Articles
Short notes on assessment, vigilance, and how the day works.
12 articles
Getting in
The path
How to become a train driver in the UK
Application, tests, interview, medical, then training.
16 August 2026 · 5 min read
Difficulty
Is the train driver assessment hard?
Not an IQ contest. Unfamiliar, tiring, and few attempts.
16 August 2026 · 5 min read
Timeline
How long does it take to become a train driver?
Months to get in. Then a year or more of training.
16 August 2026 · 4 min read
The tests
Overview
Train driver psychometric tests, explained
Attention, search, concentration, and holding rules in your head.
16 August 2026 · 6 min read
Vigilance
The vigilance test (WAFV)
Rare targets and a long wait. The work is between clicks.
16 August 2026 · 5 min read
Concentration
Group Bourdon, the concentration test
Mark every group of four. Simple rule, dense page.
16 August 2026 · 4 min read
Visual search
The visual search test
Find the matches. Ignore the rest. Some grids have none.
16 August 2026 · 4 min read
Reaction
The reaction time test: go on green, hold on red
Fast is useless if you fire at the wrong signal.
16 August 2026 · 4 min read
Judgement
Situational judgement tests for train drivers
The safer answer is often quieter than the dramatic one.
16 August 2026 · 5 min read
Assessment day
The day
What happens on train driver assessment day
A long day of simple tests. Then maybe interview and medical.
16 August 2026 · 5 min read
Interview
The train driver interview
Risk, stopping, and a true story about a mistake.
16 August 2026 · 5 min read
If you fail
If you fail the train driver assessment
A wait, then another scarce attempt. Use the gap.
16 August 2026 · 4 min read