i believe so! yeah i’ve heard it’s a good idea to bring some bags as you will have a lot to take home with you!
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London Underground - CSA1 / CSA2 - Recruitment and Discussion
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jefferyjsg
Member
in terms of training dates, ppl who got the job in August have still got a very long time to wait, i’ve been told over the phone anywhere from March or April (not confirmed) depending on how long it takes them to get through July
@SeMe have you heard anything yet?
Sterlingldn
Member
Oh wow, I don’t understand why they backlog so many people if the space isn’t readily available, is this normal practice? I feel waiting 7+ months is insanity lol
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Haha same, I got my conditional offer in august and it’s been agonisingly slow. I’ve heard we probably start training march april
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Did you get your conditional offer in November 2024 and starting full time January?
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When did you get your conditional offer if you don’t mind me asking? I got my mine in august and done my medical in October but still waiting for a start date for full time csa2
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Nope nothing yet. Last I called they said those who got the role in early July will be prioritised for the March dates.
Did you get the offer in August? If so maybe a while, as I got mine in June and start training middle of Jan
SapphireBlue
Member
Hi Guys - my fellow CSA2s!
I have followed these threads all through the selection process since I applied on 9th June 2024. It had been quite a traumatic year (2024) and I was in my 22nd year of my old toxic 'non railway' job. These threads were so enormously helpful, and by 'Stage 3' I really wanted this job. I'm in my 50s and recently found out I've got railways in my ancestral history - my Great Great Grandfather was a fireman on the Flying Scotsman; my son is a Network Rail Track Technician. I never understood why I loved the Tube so much when I was a kid living in Chesham, and subsequently the National Rail trains in Hertfordshire. I am so grateful to have got through all the stages of this recruitment process and cannot wait to start. However, the update I've just been given is I'm likely to start training April onwards as I was offered on 2nd August (they go by the confirmation email date - not the verbal offer which was 31st July).
I finished my old job on 31st Oct, and in November went onto Job Seekers 'New Style' which is contribution based. £90 a week. Fortunately I built up some savings - so we can get through until April, maybe longer. I can't imagine what it must be like for you younger ones hanging around for months like this. But I also know we had to tick 'Yes' on our applications that we understood what 'High Volume Recruitment' entailed.
My question is - for the training course - I will need to buy a month's season ticket (National Rail). But when do we get our 'Staff Free Oyster card' for the London Underground bit?
Many thanks for all your help in the past as a guest, and for my newly ongoing 'official' posts.
I have followed these threads all through the selection process since I applied on 9th June 2024. It had been quite a traumatic year (2024) and I was in my 22nd year of my old toxic 'non railway' job. These threads were so enormously helpful, and by 'Stage 3' I really wanted this job. I'm in my 50s and recently found out I've got railways in my ancestral history - my Great Great Grandfather was a fireman on the Flying Scotsman; my son is a Network Rail Track Technician. I never understood why I loved the Tube so much when I was a kid living in Chesham, and subsequently the National Rail trains in Hertfordshire. I am so grateful to have got through all the stages of this recruitment process and cannot wait to start. However, the update I've just been given is I'm likely to start training April onwards as I was offered on 2nd August (they go by the confirmation email date - not the verbal offer which was 31st July).
I finished my old job on 31st Oct, and in November went onto Job Seekers 'New Style' which is contribution based. £90 a week. Fortunately I built up some savings - so we can get through until April, maybe longer. I can't imagine what it must be like for you younger ones hanging around for months like this. But I also know we had to tick 'Yes' on our applications that we understood what 'High Volume Recruitment' entailed.
My question is - for the training course - I will need to buy a month's season ticket (National Rail). But when do we get our 'Staff Free Oyster card' for the London Underground bit?
Many thanks for all your help in the past as a guest, and for my newly ongoing 'official' posts.
bluegoblin7
Established Member
You should get your staff pass on day one of your training. This is valid on all TfL services and some National Rail services.
A public fare NR season ticket may not be your best option depending on what you need and when you need to purchase it, as LU offer various discounted season ticket options (although they won’t apply from day one at the moment - LU staff are due to get NR Priv from 1 April 2025, although the specifics are still to be confirmed.)
A public fare NR season ticket may not be your best option depending on what you need and when you need to purchase it, as LU offer various discounted season ticket options (although they won’t apply from day one at the moment - LU staff are due to get NR Priv from 1 April 2025, although the specifics are still to be confirmed.)
SapphireBlue
Member
Thank you so much. To start with I would get an NR ticket as far as Harrow and Wealdstone, then tap in and out with my current pre-paid Oyster card either for the Bakerloo, or Overground to Euston for Victoria Line etc whichever way I choose to get to Westfield House etc. I'm also lucky enough to be close to Chesham and Amersham for the Met line. So plenty of Options.
Do you know if LU staff are eligible for staff parking permits at LU stations? I would imagine not for NR stations though.
bluegoblin7
Established Member
Generally station staff are not eligible for parking permits, especially away from their place of work, but this isn't a hard and fast rule. You'd need to speak to staff at the locations concerned - although at most Met line stations the limited staff parking is reserved for Train Operators and Service Control staff.
Training is at Ashfield House at West Kensington, just to clarify. To be honest, if you can time it to the limited Southern service to Kensington (Olympia) that's going to be your easiest commute (albeit not free), or the double Overground at Willesden Junction.
Training is at Ashfield House at West Kensington, just to clarify. To be honest, if you can time it to the limited Southern service to Kensington (Olympia) that's going to be your easiest commute (albeit not free), or the double Overground at Willesden Junction.
Staff pass is valid on Avanti between Watford Junction and Euston, also valid on London Northwestern Railway between the same. (And obviously London Overground too.)
Staff pass valid on Chiltern between Amersham and Marylebone.
I would say parking at LU stations is limited to nothing unless you work at that station.
Edit: There is a season ticket loan for travel - of which staff pay 25% of ticket price, and a season ticket loan for national rail station parking, but TfL staff pay 100% of the parking charge.
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SapphireBlue
Member
Thank you very much for the valuable info here. Sorry for the typo - I was thinking West Kensington and Ashfield House and somehow shortened it to Westfield
.I forgot about the Southern - that used to stop at my home station, but now starts from Watford Junction - which is another good option!
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Thank you very much, this is great info. So eventually I would only need an NR ticket to Watford Junction. I chose Harrow and Wealdstone as it's a shorter distance to change platforms than at Watford Junct - which seems like miles! Also it's the quicker journey time if catching the Bakerloo.
Do Staff Passes have to be tapped in and out like normal Oyster cards?
I've seen a lot of commuters jump off the train at Watford Junct - tap in, then jump straight back on to London, which is a bit of a faff, and you lose your seat.
The parking concession sounds really good too.
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bluegoblin7
Established Member
Staff passes do not need to be tapped in or out, so no need to change/get off a train, as long as it stops at the boundary station.
On the job application they did say they were looking to recruit over the next 1-2 years.
Sterlingldn
Member
I must’ve skipped that bit, I guess I got to put this job to the back of my head and find something else in the meantime
SapphireBlue
Member
Brilliant thank you. That's one less headache to worry about!
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Thank you for this update. The discounted NR travel is really great and in combination with the free staff pass. I can get a cheaper 'weekly parking rate' through 'Saba Parking' at my local station. So this is still beneficial thankfully.
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Sterlingldn
Member
Quick question what’s the overtime rate for csa2?
The latest published 2023 Implementation Notice says £22.7978 for CSA2 overtime rate. It may actually be higher due to a payrise, not sure.
Yes, I was told that the dress code is smart casual.
I thought that from day 2 of training you are expected to wear the uniform? Could be wrong
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Good luck to everyone starting their training tomorrow!
bluegoblin7
Established Member
Smart end of smart casual (not jeans) for day one, then uniform thereafter.
Is uniform usually provided on day one of training? If so would you recommend us bringing anything like bags etc to help carry it?
When I received uniform on the first day, it was packed in a box with handle holes design made for us to carry so I didn’t need a bag, sometimes the cardboard box can get damaged by holding the handle. As it looks like it may rain tomorrow, you could possibly bring your own bag/suitcase, and due to the wet weather your box may get damaged.
Also the weight of the uniform packed into the boxes can be heavy to carry, so a suit case maybe suitable for some to wheel in.
You’re expected to wear the uniform, but some of it might not fit and stuff so just wear what you can
SapphireBlue
Member
Good luck to everyone starting their courses today. I know it's been a long wait. I am probably April Training as my offer was in August.
I am currently on Jobseekers Allowance (contributions based) and had an officious phone call appointment this morning telling me I still have to be actively looking for work or they will stop my claim. I tried to explain this High Volume Recruitment process, and how I am very lucky to have got through all the stages for this - including ordering all my uniform, staff pass, pension scheme etc. etc. yet I am still supposed to be looking on Indeed etc to see what else is out there... Absolut madness.
Quick question to renew my sanity - I'd like to know what the current pass mark is for the exams you take during the training course. It'll help put my mind at rest.
I am currently on Jobseekers Allowance (contributions based) and had an officious phone call appointment this morning telling me I still have to be actively looking for work or they will stop my claim. I tried to explain this High Volume Recruitment process, and how I am very lucky to have got through all the stages for this - including ordering all my uniform, staff pass, pension scheme etc. etc. yet I am still supposed to be looking on Indeed etc to see what else is out there... Absolut madness.
Quick question to renew my sanity - I'd like to know what the current pass mark is for the exams you take during the training course. It'll help put my mind at rest.
heretohelp
Member
It’s 80%
SapphireBlue
Member
To also add to my above post, the Jobseeker caller wanted to know - at what point will I receive a contract from London Underground.
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Phew thank you!
You get your contract 3-4 weeks before starting.