Lumo - (Apprentice) Customer Train Driver - Recruitment Discussion

[Simon11]

Just out, good luck all!

Recruiting for Stirling, Preston and London.

Apprentice Customer 'Train' Driver - Preston Station, Fishergate, Preston, United Kingdom - London, United Kingdom - Stirling, Stirlingshire, United Kingdom

Who are we? First Rail Stirling is a brand-new enterprise and start-up rail operator that will run an exciting long-haul train service crossing the entire country. The service will run from London to Stirling, reuniting Stirling with a direct service to the West Coast of England during the day...

careers.firstgroup.co.uk

First Rail Stirling is a brand-new enterprise and start-up rail operator that will run an exciting long-haul train service crossing the entire country. The service will run from London to Stirling, reuniting Stirling with a direct service to the West Coast of England during the day.

We are transforming the way people think about train travel, empowering our team from different backgrounds to make it a great experience for our customers. Together, we will revalue rail as a very special way to travel – relaxing, fast, efficient, and sustainable.

First Rail Stirling, operating under Lumo is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

As a minimum, you will need to have:

• You must be 21 years of age or older to be accepted on to the training course, as this is an industry requirement.
• You will need to live within 60 minutes travel time to the depot, which is located at Stirling, Preston or London Euston, without using public transport when it is not available. The safety responsibilities make this requirement a necessity.
• The ability to work shifts of varying start times, including weekends and nights shifts.
• As this role is an important safety role, we have a stringent recruitment process, that includes various ability tests, that measure the key requirements needed for the role. Do not worry too much about this, as we will send you Practice Test Materials, before we invite you to any ability testing events, so you will have plenty of time to practice for the tests.
• Not have defective colour vision.
• Not have failed the Train Driver assessment within the last six months.
• Not have failed the Train Driver assessment twice before.

Salary:

The apprentice salary rate is £38,955.50 per annum, rising to £68,449.50 when fully qualified.

 

[12LDA28C]

Just out, good luck all!

Apprentice Customer 'Train' Driver - Preston Station, Fishergate, Preston, United Kingdom - London, United Kingdom - Stirling, Stirlingshire, United Kingdom

Who are we? First Rail Stirling is a brand-new enterprise and start-up rail operator that will run an exciting long-haul train service crossing the entire country. The service will run from London to Stirling, reuniting Stirling with a direct service to the West Coast of England during the day...

careers.firstgroup.co.uk

Why is 'Train' in inverted commas? Apparently on completion of the training you can become a Qualified Customer Driver. Seriously? Who writes this nonsense?

 

[D1537]

"The service will run from London to Stirling, reuniting Stirling with a direct service to the West Coast of England during the day."

That's not exactly clear either, is it? (Yes, I presume it means "via the WCML" but I'm pretty sure the service isn't visiting the actual coast).

Also, there's

• You will need to live within 60 minutes travel time to the depot, which is located at Stirling, Preston or London Euston, without using public transport when it is not available.

but

• The learning program takes 12 months to complete. You will need to be committed to this learning schedule from the start.
• You will need to be dedicated and available for in-person training and learning during this whole period in Newcastle upon Tyne and/or Hull

 

[Simon11]

First Groups Lumo and Hull Trains HQ are based in Newcastle and Hull respectively, thus the training would make sense to run there where they would have trainers and resources to run it.

 

[D1537]

First Groups Lumo and Hull Trains HQ are based in Newcastle and Hull respectively, thus the training would make sense to run there where they would have trainers and resources to run it.

Yes, I realise that, I was just considering that they want people within 60 minutes of three specific cities, but they want them to move to two places at least 100 miles from all of those cities, for a year. That's going to be expensive for them.

 

[driver9000]

Yes, I realise that, I was just considering that they want people within 60 minutes of three specific cities, but they want them to move to two places at least 100 miles from all of those cities, for a year. That's going to be expensive for them.

No. It would be lodging in hotels Monday to Friday at the company expense for approximately 12-16 weeks for the classroom portion of the training. Once that is complete the practical element of the training would be done more locally (assuming they actually have something set up by then).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2025 ==

Why is 'Train' in inverted commas? Apparently on completion of the training you can become a Qualified Customer Driver. Seriously? Who writes this nonsense?

First Group came up with those titles several years ago. They tried branding Conductor vacancies as "Customer Service Professionals" too.

 

[FlyinScotsman.]

Does anyone know if Lumo use standard aptitude tests or enhanced standard?

 

[notadriver]

Interesting that there is no lodging required due to provision of 3 depots whereas Lumo ECML only has the one.

 

[HeritageSussex]

 

[RollingStock19]

Why is 'Train' in inverted commas? Apparently on completion of the training you can become a Qualified Customer Driver. Seriously? Who writes this nonsense?

Because last time it was confusing people apparently what a customer driver actually was.
Personally I couldn't care what the job title is, as long as my salary hits the bank on payday

So, does it really matter?

 

[Chippychips]

Maybe I've missed something... but Lumo doesn't currently go to London Euston?

 

[D6130]

Maybe I've missed something... but Lumo doesn't currently go to London Euston?

It doesn't currently go to Preston or Stirling either!

 

[ainsworth74]

Maybe I've missed something... but Lumo doesn't currently go to London Euston?

No but it will do in the near(ish) future since First Group bought out Grand Union Trains and their access rights to run services from Stirling to Euston and decided to operate them, seemingly, under the Lumo umbrella.

 

[Zontar]

This sorts out the debate of the crewe or Preston depot then!

 

[Horizon22]

Please can I ask that people keep speculation & discussion about what stock Lumo will run on this service or other questions regarding the timetabling and nature of Lumo/First Rail Stirling to different threads - such as this one or this one (or start new threads in the approriate forum).

Please keep this thread on-topic and relevant to the discussion of recruitment for the Apprentice Customer Train Driver positions at the 3 locations above.

 

[12LDA28C]

Because last time it was confusing people apparently what a customer driver actually was.
Personally I couldn't care what the job title is, as long as my salary hits the bank on payday

So, does it really matter?

So you're saying that 'customer driver' is confusing - I agree. They are recruiting for train drivers, so just say that. Isn't communication on the railway supposed to be accurate, brief and clear?

 

[dingdinger]

Does anyone know if Lumo use standard aptitude tests or enhanced standard?

I think Hull Trains is National so I assume it would be the same?

 

[FlyinScotsman.]

I think Hull Trains is National so I assume it would be the same?

You’re right about Hull Trains, but Transpenine Express is enhanced standard and they also come under First Group. Bit of a strange one

 

[Domo]

Just to check they dont reasonably expect us to complete every single one of the error checking tasks in the time limit do they

 

[FlyinScotsman.]

Just to check they dont reasonably expect us to complete every single one of the error checking tasks in the time limit do they

What error checking task are you referring to?

 

[HeritageSussex]

Just to check they dont reasonably expect us to complete every single one of the error checking tasks in the time limit do they

You do as many as you can in the time available.

 

[Horizon22]

Just to check they dont reasonably expect us to complete every single one of the error checking tasks in the time limit do they

Accuracy over speed on these sort of tasks.

 

[driver9000]

You’re right about Hull Trains, but Transpenine Express is enhanced standard and they also come under First Group. Bit of a strange one

While you're correct that Transpennine requires enhanced passes it hasn't been under First Group for nearly 2 years.

 

[MadGunnersFan]

Just to check they dont reasonably expect us to complete every single one of the error checking tasks in the time limit do they

I recently completed this test myself and have just been informed that I’m moving on to the next stage, so I thought I’d share my experience. I didn’t manage to finish all the questions either, so I believe they’re more focused on accuracy rather than just speed. It seems like they’re looking for careful attention to detail rather than rushing to complete everything. Best of luck with your assessment!

 

[Grvrdvicdr]

‘customer driver’ is kinda a fancy term for train driver. But. At Lumo they do more so, if you’re booked to ‘pass’ on a service as part of your duty you’ll also help out with stuff like customer service on the train, wether that be tidying, assisting with disabled passsgers, anything. Which is where the ‘customer’ part comes in

 

[iwasyoungonce]

Working while booked pass does that count towards your hours ? not sure what ASLEF will say about that.

 

[Unobrow]

Working while booked pass does that count towards your hours ? not sure what ASLEF will say about that.

If you’re booked pass at our place, you’re still classed as at work and on duty. Not on break as that’s separate.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Working while booked pass does that count towards your hours ? not sure what ASLEF will say about that.

Booked PASS or PAO is defined as working for purposes of your hours anyway

 

[The Middle]

‘customer driver’ is kinda a fancy term for train driver. But. At Lumo they do more so, if you’re booked to ‘pass’ on a service as part of your duty you’ll also help out with stuff like customer service on the train, wether that be tidying, assisting with disabled passsgers, anything. Which is where the ‘customer’ part comes in

This is a myth that has been debunked on so many occasions on this forum now that I'm stunned it is still doing the rounds

 

[NorthernTech]

This sorts out the debate of the crewe or Preston depot then!

I thought that too.. Is this gonna be a way of eventually taking over Avanti services at a cheaper driver cost I wonder?