The UK is looking for 18-year old train drivers – here’s what they earn
Key Points
- 18-year-olds in Great Britain can apply to become mainline train drivers, after the minimum age dropped from 20 on 30 June 2026.
- Trainee salaries run from £27,000 to £33,000, training is paid and no degree is required.
- Fewer than 4% of current train drivers are under 30, and a quarter of the workforce reaches retirement age by 2030.
- The change excludes Northern Ireland and Channel Tunnel services, where the minimum age stays at 20.
- The Train Drivers Academy lists trainee vacancies and links to operator recruitment pages.
School and college leavers in Great Britain can now apply to train as mainline train drivers on trainee salaries of between £27,000 and £33,000, after rules that took effect on 30 June 2026 cut the minimum age from 20 to 18.
The Train Driving Licences and Certificates (Amendment) Regulations 2026 lowered the age at which the Office of Rail and Road issues a train driving licence.
The change applies in England, Scotland and Wales. It does not cover Northern Ireland or international services through the Channel Tunnel, where the minimum age remains 20.
Licensing conditions, assessment and qualification standards stay the same for younger applicants.
Fewer than 4% of train drivers are under 30 and fewer than 12% are women. A quarter of the current workforce will reach retirement age by 2030, according to the Department for Transport, with the industry recruiting too few drivers to replace those leaving.
Train driving is an entry-level role and applicants need no degree. Training is paid, and apprentices learn on the job.
Operators look for candidates who stay focused under pressure, make sound decisions, work professionally in a team and treat safety as the priority.
Around 1 million people aged 16 to 24 across the UK are not in education, employment or training. The government has tied the age change to its £2.5 billion investment to tackle youth unemployment.
“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,” said Peter Hendy, the rail minister.
“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,” said Daniel Mann, co-chief executive officer at the Rail Delivery Group.
“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,” said Dave Calfe, general secretary of ASLEF.
The change puts the UK in line with Switzerland, Germany and Australia, where 18-year-olds already train as drivers. It also matches other transport roles in the UK, where 18-year-olds can become pilots or drive trams and Tube trains for Transport for London.
The Train Drivers Academy has updated its website with the revised entry pathways, training resources and career development information for applicants.
The portal carries simulation-based training tools, a national map of trainee vacancies and direct links to train operators’ recruitment pages. The Rail Delivery Group, working through the Academy, has also produced recruitment, onboarding, safeguarding and interviewing guidance for operators taking on younger drivers.
Most train operators are now back in public ownership, and the new intake of drivers will join as the government sets up Great British Railways.
