Train Driver Salary
£37,703
Job profile for a Train Driver
Train driving usually entails passenger or freight transport, though some drivers are involved in track maintenance or testing. There are a wide range of rules and regulations to learn and drivers must be able to diagnose faults and deal safely with failures both with the trains themselves and the infrastructure on which they run. Competencies in these skills - and in emergency procedures such as fires or derailments - must be kept up and are subject to regular examination. Route learning is also a lengthy process as drivers are expected to know every feature of the journey including shunting moves, depots and complex track layouts at stations - this is subject to examination too. Drivers are often required to drive at full line speed in reduced visibility or at prescribed speeds when safety systems have been disabled and special methods of working are in place, hence the importance afforded this subject. Shifts begin at any time of day or night (3am is not unusual) and can last up to 12 hours. There are usually at least 12 hours rest between shifts. A typical depot works an average 35 hour, 4-day week with Sundays at enhanced rate. Sometimes a week of work can be much longer than 35 hours but there are usually days off in block to compensate. Annual leave entitlement can range from 26 to 36 days and average pay is around £37k. Many drivers earn in the region of £70k with overtime, particularly at Intercity or freight depots. No qualifications are required in order to apply to become a train driver though the extensive testing, medical and interview process weed out the vast majority of applicants. To become a Eurostar driver one must have completed at least five year's high speed work incident free. Selection is undertaken over two weeks of residential assessment in order to guage aptitude for learning languages and Continental signalling. The pay is not much more than Virgin or NXEC (formerly GNER)and all companies but Eurostar recruit people straight from the street into the driver grade.
- Train Driver Job Profile
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Train Driver Salary Comparison
In 2008, the average salary for this job was £29,156.The average salary in 2009 was £35,036, based on 56 respondents (a difference of 20% from the 2008 figure.
The average salary in 2010 was £30,533, based on 48 respondents (a difference of -15% from the 2009 figure.
The average salary in 2011 was £39,372, based on 73 respondents (a difference of 29% from the 2010 figure.
The average salary in 2012 was £39,570, based on 53 respondents (a difference of 1% from the 2011 figure.
The median salary for a Train Driver based on all salary survey responses is: £39,002
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About the Salary Survey Data in this survey is based on over 368,000 individual salary records. The date period for which job information was gathered varies, but is usually between 2008 - 2012. For precise date related information, custom reports may be ordered with greater granularity. Working 8 hours a day, 250 days of the year, the data suggests the hourly rate for Train Driver is £18.85.
Assorted Train Driver Salary Information
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Train Driver Salary By UK Region
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With regard to age and impact on salary for a Train Driver, a statistical average weighting (that is based on how salary varies by age and not for a specific job which may vary considerably) suggests these figures: £28,278 for a worker in their 20s, £36,949 (30s), £43,736 (40s) and £43,736 (50s).
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