Get Ready For Carnage On The Railways......

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/teenagers-to-drive-trains-due-to-concerns-over-labour-shortages-13362760

FGS they can't even look up from their phones for 2 seconds!

[THECORBYLOON]

From your link, 

'A consultation on lowering the minimum age for drivers, carried out last year by the Conservative government, received "overwhelming support from across the industry", the DfT said.

Other nations which have lowered the age for train drivers are France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, officials added.'

[Ellipsis]

> FGS they can't even look up from their phones for 2 seconds!

I fear that many have that problem, not just the young ...

[mushroom25]

the industry had to do something - the median age for today's drivers is 48, and 30% of all drivers will reach retirement age by 2029.

this doesn't mean 18 year olds at the controls straight off - psychometric testing weeds out the inattentive, and the lengthy training and mentoring process sees off those who aren't up to the job. there's no set timescale for becoming fully fledged and driving solo, it's very much driven by the individual, and the company they've signed up with (driving a lightweight commuter train is very different to driving a locomotive with 2,000Tons of freight train behind it.....)

[Cloverjo]

20 year-olds are eligible to drive trains now. It doesn't make much difference.

I'm 55, fairly sensible, and would love to be a train driver. I applied for a job. Unfortunately, I live just too far from a mainline station, and they'd probably think I was too old anyway. Might as well young ones in and get them trained. 
 

[dave50]

Why aren't there plenty of the unemployed queuing up to be a train driver? 

[Cloverjo]

They might be. When I applied, I was warned that these jobs were in great demand. 

[Togo]

//Why aren't there plenty of the unemployed queuing up to be a train driver?//

There are   ...   but they are all in India. Now that Surkier has made it attractive to bring them here they will likely get the new and exciting railway drivers jobs. 👳‍♂️🚆

[Old_Geezer]

Why don't we have self driving trains everywhere now ?

[-SharonA-]

I think this a good idea. I only hope they have enough trains!

[mushroom25]

// Why don't we have self driving trains everywhere now ? //

because the cost of infrastructure necessary to make it work will be huge. building the technology into a new line where all the trains are the same and operate identical service patterns (such as the core Elizabeth Line, or DLR) is one thing. overlaying that technology on a centuries old system with multiple types of train is quite another. no government will have the stomach for the cost involved.

[Canary42]

What a stupid title.   So much for Ab clamping down on misleading/unclear titles in News category.