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[387star]

I presently live a fifteen minute walk or 5-10 minute drive from my nearest station which will then be a 50 minute train journey (free) to my depot

driving would be an hour along a mixture of roads- but gtr provide a taxi I understand once qualified for shifts between 00:00 and 05:00 with some flexibility .. First train gets on 0622 from home station so booking on between 0500 and 0630 a problem as don't want to drive that distance but a station closer to my depot gets in at 0532 earliest so that could solve that dilemma ie part drive part train

I will look at budget hotels or spare room during training

I am in two minds if to move closer but the closer I get to my depot the more expensive it is plus I don't like to be too near work anyway

no mortgage atm and living very cheaply with parents

is 50 minutes too far? I understand it is a common commute for gtr drivers

My present commute is 30 minute tops

nowhere on my contract does it mention relocation so presume I don't have to and I understand a potential DI for my depot lives where I do

 

[Dave1987]

ml I know you have been trying for ages to get a trainee driver position and have persisted which is very admirable but surely you should have considered this before? The way I would look at it is the accommodation might be more expensive but you are going to spend lots of money on fuel and living closer means you won't be wasting 2 hrs a day just travelling to/from work.

 

[Wallicio]

50mins drive to get to work is long, a lot can happen with the traffic on a 50min commute to work in a time sensitive role I would be inclined to move closer to home depot.

 

[Aivilo]

Wish I had a 50 minute commute.

As has been said its all stuff you should've considered. Have you averaged your fuel bill and maintenance for the year and compared that to increased living costs by being nearer it nay not be as expensive as you think

 

[theironroad]

Either move closer when you can afford to as I don't imagine you're going to live with your parents forever, or is there a depot closer to you to move to later in your career. 50/60 mins each way will grind you down after a while.

 

[A-driver]

What ever you do don't rely on the taxi agreement to get you to and from work. I'm not sure which depot you ended up at but the taxi agreement is under a lot of scrutiny at present and I can't see there being any flexibility in it soon. A taxi should be fine to get home after 0000 and into work before 0500 but I doubt you will have any luck by the time you pass out getting a taxi to work between 0500-0630.

 

[Leebob34]

Have you actually been offered the job and signed the contract etc? Reason I ask is because I am like you ,similar distance from the yard but once medical was out the way I recieved a letter stating that I had to relocate to be within the 40 minute radius or risk having the job offer withdrawn !! Maybe it will be taken out of your hands and you will have to move .it is what it is bud

 

[ComUtoR]

Live as close as you can.

Normally I would say to buy a house that's in a good location with good links and accessibility. Find a nice home where crime, pollution etc is low and potential for growth is high..... blah blah blah.

Yes that's all well and good but shift work is truly a killer. I used to live about a4 minute drive from the depot and my life was a lot less stressful and my work/life balance was pretty good. I was in a good location etc but yes, more expensive.

Now I commute. It is hell. I fight traffic on a daily basis. I have to plan in advance what time to wake up and get a start on the drive to work. That eats into my work/life balance. I can drive it in 20 minutes and starting work outside the generic 9-5 puts me at an advantage but I have been caught out so many times I allow about an hour on some shifts just to ensure I make it to work on time. Getting home is just as bad. Cracking out a 9hr shift driving a train then having to face the traffic nightmare just feel like a punishment.

I could use public transport but, well, you know how reliable that is I would also be limited but the timetable and the first train gets in 2hrs after the first turn. I can't get home using public transport after a few of our late turns either.

Have you worked out the cost ? Mine is about £1,300pa

When your commute forms part of your day and work life balance is very very important. I have anklebiters and I cannot always make the school run so I am also losing time with my kids too.

Shifts are your most important consideration. If your commute is adding to your work day then you are adding a level of fatigue. 04xx start means I'm getting up 03xx It also adds a level of stress. Considering that you will be taking the commuters to work and back again you will see how it affects them.

We have many Drivers who live really close, some use a cycle, some walk. No doubt they can tell you the plethora of advantages living close can have.

I never wanted to commute but life got in the way.

 

[TDK]

I presently live a fifteen minute walk or 5-10 minute drive from my nearest station which will then be a 50 minute train journey (free) to my depot

driving would be an hour along a mixture of roads- but gtr provide a taxi I understand once qualified for shifts between 00:00 and 05:00 with some flexibility .. First train gets on 0622 from home station so booking on between 0500 and 0630 a problem as don't want to drive that distance but a station closer to my depot gets in at 0532 earliest so that could solve that dilemma ie part drive part train

I will look at budget hotels or spare room during training

I am in two minds if to move closer but the closer I get to my depot the more expensive it is plus I don't like to be too near work anyway

no mortgage atm and living very cheaply with parents

is 50 minutes too far? I understand it is a common commute for gtr drivers

My present commute is 30 minute tops

nowhere on my contract does it mention relocation so presume I don't have to and I understand a potential DI for my depot lives where I do

If you are the same shift as others car share works very well

 

[387star]

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[Aivilo]

0516 is 16 minutes to late 0500 start.

If your new to the role the last thing you ever want to be doing is rush because you will be out the door in no time

 

[387star]

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[A-driver]

0516 is 16 minutes to late 0500 start.



If your new to the role the last thing you ever want to be doing is rush because you will be out the door in no time

To be fair though, you are unlikely to ever have a problem getting rid of 0500 starts in return for covering later starts. Every depot has a number of drivers who want the earliest turns possible-earlier you start earlier you finish (well, in theory!)

Only thin to consider with that is you may get fed up of doing the generally longer and later jobs every day.

 

[Aivilo]

To be fair though, you are unlikely to ever have a problem getting rid of 0500 starts in return for covering later starts. Every depot has a number of drivers who want the earliest turns possible-earlier you start earlier you finish (well, in theory!)

Only thin to consider with that is you may get fed up of doing the generally longer and later jobs every day.

Depends on the core route structure of the base roster.

I know of some depots where you cannot do mutual swaps until fully productive.

 

[387star]

Im permanent lates at the moment which i love

 

[scott118]

If you live on their doorstep, you will be thought of more, when they need extra, short notice cover..If you are using their services to get you into work, and the service goes belly up, you won't be ever accused of not preparing for duty, adequately...

Everybody wants an equal work life balance, however, that all goes out of the window, once you start on the payroll. It's up to you, as to how the benefits, enhance that..

 

[A-driver]

Depends on the core route structure of the base roster.



I know of some depots where you cannot do mutual swaps until fully productive.

Yes-that's true, although all ex FCC depots sign all roads before qualifying. So you are fully productive as soon as you pass out.

 

[whoosh]

Some drivers swap to do nights, as they can get the train in and home again afterwards, rather than drive in.

 

[Class2ldn]

Yes-that's true, although all ex FCC depots sign all roads before qualifying. So you are fully productive as soon as you pass out.

Unfortunately not at blackfriars. New drivers there don't sign sevenoaks now for around six months even though we only have one link which means all the spare shifts are used up with covering the new guys to sevenoaks while they sit around all day.

 

[plastictaffy]

Do you want the job?

Yes - get yourself a straw, suck it up and get on with it.

No - fine, let them know so that they can get someone else on the course.

You would have known quite what would have been expected of you when you applied for the job.

Just saying.

 

[387star]

Do you want the job?

Yes - get yourself a straw, suck it up and get on with it.

No - fine, let them know so that they can get someone else on the course.

You would have known quite what would have been expected of you when you applied for the job.

Just saying.

Of course I want the job

I originally applied for london and would have had to move anyway but then they gave me a depot nearer where I live so was simply assessing opinions on commuting fatigue given I know there are free taxis and free direct trains for almost all shifts but with advice on here and contemplation I have decided living in close proximity be it spare room or whatever it takes will be my best option... the last thing I want is extra stress and fatigue and probably underestimated the effects of the commute... I currently commute and know how stressful it can be to get into traffic sometimes outside your control or if a train is delayed even if it is not your fault it is not good if that affects your ability to turn up to work on time

Perhaps once I am settled into the job and past the training i can then assess my needs and will know the shifts better and the job better but given I am new this is the best option. There was also lots of talk about me driving my car the whole 50 plus minutes (if I stayed put) when I made it clear for almost all shifts this would not be required

Thanks

 

[plastictaffy]

Of course I want the job

So do whatever you need to do. Bear in mind, that even though you'll be driving it, you won't be commuting in the strictest sense of the word. You'll be amazed how much quicker you can get to places at 4 in the morning!!!

 

[A-driver]

As I say, be careful relying on the taxis especially if you are not at a London depot. It's not garunteed.

 

[Dave1987]

ml I would suggest you want to get this all sorted as soon as possible. IMO you should have this all sorted or in the process of being sorted now now that you have your start date. Yes you will be in the classroom for the best part of 3 - 4 months but you will be absolutely knackered from the shear volume of info that's gonna be fired at you. And once you start driving with your instructor you will be at your depot. You don't really want to be organising a house move half way through your training. Get a room/flat/house, get in and settled before you start your training. You will have enough to deal with let alone the stresses involved with moving into your own place.

 

[387star]

Thanks yeah got spare room viewings booked been on there for a while spare room is stress free enough also waiting on confirmation of accommodation as if at bedford I know you can be put up

 

[RedZed]

Apologies for hijacking this thread. Been following this as I am interested in the commute to training and the implications it potentially has for me.
I'm currently in the talent pool awaiting medical and allocation to Bedford. I live approx. 30 mins drive North of Bedford. When I asked previously about where classroom training takes place I was told three different locations, Bedford, KingsX and Hornsey (Is that where the simulators are located?). Whilst Bedford and KingsX are commutable from my house, Hornsey, I feel is not _ I'd be looking at an extra 2 hours plus travelling time each way.
Anyone offer an insight in to the training schedule and likely locations? If I'm expected to travel to Hornsey every day for classroom training then I think I may just pull the plug on my application as a daily four hour commute is unrealistic.

 

[paepo]

Some people may disagree but an hour or so commute (by train) when in the classroom is a good thing. Gives you time to do your homework on the way home and when you get into the habit of doing it it frees up a little time at night for doing other things. There is a LOT of reading and learning to be done and doing it on the way home passes the time and gets it out of the way.
As for commuting to your depot I have to agree that this should be sorted by moving closer. I used to have a round trip drive of 2.5-3 hours every day at my old work and although it's not difficult it became a pain in the ar$e and made my 9 hour day a 12hours day. I'm now a 10mins walk from my depot and couldn't be happier about saving 3 hours a day every time I go to work.
Move house, the expense may be an inconvenience but once your money increases it won't matter. If you've sickened yourself with a long commute from the start of your training you may end up hating the job because of it.

 

[RedZed]

Move house, the expense may be an inconvenience but once your money increases it won't matter. If you've sickened yourself with a long commute from the start of your training you may end up hating the job because of it.

So, assuming that I am based at Bedford (which is within GTR required commute time to work) but 'training' takes place at Hornsey (at least a four hour round trip), you are suggesting that I should move house somewhere near Hornsey for the duration of classroom training to 'reduce' the commute time, then sell up and move back to Bedford once training is complete?

 

[A-driver]

Apologies for hijacking this thread. Been following this as I am interested in the commute to training and the implications it potentially has for me.
I'm currently in the talent pool awaiting medical and allocation to Bedford. I live approx. 30 mins drive North of Bedford. When I asked previously about where classroom training takes place I was told three different locations, Bedford, KingsX and Hornsey (Is that where the simulators are located?). Whilst Bedford and KingsX are commutable from my house, Hornsey, I feel is not _ I'd be looking at an extra 2 hours plus travelling time each way.
Anyone offer an insight in to the training schedule and likely locations? If I'm expected to travel to Hornsey every day for classroom training then I think I may just pull the plug on my application as a daily four hour commute is unrealistic.

It really depends on where there is room for classes to run but it's likely they will only want you at Hornsey for sim days. Don't consider moving house closer to hornsey for training etc-you'll only be there for a few months.

Not sure where north of Bedford you live but if you have to regularly go to Hornsey ask about getting a temporary car park pass for somewhere like st Neots, sandy or Biggleswade. All are only a short drive from Bedford and you'll only need a single change at Finsbury Park.

 

[387star]

If the training (classroom) is in three bridges I will stay where I am as if it is sociable hours (08:30-mid-afternoon) I can work on the train and will save me money won't be spending a penny

Then get a spare room sorted once onto handling or more anti social hours

I am also waiting to see if classroom training is in Bedford as I know Brighton trainees get offered accommodation so again no point wasting money if I'm not there

Got several viewings on spare room... I have rented before but spare room takes the stress away... more flexible includes all bills no worry about furniture etc suits me to the bone.

Then once qualified see if I can afford one of those one bed flats a five min walk away