16-18 rail opportunities

[MerlinRail 804]

So I’m currently in year 11 and starting to think about what I want to do post-16. My dream job is train driver, and part of me would kinda like to get into rail as soon as I can, but I do also have interest in music (more as a hobby probably). I am currently thinking about taking music in the 16-18 period as that is the only academic thing I really enjoy, but if I do a levels, I’ll probably add computer science or politics to the music + music tech. Anyway, onto the point!
Are there any rail-related options for 16-18, any routes into the industry, etc. I don’t get the feeling there’d be much as it’s obviously a very safety critical industry, but I’m sure I’d find pretty much anything interesting tbh (not engineering though, operations is so much more interesting for me).

 

[Roger1973]

South Western currently have a variety of apprentice roles open to 16-18 year olds - not all engineering / technical. although some are based at Southampton which may not work for you, but there's (for example) train planning which is based central-ish London.

More here (and closing dates are fairly soon)

Not sure how they would view someone who took one to try and get in to train driving, though.

I have a vague idea that back when I was that sort of age, there was a way in at 16 that could lead to train driving, but that was a long time ago now and I don't know if there is a way in at 16+ now.

 

[PlexiDriver]

To be honest I think it's less of what you do and more how you do it. Did you take on outside opportunities (like volunteering at a heritage railway or whatever?) and have you been exposed to something safety related? So it's less important in terms of school work. I don't know if that's helpful at all. I would say do Politics.... only because I loved it at university haha!

Good luck with your career though! (From a TPE Driver!)

 

[will1989]

Could try go down to your local station and see if there's any opportunities in the run up to Christmas for Passenger Assistance staff?

 

[S-Car-Go]

Weirdly, I do see a correlation between train driving and musical aptitude. When I was a teen, I played electronic organs, rock/jazz, vintage Hammonds etc to a high standard. You had to use all 4 limbs to play them, dual manuals + bass pedals and expression pedal.

When I drive trains, I have a dsd pedal, left hand on power/brake controller, right hand on AWS button. Lots of different beeps and bongs to recognise and react to (or disregard).

As far as entry safety critical jobs go, it's platform dispatcher or guard/conductor that have a fair few younger people doing them.

I'd always advise to do what you enjoy, or have a particular talent for.

 

[Brick79]

You could try and find a contact at a local station/depot/signal box (or roc) and send them a (nicely typed up) email saying you're interested in the rail and if you could have a look/talk/tour you'd be grateful and thats something to could refer back to in the future. Further have a think about what role before a driver you'd like as being a driver isnt nailed down. If youre based near higher Wycombe you're not too far from Wembley (next to stonebridge park) which has a pretty big yard with a few groundstaff and other roles, also action which has a few freights working out of it so you could consider looking towards those locations if you were interested in the freight side of things. I believe reading has some freight set up as well which might not be too far.

 

[Gemz91]

get a part time job with any experience. Work at a local Costa at a weekend. Volenteers for the early shift. Shows you can get up at daft o’clock for early shifts. Shows you’re used to working shifts. Shows you can follow procedures (cleaning rosters, allergy files etc). Even better if your local Costas at a station, recruiting managers might begin to recognise you. Don’t become over familiar with them, just enough to say hello and remember their order.

16s a young age. I know they are plans to take on drivers at 18, but just try build up work experience, whether that’s in education or outside of education. Not sure how handy a degree is unless you want to go into management, but even then that’s not needed.

I know someone mentioned heritage railways up thread, maybe it’s worked for them but I’m never sure if heritage railway experience is beneficial or not. Maybe that’s topic for a different thread though.