Transport for Wales - Trainee Train Drivers

[Slipper]

I

I had mine the same day! I passed thankfully. Xx

Me also, but generally it seems to be about a week I believe. I was told verbally on the day I had passed, but didn't get a confirmation email for about 2 weeks, the other 3 who were with me at the same time all found out the same day about a week later.

Good luck all

 

[6opher]

I was asked what my preference would be so had to choose one. I have since had a medical and as mentioned was told possibly November/December.

I spoke to Laura quite a while ago and was told no one usually goes over the 2 year limit, unless by thier own choice. Also as much as we get frustrated waiting, I was assured that they would not invest time and money on us in the process if there was no realistic chance of getting a job

Sounds great and hopefully you’ll be starting before you know it. I was only saying as it would be devastating watching a few valleys courses take place which you could have been on and your time running out in the pool. It can happen but fingers crossed for you. If you’ve had your medical it won’t be long then.

Good luck

 

[Catweasel]

Hi all, first time posting on here! Had my DMI earlier today and found out 2 hours later I have been put into the talent pool. On the email it says that if your not called for a course within 2 years you have to repeat the process all over again!
Does anyone know how often this happens or do they just say this to cover themselves?
Cheers

Firstly, congrats on passing the DMI! Have you applied for Mainline or Valleys?
I was told that as well, but I was in the talent pool for around 2 months before I heard about my course starting - I would think you won't have to wait long, but that's just my experience, others may have been waiting a while.
I was delayed as I got holidays wrong, and thought I needed time off this year - when I told Laura I had the wrong year, she put me on the next available course. Have you told them you have pre-booked holidays?

Seems to be hell of alot of testing going on recently but not many starting on courses. Anyone started a course recently? And if u did when did u go into the talent pool. Been eagerly waiting since last September

Started my course in May, wasn't waiting long - only delay was my error saying I had a pre-booked holiday, but then I was put on the next available course when I told them my mistake. I started the application in July 2020, so was quite drawn out due to Covid-19 but amazing when I started!

 

[Dups456]

I’m booked in for first assessment day next Monday. Such a long wait with no news and now it all seems to be happening so quick!!
To everyone who has started or completed their training- are you glad you made the switch to this job?

 

[Plodster]

I’m booked in for first assessment day next Monday. Such a long wait with no news and now it all seems to be happening so quick!!
To everyone who has started or completed their training- are you glad you made the switch to this job?

Nice 1
Good luck with it It’s all explained on the day by the lady who runs the assessment
You get to practice some tests before you do them too and they will explain things if you need any help before the test starts
There are regular breaks - pretty much between each test
Results took a week and be prepared for stage 2 to potentially come around fairly quickly too
Good luck with it

 

[Dups456]

Nice 1
Good luck with it It’s all explained on the day by the lady who runs the assessment
You get to practice some tests before you do them too and they will explain things if you need any help before the test starts
There are regular breaks - pretty much between each test
Results took a week and be prepared for stage 2 to potentially come around fairly quickly too
Good luck with it

Thanks The practice material I’ve received is really good as well. And after a year of waiting and prepping if I’m not ready now I never will be !!

 

[Hembrows]

Nearly 2 week wait for the dmi result was worth it! Passed and possibly start training at the end of September if the medical goes ok.

 

[Burt807]

Nearly 2 week wait for the dmi result was worth it! Passed and possibly start training at the end of September if the medical goes ok.

Well done mate. Just waiting for a medical and course date myself. Where are you going?

 

[Plodster]

Nearly 2 week wait for the dmi result was worth it! Passed and possibly start training at the end of September if the medical goes ok.

Well done
Great result for you

 

[Hembrows]

Well done mate. Just waiting for a medical and course date myself. Where are you going?

Thanks pal, medical is booked for Thursday at Chester, I applied for the Pwllheli depot.

Well done
Great result for you

Thanks mate

 

[Burt807]

Thanks pal, medical is booked for Thursday at Chester, I applied for the Pwllheli depot.


Thanks mate

Ah well done mate

 

[Kon92]

I passed the written part of the OPC 7 weeks ago and I am waiting a date to do the computers and structured interview. I was told at the time it would be a 3 week wait, but I've not heard anything since, anyone in the same boat for chester?

 

[ShannyDaw]

I’ve been invited for a second stage computer test and MMI down in Cardiff on Monday next week, 30th August.

Does that sound right to everyone with it being a U.K. Bank Holiday? I’m fully aware the rail network still runs on Bank Holidays, just thought it was a little odd for offices and recruitment processes to still take place then!

I’ve tried contacting Laura via both email and the mobile number in her email signature but so far no response…

 

[Plodster]

I’ve been invited for a second stage computer test and MMI down in Cardiff on Monday next week, 30th August.

Does that sound right to everyone with it being a U.K. Bank Holiday? I’m fully aware the rail network still runs on Bank Holidays, just thought it was a little odd for offices and recruitment processes to still take place then!

I’ve tried contacting Laura via both email and the mobile number in her email signature but so far no response…

Hard to say I guess
But I’m with you the BH does seem a little unusual - only 4 people go each day for Stage 2 so should be easy to rearrange
Seems like Laura has a lot on her plate
She seems to do everything for one heck of a lot of us in the system

traineetraindriver.com has some good stuff to help prepare for computer tests but you need to pay £60 ish for the software which is as close as you can get to the real thing
Really helped me

 

[Burt807]

Me too, I echo the above

 

[ShannyDaw]

Hard to say I guess
But I’m with you the BH does seem a little unusual - only 4 people go each day for Stage 2 so should be easy to rearrange
Seems like Laura has a lot on her plate
She seems to do everything for one heck of a lot of us in the system

traineetraindriver.com has some good stuff to help prepare for computer tests but you need to pay £60 ish for the software which is as close as you can get to the real thing
Really helped me

Thanks Plodster

I’ve confirmed I’m available for Monday but have booked a hotel for the Sunday evening as I’ll be travelling from near Manchester and I’d rather not do the driving there and back in one day.

Just a bit concerned that I’ll turn up on Monday morning in Cardiff with the office all closed and no one to contact!

 

[Plodster]

Thanks Plodster

I’ve confirmed I’m available for Monday but have booked a hotel for the Sunday evening as I’ll be travelling from near Manchester and I’d rather not do the driving there and back in one day.

Just a bit concerned that I’ll turn up on Monday morning in Cardiff with the office all closed and no one to contact!

Yeah I get you
Good plan for the day before
I did the same
I hope you hear soon from Laura
Good luck with it when it comes round
The tests are ok
You will do a Situational Judgement Exercise at the start 20 ish questions- this isn’t scored but generates additional questions they may ask on MMI
Then into the test on the computer you get practice before each test and roll through then back to back
Once finished it’s a 45 min break then results and onto MMI if you’ve passed computer tests
Rachel from HR ran the day and did the MMI and was really helpful and relaxed to be fair
She also did our Stage 1
Me and a mate left just after 4 on the day

I didn’t have a clue how I’d done
Pressed once when I shouldn’t have done on the black square test and had to reset my self!
Photo test with the cars road signs etc - didn’t have a clue. There are 20 or so slides for that one
The two handed coordination seemed ok - speed and accuracy on this one
Use the practice time to get a feel for the joysticks and check the console- a few weeks back @Tanx30 said one of hers came off during the test!!

 

[ShannyDaw]

Yeah I get you
Good plan for the day before
I did the same
I hope you hear soon from Laura
Good luck with it when it comes round
The tests are ok
You will do a Situational Judgement Exercise at the start 20 ish questions- this isn’t scored but generates additional questions they may ask on MMI
Then into the test on the computer you get practice before each test and roll through then back to back
Once finished it’s a 45 min break then results and onto MMI if you’ve passed computer tests
Rachel from HR ran the day and did the MMI and was really helpful and relaxed to be fair
She also did our Stage 1
Me and a mate left just after 4 on the day

I didn’t have a clue how I’d done
Pressed once when I shouldn’t have done on the black square test and had to reset my self!
Photo test with the cars road signs etc - didn’t have a clue. There are 20 or so slides for that one
The two handed coordination seemed ok - speed and accuracy on this one
Use the practice time to get a feel for the joysticks and check the console- a few weeks back @Tanx30 said one of hers came off during the test!!

Brilliant, thanks for the info! Kinda what I expected from what I’ve read up on so far but always useful to know from those that’ve done it recently

EDIT: Had a response from Laura this morning, the assessment centre IS going ahead on Monday so if anyone else wonders if they do them on Bank Holidays…there’s your answer!

 

[Burt807]

I've been offered a potential course on 27th Sept, but need to do a medical and at least see a contract before I give notice at work. Haven't been able to get hold for Laura since receiving that email on Tuesday! No reply to emails, and phone is ringing out. Is anyone else experiencing these issues? Has recruitment suffered a meteorite strike or something??

 

[Lilman]

Has anyone who did stage one assesment last Thursday at Chester heard about results yet.

Cheers

 

[wobman]

I think we have to remember the HR recruitment department is very very busy, there's multiple ongoing courses and many planned courses across the 2 training centres of TFW.
TFW employed acorn recruitment to help out they got that busy, I think they are taking things back in house though.

TFW are still dealing with the covid backlog aswell and I know of some trainee drivers sitting at home now waiting for a DI's to be free. There's staff training / new rolling stock / trainee training still ongoing with covid bubbles.
So all I can say is to be patient, it's a drawn out process at the best of times.

 

[Burt807]

I think we have to remember the HR recruitment department is very very busy, there's multiple ongoing courses and many planned courses across the 2 training centres of TFW.
TFW employed acorn recruitment to help out they got that busy, I think they are taking things back in house though.

TFW are still dealing with the covid backlog aswell and I know of some trainee drivers sitting at home now waiting for a DI's to be free. There's staff training / new rolling stock / trainee training still ongoing with covid bubbles.
So all I can say is to be patient, it's a drawn out process at the best of times.

Understood, thanks for putting it in context.

 

[6opher]

I've been offered a potential course on 27th Sept, but need to do a medical and at least see a contract before I give notice at work. Haven't been able to get hold for Laura since receiving that email on Tuesday! No reply to emails, and phone is ringing out. Is anyone else experiencing these issues? Has recruitment suffered a meteorite strike or something??

Do you know if it’s Valleys or mainline?

 

[DanniG]

Has anyone who did stage one assesment last Thursday at Chester heard about results yet.

Cheers

Just received email now Xx

 

[Lilman]

Just received email now Xx

Me to failed hope you did well just want to know what bit or if it was a pass at national and not enhanced

 

[DanniG]

Me to failed hope you did well just want to know what bit or if it was a pass at national and not enhanced

Oh so sorry to hear that.. hopefully you get the answers soon Xx

 

[Burt807]

Do you know if it’s Valleys or mainline?

For A Northern depot mate

 

[6opher]

For A Northern depot mate

Ok. Well done.

 

[Burt807]

Ok. Well done.

Thanks mate. All the best

 

[StaGuardDriver]

Hard to say I guess
But I’m with you the BH does seem a little unusual - only 4 people go each day for Stage 2 so should be easy to rearrange
Seems like Laura has a lot on her plate
She seems to do everything for one heck of a lot of us in the system

traineetraindriver.com has some good stuff to help prepare for computer tests but you need to pay £60 ish for the software which is as close as you can get to the real thing
Really helped me

Hello.
Just found out I’ve got my Stage 2 tests next Thursday down in Cardiff. How long does the software take to arrive from traineetraindriver.com or is it something you can access instantly once you’ve paid?
Thanks.