Southeastern Train Driver Application: Process, Salary and How to Prepare
Quick answer
Southeastern recruits trainee train drivers across its Kent and South East London network. Trainees start at around £27,639, rising to approximately £33,867 after passing the rules and regulations stage, and to around £54,002 once signed off as competent — usually within about 12 months. The selection process uses the standard OPC psychometric battery, and no previous rail experience is required.
Southeastern operates one of the busiest commuter networks in the country, running services across Kent and South East London into the London terminals, plus high-speed Javelin services. For aspiring train drivers in the South East, it is one of the most accessible major operators to target — but the competition is fierce, and the selection process is the same demanding OPC battery used across the industry. Here is what applying to Southeastern involves and how to prepare.
Salary and Progression
Southeastern's trainee pay rises in steps as you pass through the stages of training. Trainees start at approximately £27,639, increasing to around £33,867 once you have passed the rules and regulations section (roughly three months in), and then to approximately £54,002 once you have been signed off as competent by your driver manager and completed your first driving duties — typically around 12 months from joining.
You are paid throughout training, and the qualification you earn is nationally recognised and portable across the industry. Pay figures are set through collective agreements and change over time, so always confirm the current rates on Southeastern's own careers pages.
Where You Would Be Based
Southeastern runs driver depots across its network. Recruitment is depot-specific, and you generally need to live within a reasonable travelling time of the depot you apply to — commonly around a 40-minute drive, with shorter public-transport times for London depots.
- ✓Kent and South East depots including Ashford, Tonbridge, Dartford, Dover, Faversham, Gillingham, Hastings, Ramsgate and Slade Green
- ✓London depots including Charing Cross, Victoria, Grove Park and Orpington
- ✓Exact recruiting depots vary by campaign — check the live vacancy for which depot it covers
Practise for free first
Try a free demo before you commit
Shortened Vigilance test, 5-scene ATAVT, and a TRP1 taster — no account needed.
The Selection Process
Southeastern uses the same nationally standardised OPC psychometric assessment battery as every other UK train operating company, so the tests you face are identical in format and scoring to those at any other operator. Selection typically runs from an online application and sift, through the OPC aptitude tests, to an assessment day and a structured competency interview, followed by medical and reference checks.
No prior railway experience is required — Southeastern, like other operators, recruits on aptitude and the right behaviours and trains you from scratch.
- ✓Vigilance (WAFV) — sustained attention over 30 minutes
- ✓ATAVT — rapid perception and recall of a visual scene
- ✓TRP1 — following rules and procedures accurately
- ✓Beats & Symbols (TEA-Occ) — divided attention across two channels
- ✓Group Bourdon — concentration and perceptual speed
- ✓Competency interview — safety-focused behavioural questions
How to Prepare
The candidates who succeed at Southeastern are almost always those who have practised the OPC tests thoroughly before the assessment day. Walking in cold is the most common reason capable applicants are screened out — the tests are time-pressured and unfamiliar, and familiarity is exactly what removes the hesitation that costs marks.
Practise each test in the battery under realistic timed conditions, and prepare safety-focused STAR examples for the interview. You can practise the full OPC battery — modelled on the format and parameters of the official assessment — on our practice platform, and read the full assessment day guide to know what to expect.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Southeastern train drivers earn?
Trainees start at approximately £27,639, rising to around £33,867 after the rules and regulations stage and to approximately £54,002 once signed off as competent (typically within about 12 months). Confirm current figures on Southeastern's careers site, as pay is set through collective agreements.
Do you need experience to become a Southeastern train driver?
No. Southeastern recruits trainee drivers without prior railway experience and provides full training. Selection is based on the OPC aptitude tests, a competency interview, and medical checks.
Where are Southeastern's train driver depots?
Southeastern has depots across Kent and South East London, including Ashford, Tonbridge, Dartford, Dover, Faversham, Gillingham, Hastings, Ramsgate, Slade Green, and London depots such as Charing Cross and Victoria. Recruitment is depot-specific.
What tests does Southeastern use for train drivers?
Southeastern uses the standard OPC psychometric battery — Vigilance (WAFV), ATAVT, TRP1, Beats & Symbols (TEA-Occ) and Group Bourdon — followed by a competency interview. The tests are identical in format and scoring to those used by other UK operators.
How close do you have to live to a Southeastern depot?
Recruitment is depot-specific and you generally need to live within a reasonable travelling time — commonly around a 40-minute drive, with shorter public-transport times for London depots. Check the specific vacancy for its requirement.