School leavers urged to become train drivers to tackle shortage on GCSE results day

School leavers aged 18 are being encouraged to consider a career as a train driver, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said in a recruitment drive on GCSE results day.

The step has been welcomed by train driving union Aslef, which stated that enabling younger applicants to enter the profession upon leaving education will "open the door to new talent".

New regulations reducing the minimum age requirement to become a train driver from 20 to 18 came into effect in June.

The DfT is urging young people to work in the rail sector to address driver shortages, highlighting that no university degree or years of waiting are required to begin training.

Currently, under 4 per cent of train drivers are under the age of 30, fewer than 12 per cent are female, and 25 per cent of the present workforce will hit retirement age by 2030.

Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “Lowering the minimum age for train drivers is a significant step forward for young people across Britain.

“It opens doors for those wanting to move straight into the workplace, giving a younger generation the chance to build lasting careers in the railway.

“This is a move that will help secure the future of the passenger and freight sectors as we work to set up Great British Railways, and ensure the workforce reflects the energy, talent and ambition of the next generation.”

Daniel Mann, co-chief executive officer at Rail Delivery Group, said: “The railway plays a key role in connecting communities and supporting the economy. Attracting the next generation of talent is essential to its future.

“Lowering the minimum age for train drivers is opening up a rewarding career in rail to more young people while helping the industry build the strong and skilled workforce it needs for the years ahead.

“By bringing in people with a broader range of skills, experiences and perspectives, we can support the long-term resilience of the railway and make sure it continues to deliver for passengers.”

Lowering the age brings the UK in line with countries like Switzerland, Germany and Australia. It also matches training for pilots, tram drivers and the underground.

Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers union Aslef, said: “It’s fantastic to see the legislation now in place for the reduction in the minimum train driver age to 18.

“This will enable the rail industry to recruit the large number of drivers it needs as well as ensuring that the people in the drivers’ cab better reflect the communities we serve.

“By widening the goal posts to allow younger candidates to apply as soon as they leave school or college, we open the door to new talent which may otherwise have been lost – helping to make sure our railway is fit for the 21st century.”