Relocation

[Swayed]

Hi everyone, I’ve just been offered a post as a Trainee Train Driver. I originally applied working out of a depot in Glasgow but I’ve been offered a position working out of London Euston.

Anybody have any experience in relocation down there in terms of digs/ areas to look at etc? I’d probably go down the route of renting a flat or room somewhere.

Any advice gratefully appreciated, thanks.

 

[Economist]

I'm relocated to London for my previous career and ended up becoming a train driver after I moved down. There are a few things which you might want to know.

Firstly, London can be quite a noisy city at night, much of it due to traffic, you'll most likely get used to it (I can sleep through an ambulance on a call going past my house).

Secondly, the quality of property and landlords varies quite a bit, I do know of a houseshare organisation of which the member landlords are encouraged to meet certain standards which I believe are above the legal minimum, happy to PM you the details if you like.

Thirdly, if you're based at Euston, you may want to think about how you're going to get there. I don't know about staff parking, that's something you'd need to ask your TOC about.

Lastly, if you are in a houseshare, you are quite possibly going to get at least one pillock in the house at any one time. I've been in a houseshare for a few years and whilst there have been some really good housemates, very little of that time has been true idiot-free living.

Edited to add:
Try and avoid couples, we allowed one lad to bring his girlfriend into the house for six months and he went from being generally decent to complete prat in next to no time. Also, if there are any weed smokers, make sure they keep it outside, it's surprisingly common even amongst those in the professions.

 

[Teddyward]

Anywhere on the Victoria or northern lines will see you within 30 mins of Euston, if you can afford it. If you want to keep more of your money east London is always cheapest but not that great for getting to Euston quick. Walthamstow is probably cheapest place on Victoria line. It’s shall we say, quite vibrant. If you want somewhere nice I recommend the Far East of the central line. Should be within 1 hr of Euston.

 

[Swayed]

Thanks very much to both for the replys. I’ve stayed in busy areas of Glasgow before so noise etc shouldn’t be a problem. I will probably go down the flat/ House share route to start of with so I’ll brace myself!!

Probably would like to stay within a half hour or so of Euston so I’ll check a few places out. Thanks.

 

[Teddyward]

I forgot to mention if you have super early/ late shifts you’ll need night bus if you don’t want to fork out for Ubers and such like.
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/euston-night-310813.pdf

 

[pgfb1306]

The other thing to bear in mind is that the Travelodge at Stonebridge Park (they like to call it Wembley) is well located for the N18 night bus which takes you close to Euston and has the Overground straight to Euston. Book about four weeks out and you can generally get rooms for around £40 per night. Depends whether or not you like to live out of a suitcase, but is generally quiet and maybe a bit better than a houseshare.

 

[Dot2018]

Big congratulations mate, sadly I failed my CBI so didn’t have a chance. London would have been my third choice for some of the above reasons but obviously you’re not going to turn it down if offered!

 

[Swayed]

The other thing to bear in mind is that the Travelodge at Stonebridge Park (they like to call it Wembley) is well located for the N18 night bus which takes you close to Euston and has the Overground straight to Euston. Book about four weeks out and you can generally get rooms for around £40 per night. Depends whether or not you like to live out of a suitcase, but is generally quiet and maybe a bit better than a houseshare.

Good to know, thanks very much

 

[Swayed]

Big congratulations mate, sadly I failed my CBI so didn’t have a chance. London would have been my third choice for some of the above reasons but obviously you’re not going to turn it down if offered!

Hi Harry, sorry to hear you weren’t successful this time but keep trying. I’m a bit gobsmacked to be honest as although my cbi was ok, I definitely felt like it could’ve been better, so it just shows you. Best of luck for the future and I hope you get there in the end.

 

[Dot2018]

Hi Harry, sorry to hear you weren’t successful this time but keep trying. I’m a bit gobsmacked to be honest as although my cbi was ok, I definitely felt like it could’ve been better, so it just shows you. Best of luck for the future and I hope you get there in the end.

Cheers dude I’ve definitely learned a lot and of course I’ve got 7 passes in the bag. Just currently unsure if I have 1 attempt left or 3 because some use MMI instead of CBI.

 

[Swayed]

Cheers dude I’ve definitely learned a lot and of course I’ve got 7 passes in the bag. Just currently unsure if I have 1 attempt left or 3 because some use MMI instead of CBI.

Yeah that was something I was wondering myself, I’d think you’d have 3 left but I’m not sure

 

[FManc]

As far as I'm aware Virgin West Coast are the only TOC who use the CBI. All others use the MMI. So technically you haven't lost a life (unless you were to apply for VWC again) as far as I'm aware. Obviously if you were to apply at another TOC you'd sit the MMI rather than the CBI. Both are near enough identicitcal from what I've heard.

 

[Dot2018]

As far as I'm aware Virgin West Coast are the only TOC who use the CBI. All others use the MMI. So technically you haven't lost a life (unless you were to apply for VWC again) as far as I'm aware. Obviously if you were to apply at another TOC you'd sit the MMI rather than the CBI. Both are near enough identicitcal from what I've heard.

Lucky me then. 4 lives instead of 2

I have contacted OPC to be certain though

 

[Spankthemonkey]

If you don't mind a bit of a longer commute, Peterborough is 45mins on the fast trains from KingsX and a stroll along Euston road. Places near pboro station are incomparibly cheap compared to other towns and cities 45min out of London. There is a really early train that is just full of early book-on London rail workers leaves Pboro about 0330.

 

[red2005]

Most of the London based drivers I know live on the outskirts in places such as Watford or Milton Keynes and commute in..... maybe a cheaper option accommodation wise if not the most glamorous

 

[Swayed]

Thanks, I’ll definitely have a look at places like Peterborough , Watford , Milton Keynes etc. Would be good to keep costs down at the start anyway!

 

[CapLaw]

Hi Swayed, well done! Hope you don’t mind my asking but did they phone or email you for the outcome. I’m still waiting on them to get in touch!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks, I’ll definitely have a look at places like Peterborough , Watford , Milton Keynes etc. Would be good to keep costs down at the start anyway!

MK is one of the cheapest places to live that has easy access to London (and is genuinely quite nice despite what people say of it), Stevenage may be similar but I half recall it's a bit more expensive.

But check how far you're allowed to live from your depot, some have stipulations on journey time or distance.

 

[Swayed]

Hi Swayed, well done! Hope you don’t mind my asking but did they phone or email you for the outcome. I’m still waiting on them to get in touch!

Hi CapLaw, I got a phone call yesterday morning. Hopefully you’ll receive some good news, no news is good news as they say!!

 

[Swayed]

MK is one of the cheapest places to live that has easy access to London (and is genuinely quite nice despite what people say of it), Stevenage may be similar but I half recall it's a bit more expensive.

But check how far you're allowed to live from your depot, some have stipulations on journey time or distance.

Yeah I’ve to give them a call back on Monday just to confirm I’m happy to relocate so I’ll ask about distance from the depot then. Thanks. A few people have told me to check out Miton Keynes

 

[Cavan]

Peterborough is a bit rough

 

[red2005]

I know a couple of guys commute in from as far out as Cambridge!! Bit of a jaunt like but it may give some idea on what the policies are like regarding how far you should live from the depot.

Saying that these are established drivers with years under their belt so policies may have changed since they started

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you're based at Euston MK has the big advantage of being only 30 minutes in (during the day) and having a *near* (but not quite) 24 hour service for early/late shifts (though it's a grim replacement bus on Saturday night/Sunday morning).

You may also want to consider somewhere on Thameslink as you can get to St Pancras (10 minutes walk from Euston) and it does have a 24 hour service.

 

[baz962]

Thanks, I’ll definitely have a look at places like Peterborough , Watford , Milton Keynes etc. Would be good to keep costs down at the start anyway!

Hi there, well done, and my tuppence worth, I travel in from Bedford , and thameslink are 24/7 to London through st pancras, except really early on sunday, and I know some drivers that come from northampton area, which is a lot cheaper.

 

[Swayed]

Great stuff guys thanks

 

[tsr]

Hi Swayed, well done! Hope you don’t mind my asking but did they phone or email you for the outcome. I’m still waiting on them to get in touch!

Railway recruitment often makes phone calls to successful candidates and emails the less successful ones. Doesn't always apply, mind.

 

[ZILLA]

Big congratulations mate, sadly I failed my CBI so didn’t have a chance. London would have been my third choice for some of the above reasons but obviously you’re not going to turn it down if offered!

Hope you don't mind me asking, but, did they email you your interview results?

 

[Dot2018]

Hope you don't mind me asking, but, did they email you your interview results?

I have emailed them but I got an auto reply from “jo” saying she was out of the office til the 30th so I guess I have to wait a bit. What’s your situation?

 

[ZILLA]

I have emailed them but I got an auto reply from “jo” saying she was out of the office til the 30th so I guess I have to wait a bit. What’s your situation?

I've not had an email or phone call so wondered if I should be waiting for a call or a rejection email. It seems unusual to not give all the offers/rejections on the same day, but perhaps I'm wrong! Relocating would be needed and I'd like to start that asap if I was given an offer. I work in outdoor instruction so I can't have my phone on me between 9-5 so I tend to miss calls frequently
Maybe give the OPC a phone, my CBI interviewer suggsted I call if I don't get an offer.

 

[Dot2018]

I've not had an email or phone call so wondered if I should be waiting for a call or a rejection email. It seems unusual to not give all the offers/rejections on the same day, but perhaps I'm wrong! Relocating would be needed and I'd like to start that asap if I was given an offer. I work in outdoor instruction so I can't have my phone on me between 9-5 so I tend to miss calls frequently
Maybe give the OPC a phone, my CBI interviewer suggsted I call if I don't get an offer.

I was called at 10am on Friday morning. My guess is that he was getting the rejection calls out of the way and then calling swayed and the other two but I could be wrong. He just said contact OPC to get results and wasn’t very specific.