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Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Marylebone, Stourbridge and Birmingham - Talent Pool (18/02/25)

NSEWonderer

NSEWonderer

Established Member
Joined
5 Dec 2020
Messages
2,002
Location
London
Marylebone

Stourbridge

Birmingham

Job description

Chiltern Railways operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands.


What You’ll Experience:

Comprehensive Training: Our Driver Apprenticeship Programme spans 12-18 months and includes a blend of classroom instruction, modular assessments, and practical training with experienced driving instructors.
Structured Schedule: Enjoy the benefits of knowing your shifts in advance, allowing you to plan.
Supportive Environment: Learn in a supportive setting where your growth and development are our priorities.
What We’re Looking For:

Be at least 20.5 years old
Must live within 45 minutes of our depot. Unfortunately, we can’t accept applications outside this timeframe.
Have previously demonstrated a positive, can-do attitude at work.
The recruitment process:

Application review/ postcode check
Safety and rules testing
Interview
Medical evaluation

Our benefits include.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a culture of respect, challenge and innovation – with excellent opportunities for growth and development.

All active staff and their eligible partners/dependants are entitled to free standard class leisure travel on Chiltern Railways, Cross Country, Arriva Rail London, Grand Central.
Active staff are also entitled to residential and duty standard class travel on all of the above services
Defined Benefit Pension Plan 
Arriva Village - access to online benefits and discounts
Cycle to Work Scheme 
Employee Assistance Plan 
Physio Line  - We offer complementary 24-hour physio for everyone 
Health Shield  - Health Shield provides an affordable healthcare cash plan offering a wide variety of benefits including dental, optical, and physiotherapy
Eye Care  - You’re entitled to free eye tests and if you need glasses for computer use we will pay up to £80.00 towards your lenses and frames
We offer 25 days annual leave as well as statutory holidays
Flexible working 
Support  - Peer Support, Samaritans, and Railway Chaplain
At Chiltern, we work in an environment where diversity is essential, inclusion is our culture, and each person knows they belong and matter.

Talent Pool Apprentice Drivers
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RailUK Forums

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xenomorth45

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2025
Messages
57
Location
dudley
Have applied for this the other day (Stourbridge) after being put on hold at the WMR. Anyone else applied? No closing date I can see so wondering what the turn around time is on getting back?
 
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Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
74
Location
Birmingham
Same here. Guess it’s a matter of wait and see. I presume it’s a ‘phishing’ exercise with no closing date etc… but you never know
 
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Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
74
Location
Birmingham
Nope.

With ‘recruitment’ still open I wouldn’t hold your breath tbh. Hopefully proven wrong but that’s my take on it :)
 
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Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
74
Location
Birmingham
Yep sure does. When I applied to Avantii a couple of years ago I had my OPC invite through 4 days after the job closed so I’m just pressing whikst it’s open I won’t hear anything.

Given they had a recruitment drive end of last year I’m just presuming the talent pool is incase x amount don’t pass the tests etc…

Fingers crossed for you and I I’m wrong and we hear soon :)
 
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walsh1990

Member
Joined
11 Mar 2025
Messages
21
Location
n7 0JN
Anyone know what stage 1.7 OPC actually entails...


I have passed the initial sift and the 'current stage' on my application has updated to: stage 1.7 OPC. I haven't received any emails or letters telling me I have progressed or what this entails. From scouring the posts on this forum, it seems like OPC 1.7 means: TRP1, TRP2, TEA-occ and the Group Bourdon.

However, other people in the Chiltern talent pools who have passed the initial sift have mentioned receiving links to sit a VSE rather than heading to an assessment centre? I'm quite confused and know TOCs have different orders for doing this. So any clarification would be great.

Thanks
 
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Ridetherails

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2025
Messages
74
Location
Birmingham
Where did it say you had progressed? On the ‘ my application ‘ part of profile?

Which depot did you apply for?

Congrats on progressing, fingers crossed for you. I’m still holding out hope :)
 
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xenomorth45

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2025
Messages
57
Location
dudley
Ridetherails said:
Where did it say you had progressed? On the ‘ my application ‘ part of profile?

Which depot did you apply for?

Congrats on progressing, fingers crossed for you. I’m still holding out hope :)
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I guess your application hasn’t moved either yet too?
 
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walsh1990

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11 Mar 2025
Messages
21
Location
n7 0JN
Ridetherails said:
Where did it say you had progressed? On the ‘ my application ‘ part of profile?

Which depot did you apply for?

Congrats on progressing, fingers crossed for you. I’m still holding out hope :)
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Thank you.

Applied for Marylebone.

In the careers section under ‘my applications’ and ‘current stage’. It was blank for ages and I only noticed when I checked back. No emails or letter was sent out so no idea of timescale.

No news is good news. Good luck xxx
 
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crt-crt

Member
Joined
13 Aug 2021
Messages
51
Location
Birmingham
1.7 Stage means you passed VSE and they are awaiting OPC dates to give you when they have courses in schedule. I also am at 1.7 on my application and have received email about passing VSE but they had filled all courses for April. They sent out another email and said they will be back in touch with OPC dates once they had more courses in schedule towards the end of the year. I applied for Moor Street on the advert before this one.
 
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walsh1990

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11 Mar 2025
Messages
21
Location
n7 0JN
crt-crt said:
1.7 Stage means you passed VSE and they are awaiting OPC dates to give you when they have courses in schedule. I also am at 1.7 on my application and have received email about passing VSE but they had filled all courses for April. They sent out another email and said they will be back in touch with OPC dates once they had more courses in schedule towards the end of the year. I applied for Moor Street on the advert before this one.
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So you sat the VSE? I haven't sat it yet or had any correspondence about potentially sitting it.
 
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crt-crt

Member
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13 Aug 2021
Messages
51
Location
Birmingham
walsh1990 said:
So you sat the VSE? I haven't sat it yet or had any correspondence about potentially sitting it.
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I have but mine was for the advert that was up around October or November last year. So the advert before the current one’s up now. Hmm, my apologies I‘ve just reread your other comment that you’re on 1.7 and have not completed the VSE. I do not know why that is. I and a few others reached 1.7 after passing the VSE.
 
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