Are you interested in becoming a train driver? Then read on. The Train Driver role is a safety-critical. Train Drivers drive passenger or freight trains. Passenger trains are operated by Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and freight trains are operated by Freight Operating Companies (FOCs). TOCs and FOCs employ Train or Freight Drivers. The railway infrastructure is owned, built and maintained by Network Rail. Network Rail don’t employ Train Drivers. They employ signallers.
No formal qualifications are required to be a train driver. All train drivers must pass standard industry psychometric tests. As a train driver what is required is the ability to concentrate over a long period, react quickly and calmly in the event of an emergency, the ability to communicate safety-critical messages to a network control centre, open and close doors, ability to learn route knowledge. You should always be calm and collected but ready to be in action – you need to be a ‘can-do person’.
Income and Hours for Drivers
You will be required to do rotating shift work for 35 hours a week. You must never be under the influence of alcohol or any drug that might impair your driving while booking on. You must read all Notices.
Trainee Drivers can earn between £18000 and £25000 in the first year. This usually increases in the second year by £5000 to £10000 depending on the TOC or FOC. Trainees qualify to become drivers in the third year. Newly qualified drivers earn the same as experienced drivers. They earn in the region of £37000 to £52000 as basic salary. And then top it up by doing overtime. You can get more over time if you various routes on your licence. However, there is a Hidden Rule which constraints the number of hours you can work on a day and a week. This rule is to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
Entry Requirements for Becoming A Train Driver
- You need to be at least 20.
- You need to pass all medical checks, alcohol and drug screening. Medical checks consist of eyesight, colour vision, hearing and fitness levels.
- You need to pass the Driver Selection Tests: Perception Test, Vigilance Test, Dials Test, Memory Tests, Reaction, Concentration Test, Fault Finding and a Multi-modal Interview. This list is not exhaustive. Some TOCs and FOCs have discarded some of them. Others may include tests which are not listed here.
- You only have two strikes. “As per the railways’ standards, if you have failed twice at any stage of the recruitment process, with any rail company, you are not allowed to sit the assessments again”
- You will also need to pass the Management Interview.
- You will need to accept the contract of employment.
Job Application
Get a list of TOCs by visiting the Association of Train Operating Companies. Use this list to go to their website and apply for advertised train driver jobs.
Unions
Most Train Drivers are ASLEF members. However, some of them are RMT members.
I have just read the “Train Driver?” section of your website and have found a couple of errors.
1.”You must never be under the influence of alcohol or any drug that might impair your driving while booking on”. Should read: You must never be under the influence of alcohol or any drug that might impair your driving. The way this statement is written on your webpage implies that a driver can consume a banned substance after booking on duty and not be under the influence whilst booking on.
2.”However there is a hidden rule which constraints the amount of hours you can work on a day and a week”. What is the mysterious hidden rule. Surely this statement should read “However there are rules that limit the amount of hours you can work in a day and per week”
Just a couple of comments on your page. Hope you find this helpful.
I am already a train driver and have been in the grade for over 25 years now.
Thanks for the clarification, Clive. The TOC I worked for use the term “Hidden” regularly instead. For example, if you requested a shift that would lead to breaking the recommendations in the Hidden Report, your train driver resource manager or rostering clerk will say that breaks hidden.
Surely if your a driver you know that Hidden is the name of the person that recommended the rules that govern our max working hours. As in the Hidden report into the Clapham junction crash in 1988. It’s not hidden as in a mysterious rule you can’t find.
Yea, you are right it is not a mysterious or hidden (secret) rule. Hidden’s report and recommendations are not limited to train drivers only. It applies to all grades on the railway with minor variations.
At 57 am I too old to become a train driver?
Government legislation against decriminalisation forbid companies to ask for age, religion and gender on application forms. Also gone are the days, where we were forced to retire at 60 years on the railway.
From my experience you can apply and be accepted on the course.
hello there I have been reading on your web site what it takes to become a train driver and what trainee course and medical I have to do to become a fully qualified train driver and I would like to become fully qualified train drive .
You will need to pass the train driver psychometric tests, interviews and medicals to be accepted on a trainee train driver course. Trainee Train Driver Course are run by train operating companies.
We coach and run courses to help aspiring candidates pass the train driver psychometric tests, and interviews.
where is the info on this course
This course is currently not available. I recommend that you get the training software and pdf to help you pass the selection tests.