Lumo - QUALIFIED Customer Train Driver/Instructor - Euston/Preston/Stirling - (25/03/25)

[TonyWigan]

It isn’t. It says you will drive them.

I’m well aware of that. Believe it or not I can both read and write.

The advert is unclear it does read as if they want people who sign 222.

But as we have said they probably don’t and it probably means willing to learn the traction.

 

[Chippychips]

I'm a qualified driver with GWR. I'm thinking of applying for this. Can someone explain to me like I'm a child. What would I be loosing if I got this job?

Sundays outside working week at GWR?
Different (less lucrative) pension?
Job security, as someone mentioned, it could all go wrong in a few years ?

I dont know, but aren't GWR on 69k?
Also, aren't GWR DGO? I doubt anyone would prefer DOO to DGO if this is the case...

 

[baz962]

So do EMR have a St Pancras depot? I’ll admit I might sign Wembley but I don’t really know London Depots.

There’s definitely no EMR depot within an hour of Preston.

I would just imagine it’s to see who can start and be productive strait away. Once they exhaust that then whoever else they take on will need some training.

Once of the application questions was have you ever driven high speed trains. They may just want that then again it might not be an issue.

Unless someone from Lumo HR answers on the thread it’s all guess work.

Yes I'm based at St Pancras

 

[PudseyBearHST]

I’m well aware of that. Believe it or not I can both read and write.

The advert is unclear it does read as if they want people who sign 222.

But as we have said they probably don’t and it probably means willing to learn the traction.

EMR do have a depot at St Pancras. A traction course is only a couple of weeks long so it’s not something that’s particularly game changing if you already happen to sign for Class 222s. Route knowledge would be much more desirable as route learning can take several months.

Also, AWC drivers recently signed for Class 221s which are almost identical to Class 222s. Not that I expect anyone to leave AWC for this. Same as for XC.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2025 ==

Sundays outside working week at GWR?
Different (less lucrative) pension?
Job security, as someone mentioned, it could all go wrong in a few years ?

I dont know, but aren't GWR on 69k?
Also, aren't GWR DGO? I doubt anyone would prefer DOO to DGO if this is the case...

Most of Reading/Eastern region work would be DOO.

 

[Chucky]

All current open access operators retain staff travel

I didn't know that.

 

[The Middle]

I didn't know that.

Probably not a good idea to advise people of facts you aren't certain of

 

[Efini92]

All current open access operators retain staff travel

Does that include protected?

 

[357]

Does that include protected?

I don't know for sure but I would suspect there is a good chance

When I went to an Open Access operator RDG classed it as continuous railway service the same way they do when you transfer between normal TOCs - in that I didn't need to apply for anything again and I didn't have to wait a year to get my FIP back.

 

[Efini92]

I don't know for sure but I would suspect there is a good chance

When I went to an Open Access operator RDG classed it as continuous railway service the same way they do when you transfer between normal TOCs - in that I didn't need to apply for anything again and I didn't have to wait a year to get my FIP back.

I’ve just had a look on the RDG site, no it doesn’t. They don’t class open access as TOC’s.

 

[357]

I’ve just had a look on the RDG site, no it doesn’t. They don’t class open access as TOC’s.

Well, I can tell you that they classed my new job as continuous service and as a result I didn't need to wait a year for FIP or make any new applications for PRIV etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Mar 2025 ==

I’ve just had a look on the RDG site, no it doesn’t. They don’t class open access as TOC’s.

Where does it say this?

I've just looked and I definitely don't work for Network Rail and as a result am considered as working for a TOC.

In fact, I'm currently sitting on one of my companies trains. I drove it to where it is now, and as a result I can pretty definitively say that the company I work for is a Train Operating Company

 

[Efini92]

Well, I can tell you that they classed my new job as continuous service and as a result I didn't need to wait a year for FIP or make any new applications for PRIV etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Mar 2025 ==


Where does it say this?

I've just looked and I definitely don't work for Network Rail and as a result am considered as working for a TOC.

In fact, I'm currently sitting on one of my companies trains. I drove it to where it is now, and as a result I can pretty definitively say that the company I work for is a Train Operating Company

Sorry I was specifically relating to safeguarded staff travel.

Here’s what I was reading.


(Image shows information relating to staff travel on rail delivery group website)

 

[357]

Sorry I was specifically relating to safeguarded staff travel.

Here’s what I was reading.

View attachment 177483
(Image shows information relating to staff travel on rail delivery group website)

Right got you. Interesting how we are considered a TOC in terms of non safe guarded travel!

 

[Efini92]

Right got you. Interesting how we are considered a TOC in terms of non safe guarded travel!

Probably a stealth way to remove travel facilities.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Its the same as losing safeguarded staff travel if you move to certain FOCs - as its no longer deemed continous BR service

 

[Chucky]

Probably not a good idea to advise people of facts you aren't certain of

Probably not. However I'm happy to stand corrected, and I appreciate those people who kindly corrected my misapprehension re staff travel without feeling the need to stick the boot in afterwards.

 

[godfreycomplex]

So do EMR have a St Pancras depot?

Yes they do (several denizens thereof lurk on here, in fact)

There’s definitely no EMR depot within an hour of Preston.

And even less Stirling


As efini92 says they're only saying what you will drive. There are no qualified adverts that I know of that cite specific traction/route knowledge as a hard requirement

 

[TonyWigan]

Ha ha! Sorry, I wasn't trying to start a debate, just asking if anyone knew the answer off the top of their head.

We’ve all been there. Try and relax, but the psychometrics are a mine field of different companies and wanting different things. So it’s hard to get a strait answer.

Im fairly sure only Avanti do the CBI. I find the psychometric test situation all a bit weird and could do with further standardisation really. I realise some firms are either looking for a higher standard or use the enhanced as further sifting but it’s all a bit unduly secretive at times. Everyone seems to guess at what is required, and I suppose all you can do is your best with what is asked of you. But this being a qualified thread, everyone here has likely passed it and probably doesn’t want to be reminded of it

Funny you should say that. We have a new Ops Director, he actually suggested putting qualified drivers though psychometric again if they apply to transfer

It kicked off a conversation on out safety brief. Will people apply to transfer if they had to do the psychometrics again. ‍♂️ Imagine if you failed

 

[Efini92]

We’ve all been there. Try and relax, but the psychometrics are a mine field of different companies and wanting different things. So it’s hard to get a strait answer.



Funny you should say that. We have a new Ops Director, he actually suggested putting qualified drivers though psychometric again if they apply to transfer

It kicked off a conversation on out safety brief. Will people apply to transfer if they had to do the psychometrics again. ‍♂️ Imagine if you failed

I suppose it would be no different to all the drivers that have never sat psychometrics.

 

[43066]

I suppose it would be no different to all the drivers that have never sat psychometrics.

Interestingly a certain French speaking operator makes you do both the UK and French psychometrics as a qualified candidate.

 

[357]

Will people apply to transfer if they had to do the psychometrics again.

It puts enough qualified drivers off applying for TPE

 

[NorthernTech]

We’ve all been there. Try and relax, but the psychometrics are a mine field of different companies and wanting different things. So it’s hard to get a strait answer.



Funny you should say that. We have a new Ops Director, he actually suggested putting qualified drivers though psychometric again if they apply to transfer

It kicked off a conversation on out safety brief. Will people apply to transfer if they had to do the psychometrics again. ‍♂️ Imagine if you failed

It would be very strange if that were ever to come about as surely the whole point of the Psychometric Tests are to see if an individual is suitable to learn and become a driver. After they have then spent time in the role, then the Company that the driver is then attempting to transfer to checks their further suitability by seeing their safety of the line data as well as references, and possibly medical. But hey…stranger things have happened!

 

[NorthernTech]

It puts enough qualified drivers off applying for TPE

What puts enough people off applying for TPE? Some form of testing?

 

[Driver068]

What puts enough people off applying for TPE? Some form of testing?

Qualified Drivers when applying for TPE have to do a online assessment (SJE) as part of their application. Some don't grade high enough to progress so automatically get rejected. Others that pass only progress when they reach a certain score so at a later date you may be rejected in proceeding any further.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Qualified Drivers when applying for TPE have to do a online assessment (SJE) as part of their application. Some don't grade high enough to progress so automatically get rejected. Others that pass only progress when they reach a certain score so at a later date you may be rejected in proceeding any further.

The old FG B/S that everyone hates.

 

[NorthernTech]

Qualified Drivers when applying for TPE have to do an online assessment (SJE) as part of their application. Some don't grade high enough to progress so automatically get rejected. Others that pass only progress when they reach a certain score so at a later date you may be rejected in proceeding any further.

Quite a few of the TOC’s seem to do this for the Apprenticeship/Trainee roles, but strange that they need to do this for Qualifieds.

 

[357]

Qualified Drivers when applying for TPE have to do a online assessment (SJE) as part of their application. Some don't grade high enough to progress so automatically get rejected. Others that pass only progress when they reach a certain score so at a later date you may be rejected in proceeding any further.

When I applied they wanted me to do group bourdon etc again!

The dates they offered didn't suit me, but they invited me for interview anyway.

In the interview when it transpired I hadn't done the assessments the managers said I wasn't eligible for the interview, so I went home.

A waste of two days and a hotel booking in another part of the country.

 

[43066]

What puts enough people off applying for TPE? Some form of testing?

Knowing a couple of people who’ve worked for them, and the way they’ve described the management culture, would put me off personally!

 

[NorthernTech]

When I applied they wanted me to do group bourdon etc again!

The dates they offered didn't suit me, but they invited me for interview anyway.

In the interview when it transpired I hadn't done the assessments the managers said I wasn't eligible for the interview, so I went home.

A waste of two days and a hotel booking in another part of the country.

Wow! That is some seriously poor treatment of a potential candidate.

 

[Efini92]

When I applied they wanted me to do group bourdon etc again!

The dates they offered didn't suit me, but they invited me for interview anyway.

In the interview when it transpired I hadn't done the assessments the managers said I wasn't eligible for the interview, so I went home.

A waste of two days and a hotel booking in another part of the country.

I sat them, they weren’t too hard tbh. Slightly different to what we did to get the drivers job. I sat the interview, they asked some strange questions like what does the 3 stars mean in the WON.
A couple of weeks later I received a voicemail to say they wanted to offer me a job and can I call them. Rang back but got her voicemail, followed almost immediately by a text saying can I call you back. I text back yes. That was November 2019, still waiting for the call

 

[NorthernTech]

I sat them, they weren’t too hard tbh. Slightly different to what we did to get the drivers job. I sat the interview, they asked some strange questions like what does the 3 stars mean in the WON.
A couple of weeks later I received a voicemail to say they wanted to offer me a job and can I call them. Rang back but got her voicemail, followed almost immediately by a text saying can I call you back. I text back yes. That was November 2019, still waiting for the call

Unbelievable..