Train driver
Drive trains on local and national rail networks, making sure that passengers and freight get to their destination safely and on time.
About the job
A day in the life – Train driver
What it's like
You would drive trains on local and national rail networks, making sure that passengers and freight get to their destination safely and on time.
You would:
Check equipment and engines before a journey starts
Contact control centres for information about routes
Follow signalling instructions during the journey
Make stops along your route to pick up and drop off passengers or freight.
Make passenger announcements
Control automatic doors
Prepare engines for handover to drivers on the next shift
Record any delays or issues that occur
The passengers would be putting their trust in you to act responsibly and keep them safe. It would be very important to follow safety rules closely.
Hours
Most companies operate on a 35-hour week. This could be spread over four or five shifts (known as turns) including weekends, evenings and nights. On freight or engineering trains, you would usually do more night shifts.
Environment
You would usually work alone in the driver's cab during the journey. Sometimes a trainee driver or driver inspector will be with you.
Travel
On long distance routes, you may have overnight stays away from home.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- recalling
- taking initiative
- concentrating
- respecting
- observation
- verbal communication
- reading
- building relationships
- resilience
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Engineering Science
You'll need to apply for a driver trainee programme with a train company. Most train companies expect drivers to have qualifications in English and maths at SCQF Level 4/5.
You would attend a year-long training programme with learning in the classroom and simulators. You'd pass tests on subjects like:
Mechanical knowledge
English
Maths
You must pass all stages of the training and complete a Personal Track Safety (PTS) certificate to fully qualify as a train driver.
Trainee train driver vacancies don't come up often. Some people start off as conductors or passenger assistants and work their up by showing an interest in train driving.
Qualifications and experience that show the ability to follow instructions, concentrate, show quick reaction time and a basic mechanical such as:
Skills for Work Engineering Skills (SCQF level 4)
Uniformed and Emergency Services (SCQF level 4)
Relevant work-based experience and qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Rail Engineering (SVQ level 2) or be willing to work towards qualifications once in a job.
You will need to be aged 21 or over before starting your training. You'll also need to pass medical examinations which include eyesight, hearing and colour vision tests.
You could be tested for drugs or alcohol at any time.
You may need to be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
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