Member

These regulations deliver a focused and widely supported reform. They lower the minimum age from 20 to 18 while fully maintaining the strict safety, medical and competence standards that underpin our railways. They will widen opportunities for young people and enable operators to draw from a broader talent pool, at a time when many experienced drivers are approaching retirement. The Government, the regulator and the industry have worked closely to ensure that the reforms can be introduced safely, with clear pathways for school leavers through strengthened apprenticeships and early entry routes.