Moves to reduce the age at which train drivers can begin training have been welcomed by their trade union.
Aslef said legislation to reduce the age from 20 to 18 will be brought before Parliament on Tuesday, which it believes will lead to drivers better reflecting their communities.
General secretary Dave Calfe said: “Aslef has been campaigning for many years to lower the age at which drivers can start training.
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“This decision, to allow people to leave education and become a driver at 18, will increase diversity in the driver’s cab by encouraging more young people from all communities to drive trains on Britain’s railways.
“At the moment, many young people make their career choice at 18 and the industry misses out as the current minimum age is 20.
“This change will widen the opportunity for the rail industry to recruit the large numbers of train drivers required over the next five years.
“It offers young people the opportunity of secure employment – to get a job in a highly unionised industry with good pay, and good terms and conditions, in contrast to the short-term and insecure jobs in the gig economy which are, so often, all that is available to young people today.”
Aslef said reducing the age from 20 to 18 brings it into line with London Tube train drivers and with other European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Rob Kitley, who chairs Aslef’s Young Members’ Committee, and a driver with GWR, joined the railway eight years ago.
He said: “It’s fantastic to see the legislation now being put in place for the reduction in the minimum train driver age to 18.
“As young train drivers we have been campaigning for this change for many years, in order to level the playing field and bring our industry into line with other parts of public transport, such as buses and the London Underground.
“By widening the goal posts to allow younger candidates to join the driving grade, we open the door to new talent which may otherwise have been lost.
“This helps to safeguard the role and our industry for the future.”
