SWR Guard relocation

[7thson]

Hi everyone,

I've been offered a conditional offer as a Metro Guard for SWR at London Waterloo. I've got the medical next week and it's all looking good so far. Only problem is that they're asking me to relocate before I start early next year. Relocating isn't a problem, but I was fairly confident I was within the 45 minute travel time. I live near Sutton and cycle everywhere so getting up to Waterloo in the small hours for an early is no problem. I typically leave an hour before my shift starts at my current role in the railway and I live much closer.

Does anyone know what the radius would be for Waterloo in this context? I've got friends who are currently training for the same job in the same depot who live in Croydon. They haven't been asked to relocate so I think Croydon may be within the acceptable travel radius.

As I said, I have no trouble relocating. I really want this job. But knowing where to look for a place would be really helpful.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Class2ldn]

Seems a bit extreme if you're living in Sutton, they normally use Google maps to estimate how long it would take to travel by car if you cant use public transport which by the looks of it is pushing it over the hour mark however croydon is similar but slightly less which is why they might just scrape it.
Even if you're using public transport or cycling they won't really take that into account as they need to know you'll be able to get there by driving if need be, seems harsh but you wouldn't need to relocate far, maybe get an idea from them how its worked out and go from there

 

[7thson]

Thanks for the reply.

I figured that they must be using Google maps. I think if they can tell me an acceptable area then I can get the ball rolling on a move.

 

[steveo43]

Hi,
Congratulations and welcome to SWR. I'm currently based at Woking in a non-safety role (Revenue Protection), I also live in Sutton.
If you have put down in your application that you will cycle to work, you will need to work out where to can easily cycle to/from within the 45 minute time frame.
SWR will use Google maps to work this out, from what I understand, they will use or used too use 3 different times of day to work this out (early morning, Middle of day, afternoon or early evening). When you get 5 minutes spare, use Google maps, try Clapham, Balham, Streatham, Wandsworth, Earlsfield, possibly Wimbledon ( still might be too far out to Cycle). Hopefully this will give you a couple of ideas to start with.
Good luck with everything.

 

[Sly Sloth]

Hi everyone,

I've been offered a conditional offer as a Metro Guard for SWR at London Waterloo. I've got the medical next week and it's all looking good so far. Only problem is that they're asking me to relocate before I start early next year. Relocating isn't a problem, but I was fairly confident I was within the 45 minute travel time. I live near Sutton and cycle everywhere so getting up to Waterloo in the small hours for an early is no problem. I typically leave an hour before my shift starts at my current role in the railway and I live much closer.

Does anyone know what the radius would be for Waterloo in this context? I've got friends who are currently training for the same job in the same depot who live in Croydon. They haven't been asked to relocate so I think Croydon may be within the acceptable travel radius.

As I said, I have no trouble relocating. I really want this job. But knowing where to look for a place would be really helpful.

Thanks for reading!

Move to Croydon then

 

[Roger1973]

congratulations - i thought they wouldn't even let people through to interview if they didn't already live within X distance / time.

Croydon may qualify through having night trains to Blackfriars.

Even if you're intending to cycle most of the time, may be worth looking at the night bus map for Waterloo (opens as PDF) - the timetables here are easier to get at than through TFL's website. I had thought about the 154 bus from Sutton to Croydon, but it doesn't have a night service (I had an idea it might have done at one time.)

 

[WizCastro197]

Hi everyone,

I've been offered a conditional offer as a Metro Guard for SWR at London Waterloo. I've got the medical next week and it's all looking good so far. Only problem is that they're asking me to relocate before I start early next year. Relocating isn't a problem, but I was fairly confident I was within the 45 minute travel time. I live near Sutton and cycle everywhere so getting up to Waterloo in the small hours for an early is no problem. I typically leave an hour before my shift starts at my current role in the railway and I live much closer.

Does anyone know what the radius would be for Waterloo in this context? I've got friends who are currently training for the same job in the same depot who live in Croydon. They haven't been asked to relocate so I think Croydon may be within the acceptable travel radius.

As I said, I have no trouble relocating. I really want this job. But knowing where to look for a place would be really helpful.

Thanks for reading!

Did your friends say they would be happy to cycle to work? That may affect why they haven't been asked to relocate.

Balham is probably best bet here, you've got the Northern line and is easily within cycle distance, my uncle does this journey between Balham and St Thomas' Hospital which is in the Waterloo area and he says it usually takes around the same time depending on your cycle speed and if you go on the tube, your change at Kennington.

Both Tube & Cycling seem to be 29/30 minutes (from Balham) but the closer you move to the river and Waterloo itself the quicker it will get.

You could move to Croydon to be with your friends, but unfortunately it seems that Croydon has been in managed decline for a number of years now.

 

[Mainsideman]

Mate I would not worry I live in Woking and work at Waterloo nothing has been said and is much further then Sutton, I know people who live as far as as Basingstoke and work at Waterloo.

 

[ComUtoR]

Morning,

Did, at any point, you tell them that you would relocate ? It seems like an odd request. Did the original application have a restriction on distance/time from the depot ?

Have they asked for any kind of proof ?

 

[WizCastro197]

Mate I would not worry I live in Woking and work at Waterloo nothing has been said and is much further then Sutton, I know people who live as far as as Basingstoke and work at Waterloo.

No yours may differ. Did yours have a particular distance restriction applied? Did you say you would be happy to cycle to work?

 

[BK79]

Hi everyone,

I've been offered a conditional offer as a Metro Guard for SWR at London Waterloo. I've got the medical next week and it's all looking good so far. Only problem is that they're asking me to relocate before I start early next year. Relocating isn't a problem, but I was fairly confident I was within the 45 minute travel time. I live near Sutton and cycle everywhere so getting up to Waterloo in the small hours for an early is no problem. I typically leave an hour before my shift starts at my current role in the railway and I live much closer.

Does anyone know what the radius would be for Waterloo in this context? I've got friends who are currently training for the same job in the same depot who live in Croydon. They haven't been asked to relocate so I think Croydon may be within the acceptable travel radius.

As I said, I have no trouble relocating. I really want this job. But knowing where to look for a place would be really helpful.

Thanks for reading!

I'm in the same situation, although the relocation is looking a but tricky for me now as since I applied in late 2019, there have been lots of changes, not only to the salary increments but I also now have a 3 month old to consider! I also have my medical next week.

When I asked, I was told that they use google maps and use the arrival time for an early start, and late start. This has to show as less than 45 minutes from home postcode to the depot. They use the transport mode that you had declared on application.

Good luck with everything.

 

[7thson]

congratulations - i thought they wouldn't even let people through to interview if they didn't already live within X distance / time.

Croydon may qualify through having night trains to Blackfriars.

Even if you're intending to cycle most of the time, may be worth looking at the night bus map for Waterloo (opens as PDF) - the timetables here are easier to get at than through TFL's website. I had thought about the 154 bus from Sutton to Croydon, but it doesn't have a night service (I had an idea it might have done at one time.)

The night bus map and the timetables are really helpful, thank you very much.

 

[7thson]

Morning,

Did, at any point, you tell them that you would relocate ? It seems like an odd request. Did the original application have a restriction on distance/time from the depot ?

Have they asked for any kind of proof ?

Yeah, it's something you could click as an option when I originally replied. I'm willing to relocate, I just was going to do it once I get off the training wages. The mentioned the 45 minute journey time in the application from what I can remember and I was once asked again about it in the interview. One of the interviewers even knew the route I'd be taking and was satisfied.

They haven't asked for proof but said they would need a new address for me to send me the contracts etc.

They

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Dec 2022 ==

Did your friends say they would be happy to cycle to work? That may affect why they haven't been asked to relocate.

Balham is probably best bet here, you've got the Northern line and is easily within cycle distance, my uncle does this journey between Balham and St Thomas' Hospital which is in the Waterloo area and he says it usually takes around the same time depending on your cycle speed and if you go on the tube, your change at Kennington.

Both Tube & Cycling seem to be 29/30 minutes (from Balham) but the closer you move to the river and Waterloo itself the quicker it will get.

You could move to Croydon to be with your friends, but unfortunately it seems that Croydon has been in managed decline for a number of years now.

Well one lives right next to East Croydon Station so that's why he wasn't asked. As for the other one, I'm not sure. I can move in with my girlfriend who lives less than 10 miles from Waterloo. Relocating is something I'm willing to do, but I just think it's a little strange for this to be a problem at this stage when I have a medical booked, a start date and good references lined up etc.

 

[ComUtoR]

Yeah, it's something you could click as an option when I originally replied. I'm willing to relocate, I just was going to do it once I get off the training wages. The mentioned the 45 minute journey time in the application from what I can remember and I was once asked again about it in the interview. One of the interviewers even knew the route I'd be taking and was satisfied.

A lot of people say they are 'willing' but then never do. It's a massive issue for the industry as it can be quite detrimental to the business.

They haven't asked for proof but said they would need a new address for me to send me the contracts etc.

Tricky. Clearly they want to see "proof" but have taken a softer approach.

Relocating is something I'm willing to do

Then what's the issue ? Relocate and get your new career started. If you can't at the moment, maybe consider telling them your timetable and asking them to hold a future course for you once you have relocated.

, but I just think it's a little strange for this to be a problem at this stage when I have a medical booked, a start date and good references lined up etc.

It's all about getting the ducks in line. They have committed to you based on what you have told them. They can get the course dates all pencilled in and at the same time queue up a potential replacement who is also ready but just waiting. My depot had interviews the other week and two candidates pulled out and were very quickly replaced.

Now that the company is willing to commit then it really is down to you to show that equal commitment. If they were pushing you to relocate before offering you a job then I'd understand but it seems like the ball is well and truly in your court and the job is yours if you want it.


Speak to them about where they are expecting you to relocate to (distance/time etc). You may find that you are already within an acceptable distance and the person reading your application hasn't read it fully or understood it. You may find that this offer is still conditional. Either way I think you need greater clarity about your options.