Who are we

First Rail London (FRL) is the train operating company responsible for running the London Overground network under a concession agreement with Transport for London (TfL). The concession began in May 2026.

First Rail London is part of FirstGroup, one of the leading rail operators and one of the largest bus operators in the UK.  FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier.  FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job

We are on the hunt for highly committed and customer focussed Qualified Train Drivers across London. You will need to have a minimum of 2 years' experience of continually productive main line train driving experience along with a good safety of the line record who ideally has come from a passenger railway background.

As a First Rail London Train Driver, you will primarily work alone whilst maintaining high levels of concentration at all times, being fully responsible for passenger's safety.

You won't just drive our trains, you will act as a technical and operational specialist, delivering high standards of on-train service as expected from our customers.

We pride ourselves on safety and customer service and are therefore seeking individuals with an excellent safety of the line record, proven train driving experience as well as a passion for the rail industry and delivering an on-time service for our passengers.

To be successful in this role, you will need to be safety conscious and able to deal with pressurised situations and emergencies, whilst working as a team player communicating with the Control teams with the goal of always delivering fantastic customer service.

What we're looking for

• A good safety of the line record
• Excellent communication skills with a customer focussed attitude
• Have a proactive ‘can do' approach
• To work well in a team, as well as to have the ability to work in a highly autonomous environment
• The ability to effectively work under pressure and react positively to unforeseen circumstances
• To have flexibility regarding work and shift patterns with the ability to work both days and nights, including weekends
• To have a minimum of 2 years' Qualified Mainline driver experience
• The ideal individual will have experience driving passenger services
• To live within one hour of the New Cross Gate Depot.

All applicants will be expected to sit an interview, upon successful completion of this we will then complete a Safety of the Line check and a medical.

If you have a pre-booked holiday, please inform us during the application process, as this may impact your start date.

The reward 

• Free Travel for you and a nominated person at your address on TfL Network - this alone is worth a potential total of £5,200 per annum
• 75% discount off season tickets and leisure travel on other Train Operating Companies
• Discounts on European rail services after 1 year of service
• First Xclusives – a benefits portal offering a wide range of benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24-hour helpline, covering a multitude of subjects.

We all belong at First Rail London. FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/