UK to allow 18‑year‑olds to become train drivers as industry braces for retirements

The government has moved to reduce the minimum age for mainline train drivers to 18, citing a projected shortfall as a substantial share of the workforce approaches retirement. Legislation to enact the change will be introduced in parliament and is scheduled to take effect on 30 June, aligning rail entry rules more closely with other transport modes and several international peers. Officials framed the measure as a practical step to expand the pipeline of recruits and offer earlier career access to younger people who might otherwise delay entering skilled roles. Ministers and union leaders presented the policy as both a supply-side fix for looming vacancies and a lever to improve the sector’s demographic balance, which currently skews older, male, and predominantly non‑ethnic minority. The shift sits alongside education and industry initiatives that will create additional apprenticeship and placement opportunities intended to channel young jobseekers into rail roles. Industry sources point to tight timelines: a large fraction of drivers will reach retirement age before 2030, creating urgent hiring requirements over the coming years. Advocates say lowering the age reduces barriers to entry, allowing employers to recruit and train candidates straight from school or college rather than waiting until later in their twenties. Critics may fear training costs and safety implications, so regulators and operators will need clear standards for competency and supervision of younger recruits. The measure also dovetails politically with wider skills and employment priorities aimed at reducing youth inactivity and connecting education pathways to industry needs. If implemented smoothly, the change should increase the effective candidate pool, accelerate hiring flow, and give operators more flexibility to manage short-term churn. Whether it materially changes the gender and ethnic composition of drivers will depend on targeted outreach and retention efforts, not only on age eligibility alone.