YOUNG people will be able to take up new careers as train drivers three years earlier as the government announces its plans to lower the age required to enter the profession.
Thousands of jobs and apprenticeships will be made available to those between 18 and 20 years old as early as December, offering skilled roles, valuable experience, and long-term career opportunities, the Department for Transport (DfT) says.
It will also help build up the rail workforce, preventing delays and cancellations caused by driver shortages, which currently accounts for 87 percent of cancellations made the night before a service runs.
The decision to lower the age will future-proof the railways, reducing the over reliance on rest day working by getting more people into the driving seat and ensuring a steady stream of drivers entering the industry.
The average train driver is 48 years old and rising, with 30 percent due to reach retirement age by 2029.
Bringing young talent in these skilled roles now will bridge this gap, preventing any future shortages and ensuring consistent, reliable services for passengers, the DfT says.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘We are committed to getting the economy moving and a big part of that is getting young people into the workforce
‘We are future-proofing our railways against delays and cancellations caused by a shortage of drivers, ensuring that we can provide reliable, passenger focused train journeys under Great British Railways for decades to come.’
This follows a consultation the Department undertook last year which received overwhelming support from across the industry and marks a significant step forward for rail reforms.
Several other countries have already successfully and safely adopted a lower age limit, including the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland, with other countries including Japan considering a change in law.
Transport for London also successfully opened up its train driver apprenticeships to 18-year-olds to drive trains on the underground network in 2007.
Everyone who takes on the role of a train driver must undergo rigorous training to ensure they are competent, qualified and fit to do so, ensuring the safe use of our railways for everyone.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: ‘We are not only creating a pathway to high-skilled careers but also addressing the skills shortages that hold back our transport network and economic growth.
‘This is another step forward in our mission to break down barriers and create new opportunities for young people.’