I was told the course is much harder than any university course and it will be the hardest thing you ever do.  This came from a current train driver who also has a uni degree.

Has anyone got any ideas of when the next recruitment plan will be?

they told us in the info sessions, that the merit list was to fill all recruitment up to and including the end of next year. So one might guess nothing untill early 2015 perhaps...

Any phone calls yet?

No no but I'm hoping soon!!! Surely they will have the next round soon.

yes hopefully real soon

Do you know something Mr Bump?
Have you had an assessment centre?

Unfortunatly I don't know anything, I just fiugre that they will be starting to contact people soon, for assessment centre's for the August and September classes.

That is of course, unless they are holding off due to all of the dramas being put forward with the new training regime.

Who knows?? I'm just eagerly awaiting a call to attend an assessment centre too.

Can someone expand on the "dramas being put forward with the new training regime" theme please?
What are the dramas?
Have they stopped new courses?
What about courses already underway? How are these being affected by the dramas?
Thanks

As far as I know they had the training regime to run around 72 weeks straight then learn to drive the 4 fleet trains at the end, now they are splitting them into two 36 week lots I believe? Where you learn to drive 2 fleet trains after 36 weeks, then learn the other 2 in the next 36 week stint.

They haven't stopped new courses, they are still running them.

That is all I know but if anyone else can shed some light, that would be good.

they told us in the info sessions, that the merit list was to fill all recruitment up to and including the end of next year. So one might guess nothing untill early 2015 perhaps...

Presumably this is a typo... 2014 may be true, 2015 is absolutely positively wrong...

The former Driver Training Scheme was 73 weeks, which would make a Driver conversant with all lines, and all four forms of traction.

The current scheme was originally 38 weeks, where trainees would learn half the network, and the traction relevant to that half (i.e. Comeng, and either Siemens for Caulfield/Northern or X'Trapolis for Burnley/Clifton Hill). After this 38 weeks, Drivers would be on restricted operation based on what they had learned for 35 weeks. After this period, they would then undertake training for a further 26 weeks on the other half of the network and the traction that they didn't cover in the initial 38 weeks. At this point, they would be as qualified as a Driver who went through the 73 week scheme.

What has happened however is that the 38-week course has now blown out to 40+ weeks. There have been a few issues which has resulted in delayed assessments but I believe they are back on track and as far as I'm aware they are pushing through with the new training scheme.

Presumably this is a typo... 2014 may be true, 2015 is absolutely positively wrong...

No, as per the information given at the information sessions, the current merit list is enough for all expected traineeship positions until December 2014, hence making the next round of applications, one can only reason, the begining of 2015, although I am open to the idea they may start the ball rolling in late 2014. So unfortuantly I cannot see why you think its "absolutely positively wrong..." when there is a very fair chance of it falling that way.

Did you attend an information session this year? If you did, you absolutly positively didn't pay attention....

It's all well and good to drive for them champ, I know 3 drivers, 2 of which are on the job trainers and what metro told us in the info sessions, wasn't anything they were told. Perhaps all employees in ANY company are not across what the recruitment plans are? I know I've never been involved with any of my employers future recruitment plans. That's why they have hr people.

Righto...

I've got nothing further to say to you at this point in time.

ignore them skip. the fact that you have been through the info sessions, training and now drive them obviously means nothing to them. mr bump thinks he knows lots because he knows somebody on the job.

Righto...

I've got nothing further to say to you at this point in time.

It's ok Skipdaddyo, you have to have faith that the recruitment process weeds out the know-it-alls and the 'I'll pass because I know someone who knows someone'.

First rule of applying for a prospective workplace: Don't make enemies with people who may one day be your workmates.
At least that's how it works in my industry anyway.