LNER or XC Train Manager Conditions

[azOOOOOma]

Hello everyone. I’m just wondering if anyone knows what would be your preference in terms of who you work for as a TM?

I get that LNER pay more but all I see in terms of pensions are that it is ‘generous’ without mentioning the specifics. In terms of leave there isn’t a mention of what the entitlement is.

What’s the rosters like at Newcastle for LNER? Is XC a better place to work or is LNER?

Thanks my lovelies as always!

Laura x

 

[LowLevel]

XC TMs have probably the best combination of wages and conditions in the industry. LNER were restructured a few years ago and the headline wage is good but with worse T&Cs. XC you run a 4 or 5 car Voyager with a crew, LNER you've got a 9 car IET to look after.

 

[ModernRailways]

I'm not sure on the pensions, or leave entitlement between the two (I don't work for either), but from speaking with colleagues at both XC is definitely the better. As @LowLevel says they have amongst the best, if not the best, T&Cs and pay and whilst they do still love to grumble I have always found XC crew to be happier with their job and day to day. When chatting to LNER crew they're often more tired, and stressed, though that's not to say they don't enjoy their job, there are plenty of LNER staff who possibly take far too much pride in working for them and some of them do look down on other TOCs (to the extent they won't even come into mess room when there's other TOCs crew in there), which I've not encountered with TPE, or XC.

I have seen XC links (roster) for Newcastle, and Leeds and considering it's the railway they weren't bad, and were significantly better than my TOCs. I haven't seen LNER links but from what I have heard when talking to colleagues at LNER, they appear to be just as bad as my TOCs and in some instances worse.

 

[thelongestroad]

Bite the hand off of the first TOC that offers a job!

 

[Towers]

All I’d

XC TMs have probably the best combination of wages and conditions in the industry. LNER were restructured a few years ago and the headline wage is good but with worse T&Cs. XC you run a 4 or 5 car Voyager with a crew, LNER you've got a 9 car IET to look after.

It’s also about the job enjoyment and satisfaction, of course. I have to say I’d much rather have a 9 car train to look after (IET wouldn’t be my first choice but there we are!) than being crammed into an inevitably full & standing 4 or 5 car Voyager full of endlessly fed up people. The LNER IET will also have “a crew”, of course.

XC’s TMs must be used to it I guess, but to me the combination of an inadequate fleet with relentless overcrowding, plus the hideous windowless cave that constitutes the TM’s “office” at one and of a Voyager, would make LNER a much more appealing prospect for a Train Manager job. Bigger trains that are actually fit for purpose, potential variety of rolling stock and routes, key stations operated by your own TOC and staffed by your colleagues, and surely a far nicer environment to work in.

 

[LowLevel]

All I’d

It’s also about the job enjoyment and satisfaction, of course. I have to say I’d much rather have a 9 car train to look after (IET wouldn’t be my first choice but there we are!) than being crammed into an inevitably full & standing 4 or 5 car Voyager full of endlessly fed up people. The LNER IET will also have “a crew”, of course.

XC’s TMs must be used to it I guess, but to me the combination of an inadequate fleet with relentless overcrowding, plus the hideous windowless cave that constitutes the TM’s “office” at one and of a Voyager, would make LNER a much more appealing prospect for a Train Manager job. Bigger trains that are actually fit for purpose, potential variety of rolling stock and routes, key stations operated by your own TOC and staffed by your colleagues, and surely a far nicer environment to work in.

Of course - I've been a "local" (not really local) train guard for years because I like pootling around on little trains. My salary is far less than an XC train manager but I do enjoy it, mostly!

 

[azOOOOOma]

Cool thank you my lovelies. I think it’s going to be LNER.

Does anyone know what the leave and pension is? I hate when companies put ‘competitive’ or ‘generous’ without any details!

Laura x

 

[AG78UK]

I hear good and not so good for both companies, could it be worth speaking with a few of each train companies train managers and how they feel. Each TOC has their pro and cons so best to get as much information as possible to make a choice.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

there are plenty of LNER staff who possibly take far too much pride in working for them and some of them do look down on other TOCs (to the extent they won't even come into mess room when there's other TOCs crew in there), which I've not encountered with TPE, or XC.

I've noticed this arrogance with LNER staff too, from TMs to station and catering staff. Though that messroom situation you refer to is shocking, that can't be true surely!

 

[tlv2019]

there are plenty of LNER staff who possibly take far too much pride in working for them and some of them do look down on other TOCs (to the extent they won't even come into mess room when there's other TOCs crew in there), which I've not encountered with TPE, or XC.

From what I can gather a lot of this stems from the fact that LNER quite often get other TOCs problems dumped on them. If Grand Central, Lumo or Hull Trains cancel any of their services, which has been quite often recently especially with Grand Central, LNER end up carrying their passengers which makes a very busy service even busier, making the job harder. Not defending it and it’s not the fault of other TOCs frontline workers but just giving a reason.

 

[thelongestroad]

Did you get offers from both or something?

If not these jobs are hard to get so I would apply whenever either has a vacancy rather than especially waiting for an LNER vacancy.

 

[azOOOOOma]

Applying for both and willing to relocate for them so just wondering what it will be like if I get one.

I’ll take whichever (if any!) offer me the job but just trying to work out finances and whatnot.

Anyone know the leave entitlements? Just so I can work out how often I can come back home

Laura x

 

[Samsanbor]

Applying for both and willing to relocate for them so just wondering what it will be like if I get one.

I’ll take whichever (if any!) offer me the job but just trying to work out finances and whatnot.

Anyone know the leave entitlements? Just so I can work out how often I can come back home

Laura x

Also bear in mind that LNER has recently made the TM position as an apprenticeship, hence they will ask proof of your GCSE before you can progress, so make sure to have those ready.
Careful with the "willing to relocate".
If you're not yet within the 45' commuting distance from the depot that will put you at the very bottom of the applicant's list and it would be much harder to get an invitation considering the large amount of aspirants generated by these jobs.

 

[jettofab]

From what I can gather a lot of this stems from the fact that LNER quite often get other TOCs problems dumped on them. If Grand Central, Lumo or Hull Trains cancel any of their services, which has been quite often recently especially with Grand Central, LNER end up carrying their passengers which makes a very busy service even busier, making the job harder. Not defending it and it’s not the fault of other TOCs frontline workers but just giving a reason.

This is true of a lot of operators though; their guards end up dealing with a whole load of displaced passengers along with their own disgruntled ones having to put up with overcrowding/not getting seats. I can think of a number of examples.

 

[tiptoptaff]

the first one to offer you a job.

Simple, really

 

[7819Hinton]

the first one to offer you a job.

Simple, really

It sounds a bit cut throat and lacking moral courage to do just this, however having been on this forum for a while, it seems the most logical piece of advice you can be given for a role on the railway.
The only anomaly which would present a choice is if you were to be offered a contract with companies at the same time. It does happen, but not that common.
So after all that waffle..
I totally agree with ‘tiptopstaff’
If you’re offered a job, don’t think twice.

 

[tiptoptaff]

It sounds a bit cut throat and lacking moral courage to do just this, however having been on this forum for a while, it seems the most logical piece of advice you can be given for a role on the railway.
The only anomaly which would present a choice is if you were to be offered a contract with companies at the same time. It does happen, but not that common.
So after all that waffle..
I totally agree with ‘tiptopstaff’
If you’re offered a job, don’t think twice.

Getting in is the hardest part.

Some people do get two simultaneous offers and then have a decision to make, but in this case, it's a simple "whichever comes first"

 

[SunSeeker]

XC TMs have probably the best combination of wages and conditions in the industry.

Any information on what the wages and conditions are? I'm always curious how life up North compares to here in London.

 

[azOOOOOma]

Absolutely guys. If I’m offered anything I’ll be taking it and would be made up to do so! It’s more of planning the lifestyle/commuting home to Newcastle/seeing my dad etc that I’m trying to work out.

 

[tlv2019]

Any information on what the wages and conditions are? I'm always curious how life up North compares to here in London.

LNER pay London Weighting Allowance if you’re based in Kings Cross. Other than that it’s exactly the same across the route bar a few very minor local agreements.

 

[SunSeeker]

LNER pay London Weighting Allowance if you’re based in Kings Cross. Other than that it’s exactly the same across the route bar a few very minor local agreements.

Sorry, should have stated I don't work for them.

 

[PeteBR]

In terms of annual leave the LNER norm is 34 days running from 1st January to 21st December, the defined benefit pension is dependent on how long you are a member of the scheme but I would say its as generous as any other railway pension scheme. The rosters vary from depot to depot but Newcastle LNER tends to be between 4 links of earlies. middle earlies. Middle lates, and late lates. Its worth noting that most Train Manager vacancies with LNER are now advertised as Apprentice Train Managers and require a GCSE qualification in both English and Maths, they will request proof of this with your application.

 

[azOOOOOma]

Thank you everyone for all your help. It is my appreciated my lovelies!

Have a great weekend.

Laura x

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jan 2024 ==

Does anyone know what the current salary is for LNER non-London based TMs? It seems to have been £39,100 for a few years now from what I can see on having a search on old google results.

Also is it 5% commission on onboard ticket sales?

 

[PeteBR]

Hi Laura

Its currently £41055 + commission at 5% though that is the pay increase for 2022/2023 talks will commence for the 2023/2024 pay increase in February

 

[azOOOOOma]

Thank you Peter, much appreciated x

 

[Viper]

What is the commission for? Surely there's no element of active selling from train crew unless it's food & drink?

 

[LowLevel]

What is the commission for? Surely there's no element of active selling from train crew unless it's food & drink?

Ticket sales. Not unusual for train guards to get a small percentage of on board ticket sales. It isn't worth anywhere near as much as it was, generally.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Ticket sales. Not unusual for train guards to get a small percentage of on board ticket sales. It isn't worth anywhere near as much as it was, generally.

Indeed its becoming more common for them to get paid per scan these days

 

[azOOOOOma]

Ticket sales. Not unusual for train guards to get a small percentage of on board ticket sales. It isn't worth anywhere near as much as it was, generally.

How much commission a month would you expect them to make?

I know when I was cabin crew we’d get 2.5% of onboard sales. It really made a difference on busy months.

 

[LowLevel]

How much commission a month would you expect them to make?

I know when I was cabin crew we’d get 2.5% of onboard sales. It really made a difference on busy months.

Not sure really. I do a mix of rural, urban and longer distance work and make about £100-£150 per month in commission before tax.

Don't know how much they actually will flog on board nowadays but I'd assume it's mostly first class upgrades and tickrt irregularities.