Greater Anglia Train Driver Application: Process, OPC Tests & Salary
Greater Anglia operates services across East Anglia and into London Liverpool Street, covering routes to Norwich, Ipswich, Cambridge, Stansted Airport, Colchester, and a dense network of regional lines across Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. The operator has modernised its fleet significantly in recent years, replacing older rolling stock with new Class 755 bi-mode and Class 745 trains. Train driver vacancies at Greater Anglia appear periodically and attract strong interest — the routes are varied, the fleet is modern, and the salary progression structure is transparent and competitive. Here is everything you need to know about how to apply.
The Greater Anglia application process
Greater Anglia's driver recruitment follows the standard multi-stage structure used across the UK rail industry. Vacancies are posted on the Greater Anglia careers website and on general job boards. Application windows are typically short, so having your materials ready in advance is worthwhile.
- ✓Online application — eligibility screening, right-to-work, and competency questions
- ✓Online screening — situational judgement or cognitive ability tests, completed remotely
- ✓OPC psychometric assessment — full day at an approved assessment centre
- ✓Competency-based interview — structured panel interview
- ✓Medical examination — to ORR Train Driving Licence standards
- ✓Offer and training — 12–18 months to qualify as a driver
The OPC psychometric tests
The OPC battery is the most technically challenging stage of the Greater Anglia assessment process, and the most commonly misunderstood. It is standardised under RSSB RIS-3751-TOM — the same format, the same timing, and the same scoring methodology used at every UK train operating company.
The four core tests are the Vigilance Test (WAFV), the ATAVT, the TRP1 Rules and Procedures test, and the Group Bourdon. The session runs for approximately two to three hours in a supervised testing room. Once a test is underway, you cannot pause or restart. The instructions given before each test explain the mechanics — they do not teach you how to perform well. That comes from practice.
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Shortened Vigilance test, 5-scene ATAVT, and a TRP1 taster — no account needed.
Vigilance Test (WAFV) — focus on Greater Anglia's routes
The Vigilance Test runs for 30 continuous minutes. A grey square is displayed on screen. At unpredictable intervals, it briefly turns black — you must press a response key every time. Missing a change is penalised; pressing the key when nothing changed is also penalised.
Greater Anglia's network includes high-speed runs to Norwich, extended regional services across rural Suffolk and Norfolk, and intensive suburban operations into Liverpool Street. All of these require a driver who can sustain attention across the full duration of a shift — and the WAFV measures precisely this capability.
The test is designed to be monotonous, which is the point. Most candidates find the first 15 minutes manageable. The second 15 are where natural attention drift sets in. Repeated practice — completing the full 30-minute test without stopping — is the only reliable way to build stamina for the second half.
ATAVT, TRP1, and Group Bourdon
The ATAVT presents a real-world traffic scene for exactly one second, then asks you to identify which categories of element were visible: traffic lights, motor vehicles, pedestrians, road signs, and bicycles or motorcycles. Twenty trials in total. It measures rapid, accurate visual scene-reading — a direct analogue of processing the track environment at line speed.
The TRP1 gives you five minutes to read a set of fictional operating rules, after which the document is removed. You then have 15 minutes to answer 18 multiple-choice questions from memory. It tests how quickly you can absorb and retain procedural information — a skill you will use every day in service when working with actual operating rules.
The Group Bourdon is a paper-based test. You are given a grid of dot-group symbols and must mark every group containing exactly four dots — working as quickly and accurately as possible. This test is often underestimated by candidates. Practising on paper, rather than on screen, is essential as the real assessment is not digital.
Greater Anglia train driver salary
Greater Anglia offers a structured and transparent pay progression for drivers. In year one, qualified drivers earn £51,341. In year two, this rises to £56,349. From year three onwards, the full qualified rate is £64,772. This step progression is clearly defined and applies regardless of the specific depot or route.
During the training period, Greater Anglia trainee drivers earn approximately £26,901. As with all UK operators, the training is fully funded — there are no fees or costs for the candidate. On qualifying, the immediate move to the year-one qualified rate represents a substantial pay increase.
Greater Anglia drivers are represented by ASLEF. Additional earnings are available through rest-day working and unsocial hours premiums. Benefits include a pension scheme, free travel on Greater Anglia services, and discounted travel on partner operators. Always verify pay figures against the current vacancy as rates are subject to collective agreement.
How to prepare for the Greater Anglia OPC assessment
The most effective preparation is to practise all four OPC tests in realistic conditions before your assessment date. The key is to build familiarity with the format so that the mechanics of each test are automatic on the day — freeing you to focus on performing rather than adapting to an unfamiliar interface.
For the Vigilance Test, complete the full 30 minutes every practice session without stopping. For the ATAVT, use genuine one-second scene flashes to train broad, rapid visual scanning. For the TRP1, read dense technical text and immediately answer questions on it from memory, without reference. For the Group Bourdon, always practise on paper — the test is not computer-based in the real assessment.
Distribute your practice across sessions over two to three weeks before your assessment. Arriving rested and having eaten properly on the day matters more than many candidates expect — the Vigilance Test in particular is sensitive to tiredness.
- ✓Complete the full 30-minute Vigilance Test in every practice session — don't stop at 15 minutes
- ✓Use real one-second flash trials for ATAVT practice — broad scanning beats narrow focus
- ✓TRP1: practise reading procedural text under time pressure and recalling it immediately
- ✓Group Bourdon: practise on printed grids, not just on screen
- ✓Prepare STAR competency examples for: safety, rules, attention, communication, resilience
- ✓Check which Greater Anglia depot the vacancy is for — Norwich, Ipswich, and Stansted all have different route profiles
Frequently asked questions
Do I need railway experience to apply to Greater Anglia?
No. Greater Anglia recruits trainee drivers from outside the rail industry. A full UK driving licence and meeting the medical standards are required. All traction, route, and rules knowledge is taught during the fully funded training period.
What is the Greater Anglia train driver salary?
Qualified Greater Anglia drivers earn £51,341 in year one, £56,349 in year two, and £64,772 from year three onwards. Trainees earn approximately £26,901 during training. These figures are subject to change — always check the active vacancy for current pay.
How long does the Greater Anglia application process take?
From application to conditional offer typically takes three to six months. Training adds a further 12 to 18 months. The total time from application to qualifying as a driver is usually 18 months to two years.
Where are Greater Anglia depots?
Greater Anglia operates from depots including Norwich Crown Point, Clacton, Ipswich, Cambridge, and Ilford. Vacancies are depot-specific — your routes, shifts, and working patterns will be tied to your home depot.
Is the OPC test at Greater Anglia the same as at other operators?
Yes. The OPC battery is standardised across the UK rail industry under RSSB RIS-3751-TOM. The tests at Greater Anglia are identical in format and timing to those at every other UK TOC. Practice on our platform applies directly to a Greater Anglia application.