London: In a bid to address ongoing labour shortages and frequent train cancellations, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that 18-year-olds will now be eligible to become train drivers.
Previously, the minimum age to begin a career in the railways was 20. This decision is particularly relevant as 87 percent of night-before cancellations are attributed to driver unavailability, with several operators depending on drivers to work extra shifts voluntarily.
The UK rail industry faces a looming crisis as the average age of a train driver is currently 48, and with 30 percent of drivers expected to reach retirement age by 2029, the industry is in need of younger talent. The government’s move comes after a consultation last year, which received overwhelming support from across the industry.
Similar policies have already been adopted in other countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, where the age for becoming a train driver has been lowered.
In 2007, Transport for London began offering driver apprenticeships to 18-year-olds for the Underground.
Training to become a mainline train driver typically takes between one and two years, with the qualification and assessment standards remaining unchanged. The new policy could open up job and apprenticeship opportunities as early as December.
Heidi Alexander, the UK transport secretary, emphasized that the policy would ‘future-proof’ the rail network, reducing delays and cancellations caused by the ongoing shortage of drivers.
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of the Aslef train drivers’ union, expressed support for the move, highlighting that many young people who want to become drivers often take other jobs due to the age restriction and miss out on railway careers.
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