Hi there!

Thanks for your enquiry, that's great to hear you're interested in pursuing a career as a train driver.

The good news is that there are no formal qualifications required. The only minimum requirements are as follows:

• You must be at least 20 years of age to be accepted on to the training course, as this is an industry requirement (this is due to be lowered to 18 but currently it remains at 20)
• 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).

Once you reach 20 years of age (or 18 if the age has been lowered by then - this will be clear in the job advert) it would just be a case of you applying for a trainee role when you see one advertised.

The recruitment process involves the following stages following initial application:

1. Online testing
2. Shortlisting
3. Video Interview
4. Shortlisting
5. Psychometric assessments (consists of a number of exercises assessing skills such as concentration and attention, and a structured interview)
6. Driver manager interview

I hope that helps!

24 March, 2026 11:18

Thanks Alex for your response, much appreciated. Is there any further information or documentation on the Medical requirements that you know of?

28 March, 2026 00:46

I'm not qualified to advise of any specifics to yourself or any other individual, but there are specified rail industry medical standards which must be met before someone can be considered fit for train driving. I've summarised these below:

• Weight - should not have a BMI of more than 33
• Height - between 5’2” and 6’4”
• Hearing - any hearing loss must not exceed 40 dB at 0.5 kHz and 1 kHz, and 45 dB at 2 kHz, in either ear
• Vision - visual acuity must be 6/6 both eyes together, with the worse eye no more than 6/12. This is with or without prescription glasses. Contact lenses are permitted if the visual standard is also met with prescription glasses. Prescription lenses must not exceed +5 for hypermetropia (long sighted) or - 8 for myopia (short sighted). Individuals who have not had an eye test with an optician for more than 2 years are advised to do so.
• Colour vision - normal as assessed by the Ishihara test plates, discretion can be used to accept alternative regulated colour vision tests
• Medical conditions/treatment - must not suffer from medical conditions or treatments likely to cause sudden loss of consciousness, incapacity, mobility issues, impairment of vision or hearing, impairment of balance or coordination.

30 March, 2026 16:03