Latest news with #traindrivers
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
I'm just ugly not trans, train driver told colleagues
A train driver insisted they were not transgender but 'just ugly' when challenged by colleagues after the Supreme Court ruling on gender. The unnamed driver made the remark following April's ruling, in which the highest judges in the country said 'sex' in equality law refers to biological sex. The 'just ugly' comment was quoted in a submission made by Aslef, the train drivers' trade union, to an Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) consultation. In its submission, Aslef said: 'Since the ruling, there have been examples of our members being questioned about their biological sex by colleagues to the level where one member felt the need to explain to their colleagues that 'they are just ugly'. 'We are seriously concerned that similar situations may arise where women in particular are queried about their biological sex to the extent that a birth certificate may be requested and the certificate itself even then queried further.' In April, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that trans women are not legally women. Such people are born male and have chosen to identify as women. Many have obtained gender recognition certificates (GRCs) from the Government stating they are female. The Supreme Court case arose because the Scottish Government had refused to accept that trans women are not women, arguing that a trans woman with a GRC could not be refused access to women's changing rooms and toilets. Judges noted that protections for pregnant women set out in the Equality Act 2010 would collapse unless 'man' and 'woman' had a clear biological meaning. Some, including Labour ministers, have insisted that trans-identifying men should still be treated as women, regardless of the court's ruling. Sir Chris Bryant and Dame Angela Eagle both railed against Baroness Falkner of Margravine, the EHRC chief, in messages posted to a ministerial WhatsApp group. Lady Falkner had said trans women would have to be banned from women-only spaces. Aslef appears to have joined the ranks of those pushing back against the ruling. 'As a trans woman could breastfeed it is not clear if they would be protected from discrimination,' the union continued in its submission to the EHRC consultation. The consultation, which closed at the end of June after receiving more than 51,000 responses, was on changing the legal guidance given to companies. Just under one in every five railway workers is a woman, according to the National Skills Academy for Rail's annual survey of train staff. No data is available for the number of trans-identifying workers in the industry. Lady Falkner said at the start of July: 'At the EHRC, it's our job to provide authoritative advice on how the Equality Act should be put into practice – to help service providers comply with the law and give service users confidence that they are doing so. 'Now the consultation deadline has passed, we will carefully consider the information submitted to us and amend the code of practice where necessary.'
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ATO reveals highest paying jobs that don't require university degree: ‘$130,000 a year'
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data has revealed the highest-paying jobs in Australia that don't require a university degree to do. The list is based on the tax return data of millions of Aussies, with the top job bringing in more than $130,000 a year on average. Drillers, miners and shot firers were the highest paying job, earning an average salary of $133,873 per year. The job involves assembling, positioning and operating drilling rigs and mining plant, and detonating explosives to attract materials from the earth and demolish structures. Most workers need a Certificate II or III, or at least one year of relevant experience to get into the job. Some roles in the group can also be more lucrative, with coal miners specifically earning $135,077 on average. RELATED ATO reveals 10 highest paying jobs in Australia: '$472,475 a year' Superannuation 'red alert' for millions as $1 billion in retirement savings feared lost Woolworths payment change hits dozens of supermarkets Drilling plant operators earned $132,272 on average, while mining blasting workers earned $126,320 on average during the year. Train or tram drivers came in second place with average earnings of $132,938. To get into the job, you'll usually need to complete a relevant vocational qualification, such as a Certificate III in light rail driving or Certificate IV in train driving, or have relevant experience. Train drivers specifically earned $137,6934 on average, while tram driver earnings were lower at $101,570 per year. Electrician distribution trades workers rounded out the top three with an average salary of $128,851. This includes electrical linesworkers and technical cable jointers. You'll usually need a Certificate III, including at least two years of on-the-job training. Electrical linesworkers earned $130,987 on average, while the income for technical cable jointers was lower at $96,199 per year. The ATO data is based on tax returns from the 2022-23 financial year. The list of highest-paying jobs is based on jobs that the Australian Bureau of Statistics has specified do not require a Bachelor's degree or above as an indicative skill level. Instead, many of the jobs will require a certificate or relevant experience. Here are the top 10 highest paying jobs that don't require a university degree, which is based on occupation groups. Driller, miner or shot firer $133,873 Train or tram driver $132,938 Electrical distribution trades worker $128,851 Other hospitality, retail or service manager $127,106 Practice manager $124,226 Crane, hoist or lift operator $121,782 Insurance investigator, loss adjuster or risk surveyor $117,005 Police $114,929 Safety inspector $114,498 Fire or emergency service worker $114,290 The ATO has also revealed the top 10 most lucrative professions overall, with surgeons taking the top spot, earning an average of $472,475 a year. Other medical professionals dominated the list, with anaesthetists in second place with average earnings of $447,193. The average Australian income for the income year was $74,240, while the median was $55, in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Freight train derailed in Russia's Kursk Oblast after bridge collapse
A railway bridge collapsed in Russia's Kursk Oblast on the morning of 1 June 2025, derailing a freight train. Source: Alexander Khinshtein, Acting Governor of Kursk Oblast, on Telegram Details: The collapse occurred overnight on the 48th kilometre of the Trosna–Kalinovka highway in the Zheleznogorskyi district as a freight train was passing over it. Khinshtein reported that part of the train fell onto the road below the bridge. He stated that one of the train drivers sustained leg injuries, according to preliminary reports. Background: On the night of 31 May, a road bridge in Russia's Bryansk Oblast collapsed onto a passenger train, killing seven people and injuring about 70. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
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!"
