The United Kingdom has one of the most extensive railway systems in the world. A passenger can travel from England down to the regional borders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland through these trains. People can even travel to France with England’s underwater tunnel. The ease that train systems bring to passengers doubles the challenge for rail transport system employees on maintaining the quality and safety of the service.

Trains cannot move without its train drivers. Being a train driver may have numerous benefits and a great salary but the stakes are high in getting hired. Train driver vacancies are very rare and when there’s an open spot, the competition is very high. So for those who are interested in applying for the job, here are a few tips on how to get the job as a train driver.

1. Prepare a flawless CV

The volume of applicants is high and there might be a chance that your CV isn’t browsed upon by the train company’s HR department. The technique here is to keep applying until you receive the first call for an exam. Make your CV impressive- place your latest decent photo, list all you important education and job credentials and keep your CV simple yet informative in organised, preferably bullet, manner.

2. Review for the primary tests

Once the HRS admin or the train driver recruiters get a hold of your CV and was able to contact you to take an exam, you must be prepared. Right after or before you even send your CV to your desired train company, make sure that you have reviewed the possible test questions in the train driver trainee’s exam. There are websites and review centres that offer reviewers and possible test questions for you to study upon so that the moment the train company calls you for an exam, your head is clear of pressure and you’re not going to cram.

3. Dress up and act smart for the interview

From the primary tests, the chances of failing is very high so if you really want to get hired, you must do best on all the phases of applying. You will be notified once you pass the test where you can proceed to having an interview. Take note that not everyone who has passed the test can go on to the interview. Because of the high demand, there is a quota where it depends how many has got the highest scores.

On your interview, be sure that you are on time and that you are dressed properly. On this phase, HR personnel would like to know if you’re worthy of being a train driver by evaluating your personal traits and your outlook in life. Train drivers must be responsible and concerned. Of course, they must be a fast learner.

4. Wait for your results without anxiety

After the interview, it’s okay to call the train company where you have applied from time to time on how your interview results have gone. But don’t call them very frequently- this may make you seem desperate for the job and most HR personnel don’t like this kind of attitude. On the other hand, don’t let them feel that you’re uninterested by failing to check your application status. Know your right timing and sound professional even through your phone conversations.

5. Pass the medical exam

Last but not the least, if you have passed all the previous phases, all there is left to do is pass the medical tests. This wouldn’t be a hindrance if you do not have prior untreated ailments or diseases. But after you pass the medical exam, you’re not exactly a train driver yet. Your employer will place you in a trainee where you get paid while you learn. It takes a couple of months to fully grasp on the idea of train driving before you can be a regular. So even in your training, you must perform well and show them that you are really fit for the job.

Trains have been a core mode of transportation in most highly urbanised areas. For some countries, trains are a great way to travel on far-off regional locations as well as it provide speed and comfort and most of the times, a cheaper fare than the other transportations.

In United Kingdom, trains play a big role in helping people travel to and fro their destinations. For commuters, it provides a faster and less stressful travelling experience in the busy streets of the city. Plus, it costs cheaper than driving a car and paying for gasoline. On the other hand, the British rail system also provides regional trips that helps tourists and even travelling locals to reach destinations that are even far from the outskirts of the city. Plus, the long hours of journey provide picturesque sceneries and different experiences while travelling.

Considered as one of the biggest innovations in the world, trains are one of the inventions that have provided great progress in a country’s economy and societal status. Trains depict speed, high technology and advanced engineering skills. But trains wouldn’t be what they are today in the industry without the ones operating them. Thanks to railroad engineers and train drivers, these massive trains run in and about the urbanised areas.

Railroad engineers or train drivers have the duty of  preparing equipment for service, checking paperwork and the condition of the trains, control acceleration, braking and handling of the train underway. They must know the physical characteristics of the railroad, including passenger stations, the incline and decline of the right-of-way and speed limits.

Aside from all the technical responsibilities, railroad engineers must be concerned with every passenger’s welfare and that safety and security must always be the priority. Railroad engineers decide whether it’s alright to travel on grave weather conditions. They also must be aware of the repairs and maintenance of railways when they are travelling. Most of all, they must create a constant communication with their assigned stations and train companies’ for the latest updates on the respective areas.

When it comes to getting the job of a train driver and even a railroad engineer, certain qualifications are required. For train drivers, rail companies would consider new applicants without experience on driving a train. What they’re mostly looking for in train drivers are those that can handle broken shifts and early morning and late night schedules. Aside from that, they want train driver applicants that are responsible in their work and knows how to give importance on safety and security.

As for railroad engineers, train companies are looking for those who have earned a college degree on engineering preferably focusing on electronics and mechanics. Railroad engineers have a broken work schedule as well especially when it’s time for overall inspection. Railroad systems have to perform their inspection and maintenance duties after travel hours which means railroad engineers start working at the wee hours of the night while everybody is asleep. But amidst the unusual work schedule and tight demands of the job, train companies ensure great benefits and highly reasonable salaries for train drivers and railroad engineers.

For those who are interested on applying for a job, get to know the nearest train company and your area and evaluate if you can qualify the demands of the job.

The United Kingdom’s railway system belongs to the largest in the world. Trains and rails have played a big role in the country’s history. It has innovated the way of traveling people and goods and up until now, railway systems are still supported. Most of all, the railway system has given great job opportunities to those who are fit for the job and interested.

Aside from good paying jobs in the field like railway managers and maintenance head, another job that includes a good amount of salary and benefits is driving the train. Train drivers’  annual salary in United Kingdom ranges from £30,000 – £40,000 depending on the railway company. Compensation aside, the benefits of a train driver alone is also really good and useful.

Every train driver and their spouse have the privilege of riding the trains on the railway system they are working for for free. They also have a 75% discount on the other railway companies. Train drivers are protected by the union as well giving them the benefit of job security. Like any other employee in the railway system, everybody’s rights are protected and every contract is followed whatever position a person works for.

Another reason to love the job is its four day work basis. Train drivers only work for four days, thirty six hours a week amidst having a broken schedule. This is a plus side on the job since one can have more free time though their work hours change a lot. Train drivers can enjoy their workspace all to themselves as well. Many prefer to work in an environment where they have lesser interaction with others and working as a train driver would be an excellent example.

Even with a high pay and great benefits, being hired for the job isn’t all that easy. Railway companies value their business and service and the safety of everybody is always the main goal. Actually, there isn’t any formal education when driving a train. Because of this, the HR of every railway company looks for someone who seems responsible and can be trusted. Driving a train that has hundreds of passengers requires massive accountability and a train driver must have certain qualities in order to get the job. Once the hopeful applicants are accepted, they are then trained and counseled for driving a train and handling different railway situations. With a job that entails unique qualities, almost three hundred applicants compete for each spot whenever there’s a vacancy.

Great Britain’s railway is the busiest in all of Europe. With hundreds of passengers riding each train everyday, every job included in the system must be done meticulously and responsibly for  the safety of everybody. One of the jobs that involves great responsibility is driving the train itself. Train drivers in UK are carefully screened by managers before they’re accepted. Once these applicants pass the interview, they aren’t allowed to start the job yet. Instead, railway companies send them to various train and railway trainings in order to be effective, responsible train drivers.

Working in Great Britain’s railway system requires time management and flexibility. Railway company managers usually prefer men since the system is dominated by them. Other than that, they prefer the ones who doesn’t have a family of their own. Single men are more likely to manage their time than those who have obligations with their families. The reason to this kind of inclination is because of the job’s broken schedule.

A train driver may be assigned to take his turn at three in the morning. Or he may report on the station at ten in the evening depending on the vacant shifts. A broken schedule like this demands great responsibility. The train driver must always be prepared and in proper state whenever his shift arrives. This means no late night drinking sprees with friend on a workday or any other endeavours that demands rigorous activities. However, there is a beauty in this broken schedule situation. UK train drivers work on a “four day week” basis. Amidst their varying schedule, working for an average of thirty five hours a week is quite rewarding. Aside from that there are additional pays and benefits when working overtime or on Sundays.

As a train driver, nine hours of duty a  day only requires six hours of taking passengers to their destinations and the rest for breaks and travelling to and fro the required destination. Train drivers don’s just drive on one route alone. They may be assigned on different places in a day, therefore, they have to travel as passengers do to get to their next assignment.

Last but not the least, a train driver in the UK and on any part of the world must follow safety measures strictly. Here’s a tip, railway managers are more keen on looking for people who exude an air of responsibility in them than those who know how to drive a train, however, look doubtful. To be a train driver, one must be able to handle every kind of situation on the rail first before being an expert on driving the train.

Ever since the invention of motor transportation began, the mode of living has gone faster by the instant. People now have the privilege of travelling from one place to another. From aeroplanes to motorcycles, transportation has played a big role in a human life.

One kind of transportation that was invented even before the successfully motored vehicles was the railway systems. In the United Kingdom, trains have been of much use not only for travelling alone. Great Britain’s railway system is one of the largest in the world and the oldest as it began its operations in 1825. This massive kind of transportation was used for exporting and importing goods, faster travel time and convenience for everyone who resided within UK.

In 1994, the Channel Tunnel was opened. This is an undersea subway that links England and Northern France. It has a distance of 50.5 kilometres and with fast trains, the travel time from England to France is distinctively faster than of the other modes of transportation. In 2006, the whole UK railway system has a distance of over sixteen thousand kilometres of trains on standard gauge lines and approximately five thousand kilometres of electrified trains. Great Britain’s Railway System is the busiest in all of Europe, based on its passenger population and railway operations. On a place that entails this much work on operations and maintenance, a job opportunity is likely to be available.

One of the most important jobs in a railway system is driving the train. In the UK, working as a train driver is challenging. One important fact is that a hopeful applicant must be  able to flex with their given schedule. The railway system may assign a UK train driver to  be on duty really early or really late in the day. The time schedule may start at 3 a.m. until the early afternoon. Or if a night shift is assigned, a train driver may start at 8 p.m. until the wee hours of the day.

As a train driver in UK’s railway system, the most important role is to drive as safe as possible. Everyday, hundreds of thousands of passengers ride trains. Securing their lives as they travel is the primary goal. This role requires a train driver to be responsible in everything they do. Great Britain’s railway system works for the benefit of the people as they provide the public with superb experts and workers in the field.