Hi, I hope you are doing well, As you know to become driver for anything car or HGV or train you need to have a license or doing the course. i love to be a train driver and i need help how to start ? what do i have to do before joining the course . please help me i will go for it .

thank you

09 May, 2025 14:43

Sophia G. Customer Service Training Manager, Great Western Railway

Hello Armin.

Thank you for your question and I appreciate your commitment to doing what you can to support yourself and you development!

In this situation however, it isn't really a case of doing anything beforehand (other than preparation for assessment and interviews). We do not require any qualifications or certifications, we just need to be confident that applicants can demonstrate vigilance, concentration, ability to perform and make safe decisions under pressure, and to always adhere to rules, process, policy and standards set out by the company and the job.

The only minimum requirements for the role are:

• You must be at least 21 years of age to be accepted on to the training course, as this is an industry requirement (although this will likely become 18 towards the end of the year)
• You'll need to live within 60 minutes travel time to the depot, without using public transport when it is not available. The safety responsibilities make this requirement a necessity
• You will be needed to work shifts of varying start times, including weekends and nights
• You'll need to pass a full driver medical which includes hearing, sight, and colour vision tests (using the Ishihara plates).

If you did wish to do any preparation, I would suggest practising with some psychometric tests (you can find ones free online) which measure the above mentioned skills and behaviours.

To put yourself forward you would simply just need to apply for a Trainee Train Driver position and, should you be successful, you would then be made an offer of employment and placed on a training course. All of our current Train Driver vacancies can be found here and is also where any future vacancies will be advertised, should there not currently be any trainee opportunities.

Good luck!

30 May, 2025 09:00

Hi Sophia,

I really appreciate your information and im really like to start but there is a question which is, Im livi around north east so is there an job going on that i can apply ?im driving too so i can manage my time and Im always on time on my shifts.

i can work any shifts and i will be ready for medical test too.

please let me know if there is any job around north east or somewhere around my town (hartlepool) so i will try to manage .

thank you

30 May, 2025 17:09

Alex S. Application Support – Hr And Recruitment

Hi Armin,

Unfortunately, we don't operate any of the rail services in the North East. I believe it is Northern Rail that operate the services around Hartlepool so you would need to contact them to see what opportunities they have.

Thanks,

Alex

04 June, 2025 15:07