Lumo - Apprentice Customer Train Driver - Euston/Preston/Stirling (17/03/25)

[pacerpal]

Job closed. Had just finished formatting my cv and cover letter on my lunch break.

@nolypops83 From nearly missing to job offer. Gotta say it's been interesting following tis journey. Congrats ! Would be great if you could still drop a message or so through training

 

[Swall]

I did this morning. Subject to medical I've been successful for Preston depot. Absolutely over the moon but trying not to get too excited before I get a formal offer.

Well done mate, having read a lot of the posts on here I know you’ve been through the mill with assessments and waiting about. Good luck with your medical!

 

[godfreycomplex]

Well done mate, having read a lot of the posts on here I know you’ve been through the mill with assessments and waiting about. Good luck with your medical!

Seconded!

 

[NSEWonderer]

I did this morning. Subject to medical I've been successful for Preston depot. Absolutely over the moon but trying not to get too excited before I get a formal offer.

Congrats

 

[NorthernTech]

Well done! I’m sure the rest of the process will go fine.

 

[43066]

I did this morning. Subject to medical I've been successful for Preston depot. Absolutely over the moon but trying not to get too excited before I get a formal offer.

Congrats! I think you said you also had a recruitment process going with Northern, so perhaps still worth continuing with that, to see if you end up with two offers.

Not to pour cold water but there appear to still quite a few unknowns with the new Lumo route. I’d be wary a brand new route from an open access operator
in this climate, especially given Heidi Alexander’s recent comments - the industry is very much in a stage of flux at the moment. Hence I would personally favour taking a TOC over OA as someone with a choice between the two - if you have only one offer then it makes sense to go with that, obviously.

 

[nolypops83]

@nolypops83 From nearly missing to job offer. Gotta say it's been interesting following tis journey. Congrats ! Would be great if you could still drop a message or so through training

Ha! I'd forgotten about that, it's all happened so quickly.

Well done mate, having read a lot of the posts on here I know you’ve been through the mill with assessments and waiting about. Good luck with your medical!

Seconded!

Congrats

Well done! I’m sure the rest of the process will go fine.

Thanks everyone, I'm chuffed

Congrats! I think you said you also had a recruitment process going with Northern, so perhaps still worth continuing with that, to see if you end up with two offers.

Not to pour cold water but there appear to still quite a few unknowns with the new Lumo route. I’d be wary a brand new route from an open access operator
in this climate, especially given Heidi Alexander’s recent comments - the industry is very much in a stage of flux at the moment. Hence I would personally favour taking a TOC over OA as someone with a choice between the two - if you have only one offer then it makes sense to go with that, obviously.

Thanks for the advice. I understand it's not 100% locked in yet. I read up on what happened with Grand Central and their Blackpool to London route.

 

[43066]

Thanks for the advice. I understand it's not 100% locked in yet. I read up on what happened with Grand Central and their Blackpool to London route.

No worries - and glad you’ve taken in the spirit intended ! Absolutely not meant to be a TOC v OA thing - just that if you do get the two offers (which would be a great position to be in) it’s something to carefully consider.

 

[TonyWigan]

Ha! I'd forgotten about that, it's all happened so quickly.

Thanks everyone, I'm chuffed

Thanks for the advice. I understand it's not 100% locked in yet. I read up on what happened with Grand Central and their Blackpool to London route.

That’s a good way to be. I was waiting to start with EMR at Lime Street and they pulled the job.

They did offer me a job at Derby or Nottingham but my wife wouldn’t even consider moving.

I was devastated, fortunately I used all my psychometrics to get a job elsewhere.

It’s a difficult time, you want to be excited as you’ve passed and you’re in the pool. But at the same time until you start your course there are no guarantees.

Anyway congratulations. I’m sure you’ll be fine, most people get a job once they are in a the talent pool.

 

[nolypops83]

No worries - and glad you’ve taken in the spirit intended ! Absolutely not meant to be a TOC v OA thing - just that if you do get the two offers (which would be a great position to be in) it’s something to carefully consider.

Not at all! It's definitely something to bare in mind. Even when the course starts there's no guarantees. I think most of the Blackpool trainees ended up finishing their apprenticeships elsewhere thankfully, but it must have been a massive shock to be made redundant.

That’s a good way to be. I was waiting to start with EMR at Lime Street and they pulled the job.

They did offer me a job at Derby or Nottingham but my wife wouldn’t even consider moving.

I was devastated, fortunately I used all my psychometrics to get a job elsewhere.

It’s a difficult time, you want to be excited as you’ve passed and you’re in the pool. But at the same time until you start your course there are no guarantees.

Anyway congratulations. I’m sure you’ll be fine, most people get a job once they are in a the talent pool.

I've been told the course starts on the 16th of June, so I don't think there's a talent pool. Of course that could always change, but once I've passed the medical a formal offer is being sent out.

 

[Unobrow]

I did this morning. Subject to medical I've been successful for Preston depot. Absolutely over the moon but trying not to get too excited before I get a formal offer.

 

[357]

I read up on what happened with Grand Central and their Blackpool to London route.

Something to note when reading is that whilst thanks to ASLEF no qualified drivers were made redundant and all were re-deployed elsewhere - there is no guarantee for trainees (especially if you haven't started yet and are not yet a union member).

 

[nolypops83]

Something to note when reading is that whilst thanks to ASLEF no qualified drivers were made redundant and all were re-deployed elsewhere - there is no guarantee for trainees (especially if you haven't started yet and are not yet a union member).

Thanks, I think we can join ASLEF as soon as we start right?

 

[357]

Thanks, I think we can join ASLEF as soon as we start right?

You can join online at any time, I think when I joined I just put a note of my start date and my subs started that day. Things may be different now though as that was a long time ago!

 

[craigybagel]

Thanks, I think we can join ASLEF as soon as we start right?

You can apply any time. Your membership will need to be voted on at the next local branch so it can take a little while to come into effect.

There is no guarantee of continued employment for either trainee or qualified drivers should LUMO go the way of GC in the North West. But ASLEF will certainly do their best if it happens. Knowing that, would I accept a trainee driver job coming off the street with no previous railway experience? Absolutely, it's a fantastic opportunity and worth the risk in my view.

 

[TonyWigan]

I would imagine that your ASLEF rep will attend your depot on your first week and introduce themselves.

They’ll no doubt hand you the form and take them away so that you can be voted on the next meeting.

I wouldn’t rush to join online now as they might send it back asking for details you don’t have.

 

[nolypops83]

You can join online at any time, I think when I joined I just put a note of my start date and my subs started that day. Things may be different now though as that was a long time ago!

Oh great, I'll look in to it when I get my formal offer.

You can apply any time. Your membership will need to be voted on at the next local branch so it can take a little while to come into effect.

There is no guarantee of continued employment for either trainee or qualified drivers should LUMO go the way of GC in the North West. But ASLEF will certainly do their best if it happens. Knowing that, would I accept a trainee driver job coming off the street with no previous railway experience? Absolutely, it's a fantastic opportunity and worth the risk in my view.

Thanks. It's definitely good to know the risks and I appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge. I'm currently in the HE sector at a university and things aren't looking to good for us either at the moment.

I would imagine that your ASLEF rep will attend your depot on your first week and introduce themselves.

They’ll no doubt hand you the form and take them away so that you can be voted on the next meeting.

I wouldn’t rush to join online now as they might send it back asking for details you don’t have.

Yeah, I don't have the formal offer yet, so I'd wait until that's come through at the very least.

 

[TrainsJames]

Have a medical planned at the beginning of June but seems quite close/tight to the start date, anyone had a date yet?

 

[nolypops83]

Have a medical planned at the beginning of June but seems quite close/tight to the start date, anyone had a date yet?

11th June for me.

 

[TrainsJames]

11th June for me.

Seems so tight to the start date!

 

[TonyWigan]

It’s normal. They will expect you to hand your notice in on a conditional offer.

The doctor told me I’d passed the medical on the day. But it took 4 days for my lab results to come back.

 

[357]

They will expect you to hand your notice in on a conditional offer.

They expect you to turn up on the first day and don't care about your relationship with your previous employer, from my experience.

I've never handed in my notice without everything sorted - twice this was less than my contractual notice.

Once with Crossrail, my manager wished me the best and completely understood the situation and it didn't cause any issues.

At another TOC, they decided I'd signed an imaginary contract that I hadn't that would have resulted in me having a 6 month notice period - I insisted I had a 3 month notice period, and that my notice was only a week short of three months because this company had been deliberately obstructive in completing my TOSCI and reference paperwork because they didn't want me to leave.

When I worked at NXEA they used to openly tell people to walk out of their previous jobs as they understood people not wanting to hand in their notice until a contract was signed but at the same time wouldn't entertain delayed start dates.

 

[nolypops83]

Have a medical planned at the beginning of June but seems quite close/tight to the start date, anyone had a date yet?

Which depot are you going to be based at?

It’s normal. They will expect you to hand your notice in on a conditional offer.

The doctor told me I’d passed the medical on the day. But it took 4 days for my lab results to come back.

Yeah, it's not ideal but I'll just have to do my best to keep everyone happy. I don't want to leave my current role in a pickle, but hopefully they will understand. I'm not expecting any issues at the medical, just had an eye test and everything was fine, no other issues that I know of. I'll bring all my medication with me so I'm prepared.

They expect you to turn up on the first day and don't care about your relationship with your previous employer, from my experience.

I've never handed in my notice without everything sorted - twice this was less than my contractual notice.

Once with Crossrail, my manager wished me the best and completely understood the situation and it didn't cause any issues.

At another TOC, they decided I'd signed an imaginary contract that I hadn't that would have resulted in me having a 6 month notice period - I insisted I had a 3 month notice period, and that my notice was only a week short of three months because this company had been deliberately obstructive in completing my TOSCI and reference paperwork because they didn't want me to leave.

When I worked at NXEA they used to openly tell people to walk out of their previous jobs as they understood people not wanting to hand in their notice until a contract was signed but at the same time wouldn't entertain delayed start dates.

I'll just have an informal chat with my line manager, I think. She's sound, so she'll hopefully understand.

 

[dannod]

Hi all. I've also received a conditional offer, for Stirling depot

Medical on the 28th, so at least some time before the start date.

 

[nolypops83]

Hi all. I've also received a conditional offer, for Stirling depot

Medical on the 28th, so at least some time before the start date.

Congratulations! That's 4 of us now. I've told Lumo that I don't mind travelling if it means getting an earlier date, so hopefully they can find me something similar. Is your medical in Scotland?

 

[dannod]

Congratulations! That's 4 of us now. I've told Lumo that I don't mind travelling if it means getting an earlier date, so hopefully they can find me something similar. Is your medical in Scotland?

Yes, in Scotland thankfully!

Hopefully we'll get more information around the arrangements for starting soon

 

[Lewi007]

Yes, in Scotland thankfully!

Hopefully we'll get more information around the arrangements for starting soon

I’m in the same boat. I have a conditional offer at Stirling. My medical is 4th June in Glasgow

 

[dannod]

I’m in the same boat. I have a conditional offer at Stirling. My medical is 4th June in Glasgow

We might know each other already! (guessing from your username)

I've lost all my contacts and messages after swapping my SIM. If you think we exchanged numbers before, send me a text!

 

[nolypops83]

We might know each other already! (guessing from your username)

I've lost all my contacts and messages after swapping my SIM. If you think we exchanged numbers before, send me a text!

Dunno if I'm allowed to suggest this but do you guys want to set up a whatsapp group?

 

[Rolly]

Hey guys I have a conditional offer for London Euston. Have sent info for background check. Has anyone heard back from veremark?