Minimum age of Trainee Train Driver on Application

[PudseyBearHST]

Hi I'm wondering what the minimum age is to apply for a Trainee Train Driver on application. The reason I ask is that as we all know, from application to start of training(obviously assuming if successful) could take a considerable amount of time. It was only a few days I saw on one thread on rail forums that after 2.5 years SWT called someone for an interview. This is why I am wondering whether I a can apply before the age of 21 and also do different TOCs have different rules?
Thanks.
Sorry if this came up in the sticky thread, 'How to become a train driver' but its 81 pages long so it will take me ages to go through it.

 

[greatkingrat]

Officially the rule is that you have to be 21 to drive on your own, so you could in theory start training at 20 and a half. However it is up to the individual TOC and some may just automatically reject people under 21.

 

[Gemz91]

My mate had an interview when he was 20, but failed the MMI.

 

[Spankthemonkey]

Hi I'm wondering what the minimum age is to apply for a Trainee Train Driver on application. The reason I ask is that as we all know, from application to start of training(obviously assuming if successful) could take a considerable amount of time. It was only a few days I saw on one thread on rail forums that after 2.5 years SWT called someone for an interview. This is why I am wondering whether I a can apply before the age of 21 and also do different TOCs have different rules?
Thanks.
Sorry if this came up in the sticky thread, 'How to become a train driver' but its 81 pages long so it will take me ages to go through it.

If you are serious about applying then make yourself a coffee and sit and read the 81 pages of the aforementioned sticky. This board is a fantastic resource when applying at many grades, it'll save you spending on that "how to becone" range too.

 

[Thedispatcher]

I know Northern accept applications from age 20 however they are the only TOC I know to do this, for the rest I don't think anyone will look at you until you're 21. My advice is, if you're too young, start somewhere lower on the totem pole. Some TOCs have excellent apprenticeship programmes and frankly I think you need some experience before you become a driver, whether that's as a conductor, station staff, revenue... anything really. Good luck anyway mate

 

[TheEdge]

Driver is one, if not the only, role with the 21 year age limit. You can get pretty much any other job on the railway younger. I was 21 when I started as a conductor but was on a course with someone who was 19.

 

[455driver]

Can you give an example of having worked on your own?
Can you give an example of having dealt with an emergency situation?
etc.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

I know Northern accept applications from age 20 however they are the only TOC I know to do this, for the rest I don't think anyone will look at you until you're 21. My advice is, if you're too young, start somewhere lower on the totem pole. Some TOCs have excellent apprenticeship programmes and frankly I think you need some experience before you become a driver, whether that's as a conductor, station staff, revenue... anything really. Good luck anyway mate

Thanks for your reply. I found out a few days that South Eastern also accept 20 year olds. I am actually a full-time student studying Engineering so I will be busy till 21 anyway. And of course I am trying get other experience in the railways, currently applied for LU Tube Operator part-time and looking to see if I can become a TM/Conductor or get experience by volunteering at heritage railways. The application process for a Driver is so long which is why I was wondering whether I could apply say, a few months before I turned 21. Of course I appreciate that applying for the job and getting the job are two completely different things and it will be difficult especially at such a young age.

Thanks.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

Driver is one, if not the only, role with the 21 year age limit. You can get pretty much any other job on the railway younger. I was 21 when I started as a conductor but was on a course with someone who was 19.

Yup most TOCs it is 21 but a few accept 20 year olds. And of course definitely looking to get experience elsewhere in the railways. Thanks for your reply..

 

[dst]

I know Northern accept applications from age 20 however they are the only TOC I know to do this, for the rest I don't think anyone will look at you until you're 21. My advice is, if you're too young, start somewhere lower on the totem pole. Some TOCs have excellent apprenticeship programmes and frankly I think you need some experience before you become a driver, whether that's as a conductor, station staff, revenue... anything really. Good luck anyway mate

I've got a mate who ended up on a Network Rail apprenticeship (probably one like this). They can be hit or miss in general, but he thought that one was great. I'm on one, but as much as a like the railways I'm not really cut out for engineering , so it's a banking apprenticeship for me. Either way it's much better to 'earn while you learn' and work you way up, rather than getting any old work and making hopeful applications imho. Good luck either way though

 

[ZFE95]

20 & 6 months at time of applying is the national age standard for a train driver .. 21 to actually drive a train.