photo: Raaberbahn AG / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons/Train driver; illustrative photo
Trains may soon be piloted by teenagers. The UK has officially lowered the train driver age to 18, opening the cab door to school-leavers—and challenging the industry to rethink what a modern rail workforce looks like.
Teenagers could soon be driving Britain’s trains, thanks to a new government decision to lower the minimum driver age from 20 to 18. The move, announced by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and supported across the rail industry, aims to tackle a looming staffing crisis and inject fresh talent into an ageing workforce.
Read more
Platzkart is back—with a makeover. In a first since independence, Ukraine rolls out brand-new third-class railcars, built by Kryukiv Railcar…
As Alexander put it, the goal is to "put young people on track for a skilled and fulfilling career" while future-proofing the network under the emerging Great British Railways plan. The reform comes in response to mounting challenges: over 30% of the UK’s 27,000 train drivers are expected to hit retirement age by 2029, while the industry continues to struggle with driver shortages and frequent cancellations.
Not Just a Numbers Game—It’s a Diversity Play Too
The decision to lower the age barrier was not just about numbers, but about changing the face of Britain’s train cabs. Currently, the average UK train driver is 48 years old, overwhelmingly male, and white. According to the BBC, fewer than 9% are women, and only 12% come from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Mick Whelan, General Secretary of Aslef—the train drivers' union—said the change could have been made long ago. "At the moment, young people who want to become train drivers leave school or college at 18, get other jobs, and we miss out as an industry," he said. "This change will increase diversity in the driver’s cab."
Read more
It was supposed to be a miracle of coordination. A digital system designed to weave together Europe’s railways—a single, seamless, synchronised…
While it may feel bold, the UK isn’t blazing a trail alone. Countries including Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands have already lowered their minimum driver age, and according to the Rail Safety and Standards Board, 18-year-olds are capable of driving trains safely. Charlie Eric Potts, a 22-year-old driver, told the BBC he had wanted to apply at 18 but was forced to wait. "It would’ve been great if I could’ve just started early, because I knew what I wanted to do,” he said. He believes the move will offer “an opportunity to younger people who are clearly competent."
A Pipeline of Apprenticeships—and a Lot of Homework
The reform is a project. In a letter to the sector, Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy asked operators to prepare a "single cross-industry plan" for onboarding younger recruits. That includes adapting recruitment, training, and supervision frameworks for younger candidates and promoting the Train Driving Level 3 apprenticeship.
The Department for Transport expects the first 18-year-old applicants to begin training as early as December 2025, with full qualification typically taking 12 to 24 months. Starting salaries hover around £30,000 per year, with experienced drivers reportedly earning up to £69,000. Lord Hendy called it "a coherent workforce strategy," urging operators to prepare not only their classrooms, but also their HR departments, supervisors, and even insurance policies.
Read more
Rome gets new metro trains, Budapest gets digital signalling, and Hitachi and Knorr-Bremse get Europe’s rail future in motion. From couplers to code, the…
From Paperwork to Platform: What Comes Next?
The change follows a consultation launched in 2024 under the previous government. According to the Department for Transport, the industry responded with overwhelming support. However, operators will still need to answer practical questions: How will welfare for younger drivers be managed? Will insurance costs spike? How will high standards of safety be maintained?
Lord Hendy gave the sector until August 7 to submit detailed plans to DfT. Only then will a final timetable be announced for changing the law. Meanwhile, 34-year-old train driver Elizabeth Kirby told the BBC she believes this will "support younger drivers, female drivers, and bring more diversity."
A Bold Step, But Will It Stay On Track?
There’s no question that lowering the train driver age is a bold and symbolic reform. Whether it solves Britain’s rail problems will depend not just on training 18-year-olds, but on giving them the long-term support and opportunities they need to succeed. As the UK rolls into its next chapter of rail modernisation, one thing is clear: youth isn’t just the future of transport—it’s driving it.
Read more
The Mühldorf hub won’t run on fumes much longer. Siemens’ hydrogen trains are rolling in, and Bavaria’s railways are about to go full zero-emission.
Sources: BBC; The Guardian; www.gov.uk