Britain is set to lower its minimum age for train drivers from 20 to 18 in a bid to combat an impending driver shortage. The move comes as the current average age of Great Britain's train drivers - around 48 years old - approaches retirement age, with many expected to leave the workforce before 2030. This exodus could result in a significant shortage of up to 2,500 drivers over the next four years.
With only a few thousand train drivers under the age of 30 currently employed in Great Britain, and most retiring well ahead of state pension age, the industry is facing a pressing need for fresh recruits. The National Skills Academy for Rail report suggests that this shortage could have a devastating impact on train reliability, with late-notice cancellations already a significant problem.
The government has been under pressure from train drivers' unions to lower the minimum age requirement in order to bring in more diverse and younger candidates. Rob Kitley, chair of Aslef's young members committee, hailed the proposed change as "fantastic", saying it would not only address recruitment issues but also increase diversity in the industry.
The union argues that lowering the minimum age would allow the rail industry to tap into a larger pool of talent, including those who join the workforce straight from school. It is estimated that getting a job remains challenging, with competition for places and lengthy training periods - typically 12-18 months.
Other European countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and France, already allow teenage train drivers to start work at 18. The UK has taken steps in this direction by proposing legislation to lower the minimum age for train drivers to 18. However, a bilateral agreement between the UK and France may prevent young drivers from operating on trains crossing the English Channel.
With only a few thousand train drivers under the age of 30 currently employed in Great Britain, and most retiring well ahead of state pension age, the industry is facing a pressing need for fresh recruits. The National Skills Academy for Rail report suggests that this shortage could have a devastating impact on train reliability, with late-notice cancellations already a significant problem.
The government has been under pressure from train drivers' unions to lower the minimum age requirement in order to bring in more diverse and younger candidates. Rob Kitley, chair of Aslef's young members committee, hailed the proposed change as "fantastic", saying it would not only address recruitment issues but also increase diversity in the industry.
The union argues that lowering the minimum age would allow the rail industry to tap into a larger pool of talent, including those who join the workforce straight from school. It is estimated that getting a job remains challenging, with competition for places and lengthy training periods - typically 12-18 months.
Other European countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, and France, already allow teenage train drivers to start work at 18. The UK has taken steps in this direction by proposing legislation to lower the minimum age for train drivers to 18. However, a bilateral agreement between the UK and France may prevent young drivers from operating on trains crossing the English Channel.
- I think it's a good idea! Train drivers need to retire soon anyway so why not let some fresh blood into the industry? 
The thing is though how will they handle all that responsibility at such a young age tho 
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt 
We gotta think about our youth and giving them opportunities, it's time for a change! I'm all for this new move, let's get some young blood into the train industry, they might just bring in some fresh ideas 
, i mean we're talking about operating heavy machinery that can kill ppl at high speeds. like, what if they don't have the maturity or experience to handle it? 18 is still pretty young and some ppl might not be ready for that kind of responsibility. plus think about all the stuff that comes with driving trains - time commitment, stress, safety protocols... it's a big deal. and yeah, getting in at 18 can be tough, but maybe the train companies should focus on making the training process better rather than lowering the age?
Right now, most of them are just leaving the workforce at 48 because, you know, people usually retire around that age, but what if we could get some fresh faces in there? 
The only concern I got is about safety, you know, driving trains can be super serious business. But if they do their research and training, I think it could work out pretty well. 
. But seriously, I'm all for it – need more fresh faces in that industry. They say teenagers are glued to their screens, so maybe driving a train will teach 'em how to multitask... and also how not to fall asleep on the job 
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, might as well let some fresh blood into the industry 
! I know some ppl might be worried 'bout safety, but come on, trains r safe, right? 
And think of all the $$$ the gov's gonna save on trainings & recruitment efforts lol! But seriously tho, it's a clever move to address that driver shortage. I'm low-key hoping this means we'll see more diverse crews on the rails soon 
, so why not here? Let's give 'em a chance!
I don't get why they're gonna push 18 year olds into driving trains. They're not even out of school yet... 
also what about all those older drivers who've got experience and skills, aren't they gonna get screwed over? 
that's like, crazy! I mean, I get it, they need more people to fill the gap but... what about all the stuff that comes with driving a train? 
! Lowering the minimum age for train drivers from 20 to 18 is a solid move, you know? It's like, we need fresh blood in that industry ASAP 
. Like, we need more people from all walks of life on the trains, you know? It's not just about getting the job done, it's about representing everyone who uses our transport system 
you know what really gets me about this whole thing? it's not just about lowering the minimum age for train drivers, it's about who they're gonna choose to hire in the first place