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Train Driver

  • Hours

    35-42 per week

  • Starting salary

    £17,500 + per year

If you are interested in railways and like driving this could be a perfect career for you. As a train driver you would drive passenger and freight trains on local and national rail networks. You could also drive trains that pull engineering equipment into place for track maintenance.

You do not always need specific qualifications, although most employers will expect you to have a good general standard of education.

To become a train driver, you will need to be able to concentrate over long periods. You will need good customer service skills. You will also need to react quickly and calmly to unexpected problems.

The work

You would make stops along your route to pick up and drop off passengers or freight. Other tasks could include:

  • checking equipment and engines before a journey starts
  • contacting control centres for information about routes and any problems
  • following signalling instructions during the journey
  • making passenger announcements
  • controlling automatic doors
  • positioning and handing over engines to drivers on the next shift.

You would also record any incidents during your shift, for example equipment problems on the train or by the track, and dangers and delays.

Hours

You would normally work 35 to 42 hours a week. This could be spread over four or five shifts (known as turns) including weekends, evenings and nights.

On freight or engineering trains, you would usually do more night shifts. On long distance routes, you may have overnight stays away from home.

You would usually work alone in the driver's cab during the journey. Sometimes a trainee driver or driver inspector will be with you.

Income

Trainee drivers can earn around £17,500 a year.

Newly qualified drivers can earn over £30,000 a year, and experienced drivers can earn over £40,000 a year.

Free or reduced price travel is usually offered as an extra benefit.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You do not always need specific qualifications, although most employers will expect you to have a good general standard of education, including GCSEs in maths and English. Some mechanical or electrical knowledge may also be useful.

You could ask companies that operate trains for details of vacancies and apply directly. Another way into this job is to start work in the rail service doing another job, for example as part of the station staff or maintenance crews. You could then apply for trainee driver posts as they become available. Train companies often recruit from their workforce.

You normally have to be at least 21 to work as a train driver on the national rail network. If you are aged between 18 and 21, you may be able to train and work in yards and depots away from passenger lines. To work on the London Underground you must be at least 18.

If your initial application is successful, you will be invited to a training centre where you would take tests on:

  • basic mechanical knowledge
  • ability to remember information
  • reaction times
  • concentration skills.

If you pass these tests, you would then go on to the interview stage.

You will also have to pass a medical check, which will test your fitness levels, eyesight, colour vision and hearing.

Overseas rail qualifications are not recognised in the UK. You will have to follow the same application process as UK applicants.

See the GoSkills website for more details about rail transport careers and contact details for train operating companies.

Training and development

Once you start work, your training period would normally last between 9 and 18 months. Some of your training may take place in a cab simulator, which gives the effect of real-life situations such as trackside dangers, bad weather and mechanical failure.

Your training would be split into four stages:

  • Rules and Regulations – driver cab controls, signalling systems and track safety
  • Traction Knowledge – engine layout, safety systems and fault identification
  • Train Handling – 200 to 300 hours' practical driving skills, including night driving
  • Route Knowledge – route information, such as braking distances, speed restrictions and signal positions.

You must pass assessments at the end of each stage to fully qualify as a train driver. You would also complete a Personal Track Safety (PTS) certificate during the training period. You can only drive on routes you have been assessed on, so you would continue to learn more routes once you qualify.

You could take work-based qualifications like the NVQ Level 2 in Rail Transport Operations (Driving) or NVQ Level 2 in Rail Transport Operations (Shunting).

A driving standards manager would regularly assess your driving skills throughout your career.

Skills and knowledge

To become a train driver, you will need to have:

  • good ability to concentrate over long periods
  • good customer service skills
  • an excellent understanding of normal and emergency procedures
  • the ability to react quickly, calmly and safely to unexpected problems
  • a responsible attitude and a high level of safety awareness
  • a willingness to work flexibly.

More information

People 1st (Opens new window)
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.people1st.co.uk

Opportunities

Employers include passenger train operators, freight companies; and underground, light rail and metro companies. You can find a list of train operating companies on the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) website.

With experience, you could be promoted to driver instructor and then driver safety manager jobs. Beyond this level, you could move into operations management.

You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The rail industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The passenger transport sector incorporates rail, aviation, bus and coach, taxi and private hire, light rail and metro, driver training, and UK waterways. The sector accounts for 735,000 jobs, most of which are within the bus and coach, taxi and private hire, rail, and aviation industries. The passenger transport sector includes a wide variety of roles, from pilots and transport planners, to essential support roles in finance, marketing and human resources.

The rail industry is one of the largest industries in the passenger transport sector incorporating rail operating services and rail engineering. Within train operating companies, the main jobs are customer focused, but there are many jobs in operations and service delivery. Engineering is a large part of the industry with engineers and technicians responsible for the rolling stock, the track (permanent way) and its surrounds, telecommunications and the electrification of the railway.

Key facts:

  • There are around 159,000 people working in the rail industry, of which:
    • 47,000 work for train operating companies
    • 112,000 work for Network Rail and in supplier and engineering companies
  • There are around 2,500 stations in the UK, of which 18 are managed by Network Rail.
  • The average age of employees is 39 years.
  • The average working hours for a rail industry employee are 37 per week.
  • Shift working is the norm within the industry.
  • Just 2% of the workforce is employed part‐time.
  • Trainee driver vacancies are competitive as there can be more than 300 applications for each job available.

Jobs in the industry fall into the following areas:

  • Rail operations (customer facing and service delivery) – such as train driver, station staff member, train crew member, control room operator, service planner, signaller, train manager, rail station assistant, conductor, gateline assistant
  • Engineering – such as engineer, technician, assistant engineer, technician manager, track maintenance worker, signalling technician, traction and rolling stock technician, rail engineering apprentice

National and regional data

[N.B. Regional data presented are for the rail industry and the passenger transport sector as a whole. Data derived from the Labour Force Survey, 2007.]

East Midlands – There are 3,100 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 14% of the workforce in the region is female. 14% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 62% is 26‐49 years and 32% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; Welsh language; job related IT; and safety/accident management.

East of England – There are 4,400 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 25% of the workforce in the region is female. 9% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 7% of the workforce is under 25 years, 52% is 26‐49 years and 41% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; job related IT; Welsh language; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.

London – There are 3,300 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 20% of the workforce in the region is female. 42% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 4% of the workforce is under 25 years, 70% is 26‐49 years and 26% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; foreign languages; safety/accident management; booking operations; and logistics and scheduling of services.

North East – There are 1,200 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 17% of the workforce in the region is female. 3% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 51% is 26‐49 years and 41% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; Welsh language; and safety/accident management.

North West – There are 6,500 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 16% of the workforce in the region is female. 14% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 61% is 26‐49 years and 33% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; disability awareness; Welsh language; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.

South East – There are 9,000 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 25% of the workforce in the region is female. 11% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 6% of the workforce is under 25 years, 48% is 26‐49 years and 36% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; and job related IT.

South West – There are 4,500 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 19% of the workforce in the region is female. 4% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 4% of the workforce is under 25 years, 56% is 26‐49 years and 40% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; job related IT; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.

West Midlands – There are 4,300 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 19% of the workforce in the region is female. 27% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 7% of the workforce is under 25 years, 65% is 26‐49 years and 28% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: job related IT; safety/accident management; foreign languages; maths/working with numbers; and disability awareness.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 5,800 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 13% of the workforce in the region is female. 18% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 62% is 26‐49 years and 30% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; job related IT; and Welsh language.

Northern Ireland – There are 500 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 21% of the workforce in the region is female. Data are unavailable on the ethnicity of the workforce. 9% of the workforce is under 25 years, 74% is 26‐49 years and 17% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; safety/accident management; job related IT; and disability awareness.

Scotland – There 3,200 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 16% of the workforce in the region is female. 2% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 56% is 26‐49 years and 36% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: foreign languages; vehicle maintenance and engineering; and disability awareness.

Wales – There are 2,100 people working in the rail industry in the region. In the passenger transport sector as whole, 18% of the workforce in the region is female. 4% of the workforce is from an ethnic minority background. 8% of the workforce is under 25 years, 54% is 26‐49 years and 38% is 50 years or older. Skill gaps include: Welsh language; foreign languages; disability awareness; safety/accident management; job related IT; and vehicle maintenance and engineering.

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