Recruiting the next generation of train drivers
Mark Phillips, Chief Executive Officer
| Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)
Years ago, when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, many children – admittedly mostly boys – would say “train driver”. Today there are many competing visions, aspirations and role models which make this a less likely answer, and Britain’s railways face a shortage of train drivers and an aging workforce. With many due to retire in the next five years and the average age of a train driver at 46, the workforce will shrink if more opportunities aren’t opened for new recruits. Only 8.5 per cent are women.
The train driver job has evolved into a comprehensive, customer-focussed profession and less about the dirt, grease and coal of steam engines. It’s about leadership skills, problem-solving and critical thinking. What hasn’t changed is the positive sense of fulfilment and career potential – it’s a tough job, but a great job.
But without more drivers, there will be more cancellations and improving rail services to meet demand will halt. Greater pressure is put on train drivers to work overtime, rest days and on Sundays not included in working week, adding challenges around fatigue, health and relationships between drivers and employers. We can encourage more people to become train drivers, if we lower the minimum age.
RSSB have conducted research on the feasibility of reducing the minimum age of train drivers from 20 to 18. Before the election the Conservative government ran a consultation to put this into practice. Other countries already allow people as young as 18 to drive trains, and they see the benefits. Regardless of who is the next Conservative Party leader, sometimes there are policies that the Opposition should not oppose – this is one of them!
Safety is not an obstacle as experience, rather than age, is the better predictor of driver performance. Skills like hazard perception, situational awareness and decision making all improve with exposure to a certain task.
Encouraging more school leavers to take up train driving apprenticeships is what the railways need. The prospect of joining the profession is more attractive to people at 18 than at 20, where the idea might be old news as you have already chosen a different path.
We can increase the number of people becoming train drivers as a first job and lower the average age of this vital role. Increasing the diversity and size of the candidate pool will challenge stereotypes and harness skills that are more prevalent in the next generation of career finders. Many young people nowadays are not seeking a degree or traditional 9-5 office job and want a career where they can work largely unaided in a role that offers huge responsibility. Train driving is ideal for young people.
Our research showed existing training, competence and safety systems could be deployed for younger entrants, so no new cost or special allowances need to be brought in. If you are 18, regardless of your background, you are just as capable of training to become a train driver as if you are 20. Many enjoy staying as drivers throughout their career, with the potential to move into supervisory, management, and ultimately top level leadership roles.
If we want more frequent rail services in our communities, to enable economic growth, then we need to have the professional workforce to deliver it. We need to lower the age of train drivers, and we need to do it now.
If you want to get in touch with RSSB, please email alexi.ozioro@rssb.co.uk.
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