Depot choices

[striker7]

Hey everyone i’m currently in the process of picking a depot.

My available options to pick from are:

- Hornsey
- Cricklewood

Any suggestions on which depot I should pick? I’ve read a thread about Hornsey and it seems like the worst depot as there are 100 stops in a working day.

New to this forum and on my way to become a trainee train driver.

Thanks!

 

[Jme_Bud]

That Blackfriars is interesting? Currently there is not a drivers depot at Blackfriars. Is that definitely correct?

 

[striker7]

Yep, I was told that blackfriars was an available option in my conversation with the talent acquisition project lead.

 

[Horizon22]

There are not depots at some of those places - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/different-driver-depot-route-and-traction-cards.205085/

No depot at Blackfriars. Have you actually applied and been offered a place as a trainee driver? What stage are you in the process? I presume this is Great Northern but you seem to have crossed over both them and Thameslink. Little confusing; you don't "pick" a depot - you apply for specific vacancies at certain ones.

 

[striker7]

Yeah I have, for some reason I’ve been offered the choices stated. Not sure maybe the company is not completely up to date! Will be making my choice of Cricklewood now. Thanks!

 

[D3WY]

I never got given a choice of depot. A applied for Brighton (potentially three bridges) but even then there was no choice into what I'd get that was just what I was applying for, in the end I got put into Barnham. Its a bit odd if you have been given a choice. Usualy the job advert is for a specific depot ie "trainee driver, GTR "X" depot"

What stage are you at?

 

[Class2ldn]

Definitely no depot at blackfriars, it's only been closed about 9 years lol.
Tbh they are all intensive stopper work, st albans and cricklewood will be mostly double sutton loops but I'd look at whats closest.
Think they all have nights.

 

[baz962]

Definitely no depot at blackfriars, it's only been closed about 9 years lol.
Tbh they are all intensive stppper work, st albans and cricklewood will be mostly double sutton loops but I'd look at whats closest.
Think they all have nights.

Wouldn't Welwyn be the best work.

 

[43066]

Wouldn't Welwyn be the best work.

Based on a ex TM we know quite well - yes indeed. They start on in inners but progress quite quickly to longer distance work including going through the core.

@Twotwo might be able to comment further.

Definitely no depot at blackfriars, it's only been closed about 9 years lol.
Tbh they are all intensive stppper work, st albans and cricklewood will be mostly double sutton loops but I'd look at whats closest.
Think they all have nights.

The fact HR at GTR are suggesting Blackfriars as a depot is odd to say the least… 9 years can’t be wide of the mark. I remember going in there as a trainee circa. 2016. It definitely closed prior to the 2018 TL “big bang”.

 

[NSE]

You can get the chance to specify which is your main choice and which (I think it’s two) are your ‘alternative choices’. I’ve heard it before.
Blackfriars is only a depot for passenger hosts, so it does exist as a depot, just not for drivers. That might be why it has appeared in some context. Equally Kings Cross doesn’t take trainees so it’s virtually certain you won’t go there.

 

[Class2ldn]

Wouldn't Welwyn be the best work.

Probably would out of all of them but it's still mainly stopper work I believe but certainly a better mix then cricklewood.
Im sure GN have a different rest day set up to TL but I'm not sure exactly.

 

[striker7]

I never got given a choice of depot. A applied for Brighton (potentially three bridges) but even then there was no choice into what I'd get that was just what I was applying for, in the end I got put into Barnham. Its a bit odd if you have been given a choice. Usualy the job advert is for a specific depot ie "trainee driver, GTR "X" depot"

What stage are you at?

Yeah the job description is for Cricklewood which is what I’m gonna stick with, got through the whole opc process going in for my dmi at the end of the month.

Anyone work at Cricklewood? Any tips or things I should know

There are not depots at some of those places - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/different-driver-depot-route-and-traction-cards.205085/

No depot at Blackfriars. Have you actually applied and been offered a place as a trainee driver? What stage are you in the process? I presume this is Great Northern but you seem to have crossed over both them and Thameslink. Little confusing; you don't "pick" a depot - you apply for specific vacancies at certain ones.

I was offered to pick between gn & tl, not sure why lol but it’s nice to have the options

 

[43066]

Yeah the job description is for Cricklewood which is what I’m gonna stick with, got through the whole opc process going in for my dmi at the end of the month.

Best of luck with it.

The main objective at your stage is to get a key and keep your nose clean. GTR are a good place to do that - you can worry about work content later and put in for a depot move or apply elsewhere.

 

[Horizon22]

Yeah the job description is for Cricklewood which is what I’m gonna stick with, got through the whole opc process going in for my dmi at the end of the month.

Anyone work at Cricklewood? Any tips or things I should know


I was offered to pick between gn & tl, not sure why lol but it’s nice to have the options

Odd process then, or perhaps someone on the recruitment team who is either relatively new or been asked to shuffle things around.

 

[striker7]

Odd process then, or perhaps someone on the recruitment team who is either relatively new or been asked to shuffle things around.

Yeah not sure, just glad that the communication with the recruiter is good.

Best of luck with it.

The main objective at your stage is to get a key and keep your nose clean. GTR are a good place to do that - you can worry about work content later and put in for a depot move or apply elsewhere.

Thank you! Will keep that in mind. Just need to get through this last step with the manager.

 

[43066]

Odd process then, or perhaps someone on the recruitment team who is either relatively new or been asked to shuffle things around.

Indeed. Unfortunately TOC recruitment teams are small and, as we know, tend to be overwhelmed by the number of applicants. That doesn’t excuse this type of misinformation being put out, of course.

 

[43066]

Yeah not sure, just glad that the communication with the recruiter is good. Been told that courses for Cricklewood start on 19th May & 21st July. For Hornsey it was 16th June


Thank you! Will keep that in mind. Just need to get through this last step with the manager.

Dress smartly and think about your answers, pause if necessary - worked for me ten years ago and again (as a qualified candidate) a few months ago .

 

[D3WY]

Fair enough! Best or luck with it it will be the best decision you ever made

 

[baz962]

Dress smartly and think about your answers, pause if necessary - worked for me ten years ago and again (as a qualified candidate) a few months ago .

What actually worked for you is our management giving you an unduly and false great reference , they practically begged the new place to take you.

 

[choochoochoo]

Hey everyone i’m currently in the process of picking a depot with GTR.

My available options to pick from are:

- Hornsey
- Cricklewood
- Welwyn Garden City
- Kings Cross
- St Albans
- Blackfriars

(All in order of driving time from my house, ranging from 40minutes - 59minutes)

Any suggestions on which depot I should pick? I’ve read a thread about Hornsey and it seems like the worst depot as there are 100 stops in a working day.

New to this forum and on my way to become a trainee train driver.

Thanks!

Are you sure King’s Cross is an option ? There’s a long list of qualified drivers from other GN/TL drivers who want to move to that depot who’d fill vacancies before any trainee got the chance.

 

[NSE]

Are you sure King’s Cross is an option ? There’s a long list of qualified drivers from other GN/TL drivers who want to move to that depot who’d fill vacancies before any trainee got the chance.

Kings Cross won’t be an option. It may appear as an option on a list for new recruits, but in practice, it won’t be available as an option.

Indeed. Unfortunately TOC recruitment teams are small and, as we know, tend to be overwhelmed by the number of applicants. That doesn’t excuse this type of misinformation being put out, of course.

It’s not misinformation. On occasions people can list second choices for depots. I don’t know the ins and outs and the exact procedures but I can confirm that on occasions people can be offered multiple depots.

 

[43066]

Fair enough! Best or luck with it it will be the best decision you ever made

Possibility the difference is because you applied to Southern initially? Although it’s GTR it seems to be handled differently to Thameslink/Great Northern for whatever reason.

It’s not misinformation. On occasions people can list second choices for depots. I don’t know the ins and outs and the exact procedures but I can confirm that on occasions people can be offered multiple depots.

With respect, if prospective trainee drivers are offered depots that no longer exist, it is.

 

[NSE]

Possibility the difference is because you applied to Southern initially? Although it’s GTR it seems to be handled differently to Thameslink/Great Northern for whatever reason.



With respect, if prospective trainee drivers are offered depots that no longer exist, it is.

If you’re referring to the bit where Blackfriars is being an option, then yes, that bit is. I was thought you were saying it’s misinformation about sometimes being allowed to nominate a second choice, as that isn’t common practice, but does happen on occasion, apologies if I identified the wrong bit of your post.