Eighteen-year-olds will soon be allowed to drive trains in the UK amid concerns over ongoing labour shortages. The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that the Government is poised to lower the minimum age from 20 to 18.

UK rail services are frequently disrupted, with 87% of night-before cancellations occurring because a driver is not available. Rail services are frequently disrupted because several operators rely on drivers voluntarily working extra shifts to run timetabled services. It is hoped that lowering the age will plug the shortage of drivers. The DfT said the change could lead to teenage applicants being recruited from December and will aim to boost job prospects for young people.

The vast majority of train drivers are much older than 20. The average age of a UK train driver is 48 while 30%, approximately 27,000 drivers in Britain, are due to reach retirement age by 2029. 

Fewer than 9% of train drivers are female, while under 12% are from an ethnic minority.

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

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the change as "bold action to improve train services and unlock thousands of jobs".

The Transport Secretary said: “We’re committed to getting the economy moving and a big part of that is getting young people into the workforce, putting them on track for a skilled and fulfilling career which will boost growth across the country.

“We’re 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.”

The DfT also pointed out that several other nations have lowered the age for train drivers including: France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said: “This decision – to allow people to leave school, or college, and join the railway in the driving grade at 18 rather than wait until they’re 20 – will increase diversity in the driver’s cab.