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Lowering Train Driver Minimum Age

The Department for Transport is lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 through amendments to Train Driving Licences and Certificates regulations, with implementation planned for 2026. The reform aims to address workforce shortages in the rail industry and is being implemented with a structured industry plan. Regulations and licensing requirements are being updated to accommodate younger drivers.

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2026

4 events
27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Transport linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120879 on DfT Operator: Training, whether her Department plans to provide funding through DfT Operator

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120879 on DfT Operator: Training, whether her Department plans to provide funding through DfT Operator Limited to increase the number of rail …

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2025

3 events
7 May 2025 | Consultation outcome Department for Transport linked

Lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 — outcome published

Seeks views on lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 to attract new people to the industry.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Lowering the minimum age requirement for train … (27pp)
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2024

4 events
13 Jun 2024 | Consultation outcome Department for Transport linked

Lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 — consultation closed

Seeks views on lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 to attract new people to the industry.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Lowering the minimum age requirement for train … (27pp)
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27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Department has failed to engage with the workforce to successfully deliver its reform ambitions. Good policymaking relies on effective stakeholder engagement. The Williams Rail Review involved extensive consultation with trade unions and workers across the railway to understand their perspectives. However, while the Department expects to implement significant reforms through the workforce, officials have had little engagement with the workforce on rail reform. The absence of such engageme...

The Department has failed to engage with the workforce to successfully deliver its reform ambitions. Good policymaking relies on effective stakeholder engagement. The Williams Rail Review involved extensive consultation with trade unions and workers across the railway to understand their …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 May 2024 | Committee report linked

The Department agreed with HM Treasury that it would deliver £2.6 billion in savings from rail reform by 2024–25, with most savings expected to come from workforce reform plans including modernising ways of working within train stations, improving control and deployment of drivers, and reductions in staff numbers.47 The Department recognised achieving workforce reforms was particularly high risk as they would be subject to negotiations with trade unions.48 The Department told us that it has a...

The Department agreed with HM Treasury that it would deliver £2.6 billion in savings from rail reform by 2024–25, with most savings expected to come from workforce reform plans including modernising ways of working within train stations, improving control and …

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16 May 2024 | Consultation outcome Department for Transport linked

Lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 — consultation opened

Seeks views on lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from 20 to 18 to attract new people to the industry.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Lowering the minimum age requirement for train … (27pp)
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↓ Lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers from… ↓ Lowering the minimum age requirement for train drivers – le…

2023

2 events

2022

7 events
1 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Government should give the logistics sector two years to deliver sufficient drivers and high-quality parking facilities. If industry does not deliver, the Government should implement the levy charging mechanism and cause the industry to pay sufficient sums for the Government to build these facilities and pay to train new drivers, so they do not have to pay the cost of their own training. Such a mechanism must be accompanied by Government planning reforms in order for the industry to be ab...

The Government should give the logistics sector two years to deliver sufficient drivers and high-quality parking facilities. If industry does not deliver, the Government should implement the levy charging mechanism and cause the industry to pay sufficient sums for the …

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1 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The average age of HGV drivers continues to increase. Although the sector is perhaps more open to female drivers than in the past, it has largely failed to attract a diverse workforce. It is disappointing how little progress has been made since our predecessor Committee reported five years ago. That 1% of drivers are women, and only 3% of drivers are under the age of 25, should be a cause for shame for the industry and a clarion call to do more. The Supply Chain Levy we recommend, and resulta...

The average age of HGV drivers continues to increase. Although the sector is perhaps more open to female drivers than in the past, it has largely failed to attract a diverse workforce. It is disappointing how little progress has been …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2021

2 events
2 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportional rates of young drivers in the casualty statistics. We welcome the Department for Transport’s Driver 2020 research project which is exploring several technological and educational based measures targeted at improving the safety rates for young drivers.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportional rates of young drivers in the casualty statistics. We welcome the Department for Transport’s Driver 2020 research project which is exploring several technological and educational based measures targeted …

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2020

1 event

2016

1 event