Train Driving License Categories of driving

[PudseyBearHST]

Hello,

What are the different categories of driving and what do they mean?

E.g. A, B1, etc… Is there a list in the standards?

Thank you

 

[driver9000]

Yes there is a list of the categories contained in the licencing standard. Admittedly it's not easy to find but RDG-OPS-GN-041 from September 2021 has this in section 5.7;

"A train driving certificate must show the categories of train which the train driver may drive comprising either or both of:

i) Category A – shunting locomotives, work trains, maintenance railway vehicles and all other locomotives when they are used for shunting; and,

ii) Category B – trains for the carriage of passengers or goods or both".

I work passenger multiple units so my certificate is endorsed B1. It is also endorsed A2 which from memory (and until I find the categories) means I work trains on Network Rail infrastructure.

 

[zwk500]

The Categories of a train driving licence are set down in law: The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010, the standards follow the legislation (as you'd expect)

Licence and certificate characteristics​

5.—[F1(1) The form of a train driving licence and a train driving certificate issued under these Regulations must comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 2.]

(2) In particular, a train driving certificate must show the categories of train which the train driver may drive comprising either or both of—

(a)Category A – shunting locomotives, work trains, maintenance railway vehicles and all other locomotives when they are used for shunting; and

(b)Category B – trains for the carriage of passengers or goods or both.

Yes there is a list of the categories contained in the licencing standard. Admittedly it's not easy to find but RDG-OPS-GN-041 from September 2021 has this in section 5.7;

That document appears to no longer be available on the RDG wesbite, is it being reviewed? https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/cop-guidance.html

Do you have a list of the subcategories? I can't seem to find a webpage, standard or legislation that goes beyond A/B

 

[driver9000]

That document appears to no longer be available on the RDG wesbite, is it being reviewed? https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/cop-guidance.html

Do you have a list of the subcategories? I can't seem to find a webpage, standard or legislation that goes beyond A/B

The RDG document came up in a Google search and I know I've got the leaflet we all got when the licences were introduced somewhere but I don't seem to have an electronic copy to hand.

Further digging has turned up this document which refers to the subcategories in Annex 2

Commission Regulation (EU) No 36/2010 of 3 December 2009 on Community models for train driving licences, complementary certificates, certified copies of complementary certificates and application forms for train driving licences, under Directive 2007

"1.3.Categories of driving
The categories and types of driving, for which the driver is authorised to drive, shall be displayed as follows.

Category A
RUs/IMs may use ‘A’ as a global category, encompassing all activities of category A: shunting locomotives, work trains, maintenance railway vehicles and all other locomotives when they are used for shunting.

Alternatively, RUs/IMs may limit the scope of the certificate to one or more of the following types:

A1=when limited to shunting locomotives;
A2=when limited to work trains;
A3=when limited to maintenance railway vehicles;
A4=when limited to all other locomotives when they are used for shunting;
A5=other, if the authorisation is related for services or rolling stock not included in the previous categories. This shall be specified in the appropriate space.

Category B
RUs/IMs may use ‘B’ as a global category, encompassing carriages of passengers and goods.

Alternatively, RUs/IMs may limit the scope of the certificate to one or more of the following types:

B1=when limited to carriage of passengers;
B2=when limited to carriage of goods.

The category in which the holder is authorised to drive shall be indicated by filling in the appropriate box if a global category is chosen or boxes, if one or more subcategories are chosen. The boxes that are not necessary shall be made void".

 

[zwk500]

Interesting, thanks for digging that out!

 

[PudseyBearHST]

The RDG document came up in a Google search and I know I've got the leaflet we all got when the licences were introduced somewhere but I don't seem to have an electronic copy to hand.

Further digging has turned up this document which refers to the subcategories in Annex 2

Commission Regulation (EU) No 36/2010 of 3 December 2009 on Community models for train driving licences, complementary certificates, certified copies of complementary certificates and application forms for train driving licences, under Directive 2007

"1.3.Categories of driving
The categories and types of driving, for which the driver is authorised to drive, shall be displayed as follows.

Category A
RUs/IMs may use ‘A’ as a global category, encompassing all activities of category A: shunting locomotives, work trains, maintenance railway vehicles and all other locomotives when they are used for shunting.

Alternatively, RUs/IMs may limit the scope of the certificate to one or more of the following types:

A1=when limited to shunting locomotives;
A2=when limited to work trains;
A3=when limited to maintenance railway vehicles;
A4=when limited to all other locomotives when they are used for shunting;
A5=other, if the authorisation is related for services or rolling stock not included in the previous categories. This shall be specified in the appropriate space.

Category B
RUs/IMs may use ‘B’ as a global category, encompassing carriages of passengers and goods.

Alternatively, RUs/IMs may limit the scope of the certificate to one or more of the following types:

B1=when limited to carriage of passengers;
B2=when limited to carriage of goods.

The category in which the holder is authorised to drive shall be indicated by filling in the appropriate box if a global category is chosen or boxes, if one or more subcategories are chosen. The boxes that are not necessary shall be made void".

Thanks! That explains why there’s a row of 5 boxes followed by a row of 3 boxes on the license and why most are X.