Overview

• The UK government has reduced the minimum age for train drivers from 20 to 18, citing severe driver shortages and high cancellation rates caused by staffing gaps.
• Eighty-seven percent of cancellations made the night before scheduled services are attributed to driver unavailability, with significant reliance on voluntary overtime to maintain operations.
• The new policy follows a consultation that received overwhelming support from industry stakeholders, including unions and safety bodies, and aligns with practices in countries like France and Germany.
• Training programs for 18-year-olds will maintain current safety and qualification standards, with apprenticeships expected to begin as early as December 2025.
• The initiative aims to diversify the workforce—currently averaging 48 years old and predominantly male—while addressing an impending retirement wave, with 30% of drivers set to retire by 2029.