puffpuffgive
Member
The SJT at OPC is not a test, you cannot pass or fail it. Instead it is used to guide additional questions in your MMI. They will explain this on the day.
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Chiltern - Apprentice Train Driver - Marylebone, Stourbridge and Birmingham - Talent Pool (18/02/25)
- Thread starter NSEWonderer
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puffpuffgive
Member
No idea what Chiltern use. But lots of confusion between SJT and SJE. But you are correct about the MMI SJE isn’t a pass/fail
Ridetherails
Member
I was sent SJT practice material for Chiltern
jamespowell05
Member
I’ve been sent SJE for Chiltern
nada… I’ve emailed them hoping to get an update, not received any thus far apart from the application showing OPC stage 1.7 online. Hopefully we’ll hear something after the Easter holidays. I’ve got a theory though…
In the most random turn of events I received an email this morning from the OPC inviting me to Watford on May 1st. Testing split over two days. Then an interview and all going well starting a course in June due to individuals cancelling and them wanting to fill the course. I like so many others here have said I won’t be able as I’ve booked a holiday and have other events.
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crt-crt
Member
What depot did you apply to? People applying to Stourbridge have been told a June course start. Seems strange they’ll lump everyone from each depot onto one course since Marylebone and Stourbridge are very far apart.
Ridetherails
Member
Not really, a friend of mine with a different TOC had a 60mile each way
Commute to their training centre even though they were only 7miles from the depot the position was at.
Does anyone know where Chiltern do their training at?
Marylebone. Haven’t had a VSE link and the fact that the OPC testing is split over two days as opposed to people on this thread for Birmingham and Stourbridge that had mentioned it was all being done in one day. Must’ve had a lot of people not able for the course especially with it coming up to the summer holidays.
New York Giant
Member
Pretty sure that Aylesbury is their training centre. I once read that their might be one in Banbury too, but happy to be corrected if that's false info.
logicaldrinkin
Member
Yeah Aylesbury and Banbury as far as I'm aware. I guess the June course would be in Banbury as it has the most equitable access from the different depots.
Did you get an online link for the VSE then?
crt-crt
Member
Has anyones application been progressed to OPC with confirmed assessment dates for Moor Street Depot?
I did, and my online application in the portal shows OPC stage 1.7. I assume ‘all’ who have passed the VSE are invited to Stage 1 testing. However, I assume the invites are sent from highest scoring candidates to least. Or there’s some kind of filtering process. How did you manage to get an invite to the test centre without sitting the VSE?
TR68
Member
Banbury
And you applied in February?
Well this is what I’ve been saying/thinking- this is the first correspondence I’ve had since putting my application in, in February. I could see through the online portal that I was on OPC 1.7. Not sure what’s happened. Been second guessing myself. I asked other people from Marylebone what stage they were at and the only ones who responded seemed to be people who’d previously sat some of the tests with other TOCS or ones who applied in September 2025 and then were told that was scrapped. So I wasn’t sure what was going on. I just assumed those who were first timers and applied in Feb for Marylebone were in the same boat as me and hadn’t heard anything. All very very confusing. If anyone knows who I should contact please send me the details. I already emailed Chiltern but didn’t hear anything back.
HeelBurton
Member
Courses usually split between Aylesbury and Banbury. Be prepared to travel equally to both. Some out days are based in other locations but with the number of courses going on, other locations can be used at fairly short notice.
When I was based at Waterloo as a driver I did my training based at Basingstoke, occasionally travelling to Fratton for traction and Salisbury for other reasons. It’s the norm at most TOCS to have to commute to a training centre. Banbury being the centre of the network is manageable.
Yes, exact same situation, also emailed but didn’t get a reply.
xenomorth45
Member
Do you know if new recruits are able to travel on their network for free?
I_am_Nobody
Member
Generally you get this perk from day one in the form of a letter authorising permission to travel or some kind of temporary pass, yes. This has been my experience at every TOC I’ve worked for!
xenomorth45
Member
Thanks, would be a very expensive commute during training.
Has anyone one here taken the OPC tests today?
Neatro
Member
There's courses currently running that have various staff from all depots training together. It's not strange
HeelBurton
Member
Correct: you get a chiltern pass which gives you free travel on arriva rail services, as well as once your duty authority travel card comes in (which is not immediate) free travel with an accompanied letter which allows you to travel on other TOCS only (most of them) via reasonable route to be decided, to training locations for work purposes only, providing you are wearing full uniform with staff ID.
This is offered by all TOCS and is the terms and conditions for rail staff travel
Hope this helps.
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Check the email, you should receive a very large attachment with all the process, 90 odd pages.
If you’ve not got the attachment go back to Chiltern, you’ll need atleast a week to go through it.
I guess people who have to travel far for the training are going to be at a disadvantage compared with those who live near the training centre. (in terms of being tired and time to revise)... If you live an hour north of Birmingham Moor Street, that's over 3 hours to get to Marylebone for the training. If it's a 9am classroom start, 5am rise. Then over 3 hours home aswell.. It would seem some students are going to be very tired for the classroom work and some students not so much. ?
Unobrow
Member
We were residential when we did our initial course. I’d expect virtually every other company would have the same arrangements for the reasons you’ve stated.