What are these guys on ???.
You want the job - great, but don't knock it til you've tried it. You'll have put up with a lot more sxxt before you wear a headset in anger. When I signed up ( probably before you were even born ) it didn't even cross my mind about expenses or time taken to get to the interview - and I waited four years and a dozen applications before I even came close to sitting across the table from anyone vaguely connected to ATC.
Keep your complaints until you're sat on a sector one day with your hair on fire. Got a feeling that the last thing on your mind will be your train fare to Crewe...or maybe not !!!!!