to work really hard towards passing stage 2 as well.

Does anyone have any advice for me, please, or any tips on getting prepared for the computer-based assessments.
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
Evening all,

I had notification that I passed the stage 1 OPC tests last week for west mids, how long have other people waited until they're invited to stage 2?
 

Trains101

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2025
Messages
86
Location
Wolverhampton
When was stage 1? Was that In person or the online test? Also what depot are you if you don’t mind me asking

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I received this email on 22nd December but haven’t heard anything since-

Next Steps – OPC Online Sift


The next stage will be an online assessment conducted by the OPC (Occupational Psychology Centre). This will be sent directly from OPC.
The sift is expected to take place sometime in January or February, but we cannot confirm exact dates at this stage.



Still waiting on the online test to come through have people received this?
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
When was stage 1? Was that In person or the online test? Also what depot are you if you don’t mind me asking

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I received this email on 22nd December but haven’t heard anything since-

Next Steps – OPC Online Sift


The next stage will be an online assessment conducted by the OPC (Occupational Psychology Centre). This will be sent directly from OPC.
The sift is expected to take place sometime in January or February, but we cannot confirm exact dates at this stage.



Still waiting on the online test to come through have people received this?
In person mate - you’ll do these if you get through the online stuff. I’ve applied for Wolves but bear in mind it must have been last February when I did the online assessment.
 

Trains101

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2025
Messages
86
Location
Wolverhampton
Oh okay thanks for that info mate. Seems like a very long process then. When did you do your stage 1 tests? And were they in person I’m guessing?
 

RyanMD

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
31
Location
England
Oh okay thanks for that info mate. Seems like a very long process then. When did you do your stage 1 tests? And were they in person I’m guessing?
Has been for me yeah. I did them last week in Birmingham, this was the pen and paper tests but the second stage is computer based.
 

Hutty94

Member
Joined
30 Dec 2025
Messages
18
Location
Coventry
Hi all, I sat my stage 1 assessment on the 8th and luckily I passed. Do they tell you what computer tests you’re taking at stage 2? They’ve given me the same practice pack again but not specified what I’m doing. This time though they have added the interview onto a separate date instead of at the same time as the stage 2 tests.
I’m surprised they’ve also stated that if you need help with travel costs that they can arrange a travel pass. Do you have to pay this back?
 

Trains101

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2025
Messages
86
Location
Wolverhampton
Hi mate when did you apply? And what depot? To confirm you’ve passed the computer test online and have been invited to do the OPC, is that correct?
 

Hutty94

Member
Joined
30 Dec 2025
Messages
18
Location
Coventry
Hi mate when did you apply? And what depot? To confirm you’ve passed the computer test online and have been invited to do the OPC, is that correct?
Hi, I applied in the October. Compared to others, I’ve gone through the process very quickly. I’ve applied for Coventry depot. I’ve done all the online stuff like the SJT and passed Stage 1. I’m onto Stage 2 which is the computer tests at Watford
 

Trains101

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2025
Messages
86
Location
Wolverhampton
I’ve applied to wolves just before Christmas and was told they will send me a online test to do in Jan or Feb so just waiting on that
 

cwww

Member
Joined
1 Oct 2025
Messages
59
Location
Luton
I’ve got mine the 27th. Which bit are you on?
I have my stage 1 Birmingham assessments on Wednesday, how many weeks/days was there between your stage 1 and stage 2 assessments and interview? Does it say like it did in stage 1 what will be included on the day for stage 2 and also how close to the assessment material they gave you was it on the day to the real thing? Sorry for so many questions!
 

Trains101

Member
Joined
27 Nov 2025
Messages
86
Location
Wolverhampton
I have my stage 1 Birmingham assessments on Wednesday, how many weeks/days was there between your stage 1 and stage 2 assessments and interview? Does it say like it did in stage 1 what will be included on the day for stage 2 and also how close to the assessment material they gave you was it on the day to the real thing? Sorry for so many questions!
Hi mate in order to get to your stage 1 did u have to pass the online test? And when did you apply if you don’t mind me asking
 

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