Train Driver: Job Worth Pursing?

I've made many posts like this in the past so this might sound very familiar if you've read any of my previous posts.

I've always wanted to become a Train Driver since I was a child (probably since I was 3 years old) and nothing else. Since then my mind has broadened a lot with interests and possible careers.

I tried becoming an IT Technician when I was 19. I went to college and got a Triple Grade Distinction and my teachers were keen on me continuing to University (Uni wasn't for me), but when I got myself onto an Apprenticeship (in 2015) I realised it wasn't really my thing (my bosses never paid me my wages on time and taught me next to nothing about Tech and Computer Repairs which killed my interest in IT).

As soon as my boss said "I'm letting you go" my mind immediately went back to Trains. Since then I've have taken on many jobs such as cleaning, bar staff and now a Postman. Even though the Postman job is doing me wonders, the thought of being a Train Driver is still in the back of my mind. I feel like if I don't give it a go it'll be something that I regret in the future.

I'm not going to lie; the pay is also quite attractive and would allow me to fulfil many desires like getting a car, a house, travel opportunities, etc. I'm not saying that the money is my only incentive; I like being out in the open, seeing different places, working independently, being responsible for the safety of passengers and many others.

To cap this all off, I don't really know what else I could do that could offer such benefits as the railway. Another career I've been thinking about is becoming a Lorry Driver since it too involves being outdoors, different days and quite physical. Also my Dad has been a Lorry Driver for years and he thinks I'd be good at the job if I decide to get my HGV license.

If anyone who reads this feels/felt the same way about Train Driving and is content or regrets their decision please let me know. Look forward to hearing your responses.

Train driving is such a sought after position to get in to, sometimes it’s better to apply for another post within the railway and go via the internal route. Admittedly there are a lot of external candidates these days who are recruited to driver jobs, but from what I’ve seen, it’ll help you immensely to gain some other railway experience first, then apply internally. Certainly for the TOC I work for, if you apply and don’t make the initial sift for a Guard or Driver once you already work for them (and are this an internal candidate) you can apply again and again whether there’s a vacancy or not, which is better than hanging around for what seems like an eternity for when they advertise for new trainees.

There's a lot of trainee driver jobs at the moment.

I’m a class1 lorry driver at present mate. My honest opinion to you is , don’t waste your money getting the licence.

If you want to be a Train Driver,chase your dream.

Atishyou said:

There's a lot of trainee driver jobs at the moment.

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Hey which companies?

Do it! Dont bother wondering if you would be cut out for it or saying I wont bother cause there are so many people applying. Just go for it, if you have wanted to be a driver since you were 3 years old what is stopping you now? They hire all people all ages and it is purely based on your own skill set. If it doesn't work out then apply for another position on the railways. Look im 19 and dont have much life experience however I see time and time again people saying "I wish I done that" or "I should of done this" and who are now stuck in a dead-end job. Im currently taking a gap year from University too and as a matter of fact I also got a Triple Distinction * in IT too. Only reason Im doing IT is cause Im good at it not that I have a passion for it. I want to be a driver too and it is a hard job to acquire but Im chasing my dream and Im refusing to be stuck in a dead-end office job for the rest of my life! Ive been told, do a job you enjoy it will lead to a happy life. Its as simply as that. Dont be that person who looks back in 20 years and regrets not applying for that job.

This is a strange encounter here as my Dad too is a Lorry driver and has many licences for diggers and HGV's etc. I spoke to him about the prospect of a career on the railways and he says he talks to guys who work for Network Rail when hes on a job as he often works alongside them. They say its the best job they've ever had and that there are plenty of options for further progression no matter where you are on the railway. Its a unique industry I've found, there is nothing else like it which is what attracts me to it so much. If you get that feeling in your gut when you step into a train station and hear the roaring of a train engine or the smell of the oil seeping out of the track sleepers on a hot summer day then you know its where your heart belongs as cheesy as it sounds.(FYI we have old sleepers which we use in our driveway and the smell of them always brings back joyful memories of sitting in Lime Street platform 6 I think it was with my Gregg's sausage roll and gingerbread man watching the 390's roll in, even once my dad was taking a picture of me in front of the train and the driver opened his door and let me look inside the cab, I must of been around 6 years old) I think this was the point which made me want to become a train driver, it brings a tear to my eye just now talking about it. I still get the exact same feeling now when I see the 390 come whizzing through my local station...

Stigy said:

Train driving is such a sought after position to get in to, sometimes it’s better to apply for another post within the railway and go via the internal route. Admittedly there are a lot of external candidates these days who are recruited to driver jobs, but from what I’ve seen, it’ll help you immensely to gain some other railway experience first, then apply internally. Certainly for the TOC I work for, if you apply and don’t make the initial sift for a Guard or Driver once you already work for them (and are this an internal candidate) you can apply again and again whether there’s a vacancy or not, which is better than hanging around for what seems like an eternity for when they advertise for new trainees.

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Depends on the TOC. The inter-city TOCs often prefer to recruit qualified drivers from other TOCs so if up-front on a Pendolino is where you want to be then becoming a VT Train Manager may not be much help.

Bennski said:

Do it! Dont bother wondering if you would be cut out for it or saying I wont bother cause there are so many people applying. Just go for it, if you have wanted to be a driver since you were 3 years old what is stopping you now? They hire all people all ages and it is purely based on your own skill set. If it doesn't work out then apply for another position on the railways. Look im 19 and dont have much life experience however I see time and time again people saying "I wish I done that" or "I should of done this" and who are now stuck in a dead-end job. Im currently taking a gap year from University too and as a matter of fact I also got a Triple Distinction * in IT too. Only reason Im doing IT is cause Im good at it not that I have a passion for it. I want to be a driver too and it is a hard job to acquire but Im chasing my dream and Im refusing to be stuck in a dead-end office job for the rest of my life! Ive been told, do a job you enjoy it will lead to a happy life. Its as simply as that. Dont be that person who looks back in 20 years and regrets not applying for that job.

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Absolutely right. Even if it turns out that you are in someway not suited to the role if you don't apply you'll never know and could end up wondering "what if?"

thetom22 said:

I've always wanted to become a Train Driver since I was a child (probably since I was 3 years old) and nothing else.

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Enough said- start applying and good luck in your applications!

Yeah I have recently looked into and started applying.

I will admit, I find their shortlisting process very vague, when I have been working on the infrastructure for six years, hold an array of safety critical competencies which the TOC give you and more (including class-1 medical).

I mean I didn't even get past their initial sift

Ibra said:

Hey which companies?

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Have a look at some of the posts on here, but DB Cargo, GB, Colas and Freightliner for a start.

Go for it! Like you I held the boyhood dream of driving trains and got a place when I was 23 after spending time in a job I came to hate. Best move I made and I still enjoy driving more than a decade later. I won't lie and tell you that you'll just apply and walk in because the reality is completely different. You and everyone else plus their dog applies for driving vacancies (literally upwards of 10,000 applicants) so you face an uphill struggle to get beyond application stage but don't let that put you off, read this forum especially the pinned posts at the top relating to the tests and recruitment stages and get applying!!

Freightliner currently have trainee vacancies.

driver9000 said:

Go for it! Like you I held the boyhood dream of driving trains and got a place when I was 23 after spending time in a job I came to hate. Best move I made and I still enjoy driving more than a decade later. I won't lie and tell you that you'll just apply and walk in because the reality is completely different. You and everyone else plus their dog applies for driving vacancies (literally upwards of 10,000 applicants) so you face an uphill struggle to get beyond application stage but don't let that put you off, read this forum especially the pinned posts at the top relating to the tests and recruitment stages and get applying!!

Freightliner currently have trainee vacancies.

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I’ve seen that Colas is a Driver Apprenticeship which is different to most other companies’ approach (I assume it’s because of this they dictate you have to have A to C grade GCSEs etc, where others don’t).

Edit: just realised I quoted the wrong person, should have been Atishyou I quoted

Shaw S Hunter said:

Depends on the TOC. The inter-city TOCs often prefer to recruit qualified drivers from other TOCs so if up-front on a Pendolino is where you want to be then becoming a VT Train Manager may not be much help.



Absolutely right. Even if it turns out that you are in someway not suited to the role if you don't apply you'll never know and could end up wondering "what if?"

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Quite the opposite at the moment. There’s never been so many train managers, catering crew and other internal positions obtaining trainee driver jobs with Virgin.

When going for a driving position no matter who the Toc, starting as a train manager/guard is always beneficial. My advice to anyone wanting to get in the driving grade but seeing no vacancies or having no luck with them, is to get their backside into another safety critical role in the industry ASAP.

It’s never a hindrance. Far too many people hang around specifically waiting for drivers jobs to come around when they could be doing something proactive like trying for other safety critical roles first which will actually be of some help. It’s all good waiting for jobs to come up and very commendable that people are willing to wait for their dream job, but it’s all about giving yourself your best shot and taking any advantage you can get.

Atishyou said:

Have a look at some of the posts on here, but DB Cargo, GB, Colas and Freightliner for a start.

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Thanks mate, I'll have a try