I left the police after 12 years working on numerous departments but just getting fed up of the cancelled rest days, never getting leave, late off duty, 30 minutes for the Queen, pension robbery and not to mention the growing email requests, lack of staff and constant paperwork. Thankfully I left prior to covid but believe its even more stretched now! I joined the police as a career but my final few years the work / life balance was just not right. Unfortunately the police pay is not to bad for an unqualified person so to find a similar paid job is limited, hence I looked at Train Driving. Plus, who doesn't want to drive trains!
Anyway two years on and I can say it is a breath of fresh air. Obviously, like the police you get a few of the oldies who think you should work your way up to become driver but I can honestly say the majority of staff are friendly and a great bunch of people. You get what you put in.. be friendly, chatty and appreciate their experience you should be fine, go in thinking you know it all then you will get burnt!
At my toc I work a 35hr, 4 day week, earn close to insp. salary, driving around the countryside getting some of the best views out of my office window. I have a guard that deals with most of the passenger's allowing me to concentrate on getting from a to b. Although repetitive, I drive several different traction and different routes so does add variety.
It has been a good move for me and my work life balance. I go to work and enjoy what I do, and when I finish, I switch off and go home until I am next in. The initially struggle of learning a huge amount and tge training salary was tough but it was for the greater good.
Points to consider I guess would be what you want out of life, OK the excitement of driving round on blue lights, dealing with the unexpected most days has gone, and once your a driver, your quite limited with promotion (instructor, dtm, trainer) but if your happy to work 35 hrs, knowing the rest of that time is for your own, plus your earning decent money in a industry that generally looks after you really well then go for it!