Latest news with #traindriver
The Sun
13-06-2025
- The Sun
Moment Tube driver ‘KNITS' and watches videos on phone while driving despite endless striking leaving commuters furious
A LONDON Underground driver has been caught on camera knitting and watching videos on their phone — all while operating a Northern Line train. The driver was filmed at the controls, head down and hands busy with knitting needles, as the train departed Hendon Central station in north-west London. 4 4 4 A stunned commuter on the opposite platform recorded the moment, later posting it online, where it quickly went viral and drew fierce criticism. He said: 'I was so surprised. I didn't expect to see someone meant to be at work being so casual about the job. 'Especially because at the time, there were tube strikes going on so it felt mad they were complaining about the job then relaxing on it. 'And, although I don't know how automatic the system is for the tubes, I remember thinking that this person has the passengers' lives in their hands. 'It felt crazy that this driver wouldn't take that more seriously.' The video sparked widespread backlash, with many questioning how a driver could act so recklessly in a job with such serious responsibility. On Twitter, one user wrote: 'And they always want pay rises! You couldn't make it up!' Another added: 'Remember this next time they talk about 'safety' when they strike.' The incident occurred during a turbulent stretch for Transport for London (TfL), as months of intermittent strike action caused widespread delays and frustration for commuters. The strikes, led by unions demanding better pay, pension protection and improved working conditions, have severely impacted services across the capital. A TfL spokesperson confirmed that disciplinary action was taken. 'This video was made earlier in the year. "We carried out a full investigation and the person involved no longer works at TfL.'
Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Telegraph
TfL sacks Tube driver for knitting and watching videos at the wheel
A London Underground driver was spotted knitting and watching videos on their phone while operating a train. The Northern Line driver shocked commuters by appearing distracted at Hendon Central station in February this year. The driver was later dismissed by Transport for London (TfL) after an investigation. One witness, who caught the incident on camera, said: 'I was so surprised. I didn't expect to see someone meant to be at work being so casual about the job. 'Especially because, at the time, there were Tube strikes going on, so it felt mad they were complaining about the job then relaxing on it.' A TfL spokesman said: 'This video was made earlier in the year. We carried out a full investigation and the person involved no longer works at TfL.' London Underground drivers can earn up to £72,849 a year for a 35-hour week. Strike action The Tube has been rocked by strike action in recent years. Last year, TfL offered Tube drivers a four-day working week that would have come into effect from 2027 in an attempt to help fend off a series of threatened strikes in the run-up to Christmas. It was rejected by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. In return for an extra day off, drivers would have been asked to work the same 35 hours a week they do at present – while retaining their salaries of £72,849 and the generous travel perks that come with it. Shifts on those four working days would have been lengthened by around 45 minutes, taking them to 8.5 hours on average. Last year, Tube workers were given a 5 per cent pay rise by Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, that cost the taxpayer £30 million, prompting accusations that he had found a 'magic money tree'. Underground drivers also enjoy 43 days holiday a year, thanks to a previous deal that saw time spent on shift but not working transferred into extra holidays. Sir Sadiq's record Sir Sadiq has presided over more walkouts on the Tube network than the past two London mayors combined, despite promising 'zero strikes' when he first ran for office. Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone, Sir Sadiq's predecessors and the first two London mayors since the post was created in 2000, oversaw 51 strikes between them over a combined period of 16 years. Sir Sadiq exceeded that total in March 2022.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Minimum age for train drivers being lowered to 18 to address shortage
"If I could go back and talk to my 18 year old self, I'd force myself into the railway," said Ben Warner, a recently qualified train Warner, who works for Great Western Railway (GWR), is nearly 40 but from December could find himself surrounded by teenagers as the minimum age for train drivers has been lowered from 20 to 18, to help with driver base is Westbury, Wiltshire, and told the BBC: "Look out of the window - best office in the world."With the changes set to come into place later in the year, we take a look at what is involved with training and qualifying to become a train driver. Adam Walding is a driving standards manager with GWR - drivers in training get their final tests with explained training is usually about 10 months, including three to four months of theory - covering what everything in the cab is then another process for a few months of sitting with drivers, who will give you "direct instruction, as you progress, that instruction reduces"."You then have a five-day final driving test with somebody like myself." He said that to get into training at 18, people need to think about their transferable skills: "Start building your CV - what does a train driver do? What do I do?"My first job for example was working in a shop, I used some of the safety examples from that in my interview."Mr Walding said someone's age should not make a difference: "If someone has the right transferable skills, age shouldn't be a barrier."Meanwhile, Mr Warner said he enjoys his work, but admitted it is a "massive responsibility"."The training GWR put us through is so rigorous. My first day as a qualified driver, I felt ready to go, I felt in a really strong position to take the train where it needed to be." Mr Walding explained that young people who previously wanted to learn at 18 would have had to find another role but now the opportunity is there for them."The more colleagues we have available to us the less likelihood your train will be cancelled because of a lack of train crew," he this month, the government said 87% of cancellations made the night before a service runs were down to driver average train driver is aged 48, with 30% due to reach retirement age by 2029, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said lowering the minimum age was about "future-proofing" the railways, adding that it was "bold action to improve train services and unlock thousands of jobs".
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Age is just a number for becoming a train driver'
Meet 27-year-old train driver, Liam Mackenzie. He works at Southern Railway and has done so since he was 18. But he has not always been in his dream job. That's because, until recently, drivers had to be 20 to begin training. Now that is changing, and the age is being lowered to 18. "Since I was young I always wanted to do this. My dad worked on the railway, his dad worked on the railway, and my brother did for a small time too, so this has always been in the forefront of my mind," said Liam. Liam started his railway career as a platform conductor and waited until he was old enough to start the intensive train driver training. When the time came the process started with six months in a training school and tests every month. This was followed by an assignment to a depot and 225 hours of train driving experience with a dedicated instructor - 40 of which had to be done at night. The practical training was accompanied by an "intensive programme" of theoretical study, Liam said. "You have to go and learn your routes - tunnel names, signalling areas - you name it, you have to know it," he added. Liam said this process ended with the final test: "You get a week-long exam with a competency assessor who will eventually sign you off, if you're competent to drive alone. "That's a really intense week - that's everything you know - you have to show them you know." In terms of lowering the age for new drivers, Liam said: "I think it's a great thing. "If you pass all the assessments you are showing you've got the mental strength and the concentration and all the traits you need to do it - so the age just becomes a number. "In other industries you can start at 18 - like bus driving. You can drive a car at 18," he added. The rail industry faces the problem of replacing a growing number of people retiring with new recruits, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. It said the average age of a UK train driver is currently 48, with 30% set to reach retirement age by 2029, meaning more drivers are urgently needed. Opening up the recruitment pool to 18 and 19 year olds "unlocks thousands of jobs," the government said. Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers' union Aslef, said the industry had previously "missed out" on young people wanting to become train drivers "as they don't wait around until they turn 20 to find a career". The Rail Safety and Standards Board said its research found "18 year olds are capable of safely becoming train drivers". Liam reflects on his own journey to becoming a train driver. "I would have loved to drive trains at 18 - I would have bitten the hand off someone to get the opportunity to do this at 18." "For me, it's a great career, I don't mind the early wake ups, the late going to beds - it gives me a bit more control over my life. I absolutely love it." Showing off the controls of a Southern Railway train, Liam says he gets a "real sense of pride of getting people where they need to be in a safe manner... preferably on time too!" Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Minimum age to be a train driver lowered to 18 Teenagers could help fill train driver shortage Train drivers overwhelmingly middle-aged white men Advice on becoming a train driver
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
'I wish I could have started my dream job as train driver at 18'
Meet 27-year-old train driver, Liam works at Southern Railway and has done so since he was 18. But he has not always been in his dream job. That's because, until recently, drivers had to be 20 to begin training. Now that is changing, and the age is being lowered to 18."Since I was young I always wanted to do this. My dad worked on the railway, his dad worked on the railway, and my brother did for a small time too, so this has always been in the forefront of my mind," said Liam. 'Intensive training' Liam started his railway career as a platform conductor and waited until he was old enough to start the intensive train driver training. When the time came the process started with six months in a training school and tests every month. This was followed by an assignment to a depot and 225 hours of train driving experience with a dedicated instructor - 40 of which had to be done at night. The practical training was accompanied by an "intensive programme" of theoretical study, Liam said. "You have to go and learn your routes - tunnel names, signalling areas - you name it, you have to know it," he added. Liam said this process ended with the final test: "You get a week-long exam with a competency assessor who will eventually sign you off, if you're competent to drive alone."That's a really intense week - that's everything you know - you have to show them you know." In terms of lowering the age for new drivers, Liam said: "I think it's a great thing."If you pass all the assessments you are showing you've got the mental strength and the concentration and all the traits you need to do it - so the age just becomes a number. "In other industries you can start at 18 - like bus driving. You can drive a car at 18," he rail industry faces the problem of replacing a growing number of people retiring with new recruits, the Department for Transport (DfT) said the average age of a UK train driver is currently 48, with 30% set to reach retirement age by 2029, meaning more drivers are urgently needed. Opening up the recruitment pool to 18 and 19 year olds "unlocks thousands of jobs," the government Whelan, general secretary of train drivers' union Aslef, said the industry had previously "missed out" on young people wanting to become train drivers "as they don't wait around until they turn 20 to find a career".The Rail Safety and Standards Board said its research found "18 year olds are capable of safely becoming train drivers". 'Absolutely love it' Liam reflects on his own journey to becoming a train driver."I would have loved to drive trains at 18 - I would have bitten the hand off someone to get the opportunity to do this at 18.""For me, it's a great career, I don't mind the early wake ups, the late going to beds - it gives me a bit more control over my life. I absolutely love it." Showing off the controls of a Southern Railway train, Liam says he gets a "real sense of pride of getting people where they need to be in a safe manner... preferably on time too!"
