What qualifications do you need to be a London Underground train driver?


What qualifications do you need to be a London Underground train driver?

How to become a train driver in London
  • Gain GCSEs in English and maths. ...
  • Reach the minimum age. ...
  • Pass the medical requirements. ...
  • Complete an apprenticeship. ...
  • Apply for trainee driver roles with train companies. ...
  • Complete your training. ...
  • Apply for a role with TfL. ...
  • Complete assessments.


Can train drivers listen to music?

Freight train conductors can't listen to music, books on tape, or do anything else that could potentially help them stay awake. Each freight train has two crew members, a conductor and an engineer.


Do tube drivers drive all the lines?

You only drive one line unless you are an assessor or a test train operator.


What benefits do London Underground drivers get?

Rewarding you
  • Final salary pension scheme.
  • Free travel for you and a nominated partner/family member on the TfL network.
  • A 75% discount on National Rail Season Ticket and interest-free loan.
  • Minimum of 29 days annual leave plus public holidays.
  • Private healthcare discounted scheme - optional.
  • Tax-efficient childcare payments.


How many train drivers are on the London Underground?

We employ 3,946 London Underground Train Operators.


Do London Underground staff get free travel?

Staff Travel Cards. A Staff Travel Card (STC) gives you unlimited free travel on most National Rail services for one day (restrictions apply). These travel cards have replaced the system of free tickets.


How do tube drivers get home?

When it comes to travelling back home at the end of her shift, it's actually pretty straightforward. She told viewers that there are two depots on the Bakerloo Line – one at Queen's Park and one at Elephant and Castle – and every driver has a 'home' depot where they start and finish work.


Is tube driver a good job?

If you are a person who likes to work with some independence and isolation where your boss is not always watching you then it could mean interesting to you. This is a well paid job of driving a tube and the training support is there.


How long is a tube driver shift?

Drivers usually work 36-hour weeks and have 43 days of annual leave, including bank holidays. Shifts can start as early as 4.45am and end as late as 1.30am. The drivers cannot drink alcohol for eight hours before a shift starts. They are sometimes asked to work as many as 17 weekends in a row.


Why do tube drivers earn so much?

Most salary levels are just based on supply and demand economics really. What makes tube drivers different is the ability of their unions to make the supply of drivers extremely tight (and thus drive up their pay). They do this in a few ways: 1.


How many hours do train drivers work?

With regular scheduled train services meaning a planned timetable, passenger Train Drivers work reasonably predictable shift patterns. On average, most operators work to a 35 hour week. Although some work more. A 35 hour week which is generally averaged out over the whole year, shift cycle or similar.


Do tube drivers get paid well?

Do London tube drivers seem overpaid compared to other countries? Their average salary is 60-70K, with some paid over 100K.