Train Driver Interview Questions and Psychometric Tests

Trainee train driver vacancies attract very large numbers of applicants, and the selection process is built to filter hard. Train operating companies look for people who can concentrate for long periods, learn a large rulebook, follow procedures exactly and stay calm when something goes wrong. This page explains the usual stages, gives practice questions that train the same skills as the psychometric tests, and lists the interview questions you should prepare, with example answers.

The trainee train driver selection process

Each operator runs its own recruitment, and the order of stages differs. What is shared across the mainline railway is the psychometric standard. RSSB publishes RIS-3751-TOM, Psychometric Assessment in Train Driver Selection, which sets out requirements for assessing candidates who will drive on the GB mainline. In its announcement of the latest issue, RSSB said the update clarifies how long test results remain valid and increases the number of attempts candidates may make, without stating the figures on that page.

A typical process looks like this:

  1. Application. Usually a CV and answers to screening questions. The National Careers Service says employers usually expect GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 in English and maths, you must be over 18, and you should live within roughly 45 minutes to an hour of the depot.
  2. Online tests or video interview. Some operators screen with online tests or a recorded video interview before inviting you to an assessment day.
  3. Psychometric assessments. Delivered under the RSSB standard. A GWR Customer Services Training Manager writing on the FirstGroup careers site describes them as staged assessments of alertness, focus and sound decision-making under pressure. Northern says candidates must pass its RSSB train driver psychometric assessments to an enhanced standard.
  4. Managerial interview. A structured interview with the driver management team. Some operators also ask technical or operational questions, especially if you already work on the railway.
  5. Medical. A safety-critical medical. Northern and GWR both state that it includes drugs and alcohol screening. At GWR, the medical follows the offer: the offer is subject to it.
  6. Offer and training. GWR says successful candidates are usually offered a place in a talent pool, where the position is held until a role opens, and that training typically lasts around two years. The National Careers Service puts training at one to two years.

The order varies by operator: Northern places its interview before the psychometric tests, while GWR runs the tests first and makes its offer subject to the medical. Read the candidate information from your operator carefully.

What candidates report about the tests

Operators do not publish their test batteries. Candidates commonly report these:

  • Group Bourdon. A concentration test where you scan rows of dot groups and mark a target pattern under time pressure. Forum users often name it as the stage most people fail.
  • Trainability for Rules and Procedures. A learning test where you study unfamiliar rules and then apply them.
  • Attention and reaction tests. Including tests of vigilance, reacting to changing signals and dealing with distraction.

These tests measure stable abilities, so cramming does not work. What does help is understanding the format, practising concentration, and arriving rested. Our guides to aptitude tests for government jobs and numerical reasoning practice cover the online screening tests some operators use first.

Practice questions

These are our own items, written to exercise checking, memory, numerical and judgement skills. They are not taken from any real train driver test.

Practice question 1

Which pair of codes is identical?

  • A) 4K72-BX19-QT and 4K72-BX91-QT
  • B) 9H03-LM55-RA and 9H03-LM55-RA
  • C) 2D81-PP40-ZE and 2D81-PB40-ZE
  • D) 7C16-WY23-NN and 7C16-WY23-MN

Answer: B. A swaps 19 and 91, C has PB instead of PP, and D has MN instead of NN. Checking tasks reward reading each character, not the overall shape.

Practice question 2

A train departs at 07:48 and arrives at 09:13. How long is the journey?

  • A) 1 hour 15 minutes
  • B) 1 hour 25 minutes
  • C) 1 hour 35 minutes
  • D) 1 hour 45 minutes

Answer: B. From 07:48 to 08:48 is one hour. From 08:48 to 09:13 is 25 minutes.

Practice question 3

A train covers 30 miles in 24 minutes. What is its average speed?

  • A) 60 mph
  • B) 70 mph
  • C) 75 mph
  • D) 80 mph

Answer: C. 24 minutes is 0.4 hours. 30 ÷ 0.4 = 75 mph.

Practice question 4

Read this made-up depot instruction: "Before leaving the depot, the driver must complete checks in this order: cab equipment, then brakes, then lights. If any check fails, the driver must stop and report to the supervisor before doing anything else."

A driver finds the lights are faulty after completing cab equipment and brake checks. What should they do next?

  • A) Fix the lights themselves and continue.
  • B) Restart all the checks from the beginning.
  • C) Stop and report to the supervisor.
  • D) Leave the depot and report at the next station.

Answer: C. The instruction says any failed check means stopping and reporting before doing anything else. This is the kind of literal rule-following that rules and procedures tests look for.

Practice question 5

You feel unusually tired as you arrive for an early shift, after a disturbed night with a sick child. What is the best action?

  • A) Drink a strong coffee and start the shift as normal.
  • B) Tell your manager honestly before you start so a decision can be made about your fitness to drive.
  • C) Start the shift and stop only if you feel worse.
  • D) Ask a colleague to keep an eye on you.

Answer: B. Fatigue is a safety risk in a safety-critical role. Telling your manager lets the right decision be made. The other options all put you in the cab while you may not be fit.

Practice question 6

Your personal phone vibrates in your bag while you are driving. What should you do?

  • A) Check it quickly at the next red signal.
  • B) Ignore it until you are in a safe place where use is permitted.
  • C) Answer it on speaker.
  • D) Ask the guard to check it for you.

Answer: B. Distraction in the cab is a known risk, and personal phones should not be used while driving. A and C are distractions, and D takes the guard away from their duties.

Practice question 7

A route has 14 stations. The train stops at every second station, starting with the first. How many stops does it make?

  • A) 6
  • B) 7
  • C) 8
  • D) 14

Answer: B. Stations 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 give seven stops.

The managerial interview

The interview is usually structured and scored, with panel members from the driver management team. They want evidence of reliability, rule-following, safety awareness and resilience. Use the STAR method: situation, task, action, result. Keep answers specific and personal.

1. Why do you want to be a train driver?

"I have worked in a warehouse for seven years operating forklifts, where I follow strict safety procedures every shift, and I like that kind of responsibility. Driving trains takes that to a much higher level. I like the idea of a job where doing things correctly every time really matters, and where you get people where they need to be."

2. Tell me about a time you followed a procedure exactly when others were cutting corners.

"Situation: colleagues were skipping the pre-use check on forklifts to save time at the start of the shift. Task: I was responsible for my own truck. Action: I always did the full check, and one morning found a hydraulic leak. I tagged it out and reported it. Result: the supervisor reminded everyone about the check, and it became part of the shift briefing."

3. How would you cope with long periods of routine?

"I am used to repetitive work that still needs full attention. I keep my focus by sticking to a routine, taking proper breaks and treating every task as if it is the first one of the day."

4. Describe a mistake you made at work and what you learned.

"I once loaded a pallet onto the wrong bay because I misread a label. It was caught at dispatch. I owned up straight away, and since then I read every label twice, out loud in my head. It taught me that a short pause is better than a quick mistake."

5. How do you feel about shift work, nights and weekends?

"I have worked rotating shifts for years. My family knows the rota, and I plan my sleep around it. I understand the railway runs every day of the week."

6. How would you deal with a traumatic incident on the line?

"I would follow the procedures I had been trained on, take the support the company offers and talk to someone rather than bottling it up. I know drivers can face incidents that are very hard, and I would rather be honest about that than pretend it would not affect me."

7. Tell me about a time you had to learn a lot of information quickly.

"When our site introduced a new warehouse system, I had a week to learn it. I broke the manual into sections, practised each one on the training screen and asked questions early. I was one of the first on my shift to be signed off."

8. What would you do if you thought a colleague had been drinking before a shift?

"I would not ignore it. I would report it to a manager straight away, because it is a safety issue for everyone."

9. How do you stay focused when you are tired or distracted?

"I do not rely on willpower. I manage my sleep, I eat properly, and if I am not fit for the task I say so."

10. Why do you want to work for this operator?

"I have looked at your routes and depot. I would like a mix of stopping services and longer runs, and I know people who drive here and speak well of the training."

11. What do you think are the most important qualities for a train driver?

"Concentration, discipline with rules, honesty about mistakes and the ability to stay calm when something unexpected happens."

12. Do you have any questions for us?

Ask about the training structure, how mentoring works, or how the depot supports new drivers. Avoid making pay your first question.

For more practice with this style of question, see our guide to competency-based interview questions.

Practical tips

  • Before the tests: do ten minutes a day of focused checking or concentration exercises for a few weeks. Sleep well the night before and eat beforehand.
  • During the tests: listen to every instruction. Many candidates lose marks by misunderstanding what to mark, not by being too slow.
  • Before the interview: prepare six examples covering safety, rules, mistakes, pressure, learning and teamwork. Learn about the operator's routes and depot.
  • Dress: smart office wear. First impressions on reliability start with being early.
  • Common mistakes: telling the panel you love trains instead of explaining why you suit the job, vague answers without a real example, and underestimating the medical.

For a wider range of timed practice tests, see Assessment-Training.com. Pay and allowances vary by operator, so check the job advert.

Frequently Asked Questions

What psychometric tests do trainee train drivers take?

Mainline operators assess candidates against the RSSB standard RIS-3751-TOM, Psychometric Assessment in Train Driver Selection. Candidates commonly report a concentration test such as the Group Bourdon, a rules and procedures learning test, and attention and reaction tests. Operators do not publish the exact battery or pass marks.

Can I prepare for the train driver psychometric tests?

You cannot learn the answers, but you can train the underlying skills. Short daily sessions of concentration, checking and memory exercises, plenty of sleep before the day and listening carefully to the instructions all help candidates perform closer to their best.

What is the train driver managerial interview?

It is a structured interview, usually with members of the operator's driver management team. Expect questions about safety, following rules, coping with routine and shift work, and your motivation for driving trains, answered with real examples from your own life.

Do I need qualifications to become a train driver?

The National Careers Service says employers usually expect GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 in English and maths or equivalent, and you must be over 18. You also need to pass a medical, background checks and the operator's assessments.

Is there a medical for trainee train drivers?

Yes. Operators require a safety-critical medical before training, and Northern and GWR both state that it includes drugs and alcohol screening. GWR also lists fitness checks as part of it.

About the author

Ingmar van Maurik is a specialist in test and interview preparation who helps candidates perform better in recruitment processes.

References