Train Driver

• Job:Train Driver
• Salary: £18K - £52K
• Working hours: 35 hours a week on a shift system.
• Qualifications: No set qualifications but some GCSEs/S are preferable.

Find out more about being a train driver

Responsible for:

Railway train drivers are responsible for driving passenger and goods trains from station to station on set routes.

Salary:

£18,000 to £52,000 a year.

Working hours:

Train drivers work 35 hours a week on a shift system, plus paid overtime when required. This means that sometimes they start work very early in the morning and at other times finish late at night. They also work some weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications:

There are no set qualifications to become a railway train driver. However, train operating companies do look for a good standard of education, such as some GCSEs grades or equivalent, preferably including English, maths and a science or technical subject. Additional work experience would be an advantage, particularly where this was in a job involved in delivering customer service. Applicants need to be at least 21 years of age before training can begin. However, young people aged 16 can start work at a station, and at 18 can work on board a train. In this way, they can gain knowledge of the railway system and experience of dealing with passengers before applying to become a trainee train driver.

General requirements:

Railway train drivers should have good powers of concentration at all times and a good memory for routes. They should also be self-reliant and happy to work alone for quite long periods. It helps if you have some engineering knowledge, be fit and healthy with good eyesight, colour vision, hearing and clear speech. They will also be interested in railways.

Career prospects:

With experience, and the NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Rail Transport Operations (Driving), train drivers may be able to become driver trainers, particularly if they also have a training or assessor qualification. It may also be possible to be promoted to become a driver manager or to move into more general management in the rail industry.

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