Train driver requirements in the UK

There isn't one national checklist. Each operator writes the vacancy. Age, GCSEs, and whether you need a driving licence sit on that advert. Read it. Forum lists go stale the moment an intake changes.

You do not need to have driven a train. Most new drivers come from other work. You do need to get through selection: often an online form and a judgement test, then a psychometric day, then an interview and a medical.

What the advert is actually for

• Eligibility: age, right to work, sometimes GCSEs or a licence. If you don't meet it, the tests won't save you.
• The role: depot, traction, roster pattern. That's the job, not the assessment.
• How to apply: the form is often the first filter. Situational judgement shows up here more than people expect.

Liking trains is not a requirement they can use. Sitting still and not missing rare events is closer to what they test. Prepare for that, not a trivia quiz about signalling.

Medical and eyesight

There is a medical. Eyesight, hearing, and general fitness are part of it. Standards are set for safety, not for a blog to paraphrase. If you have a condition you're unsure about, ask occupational health or your GP, not a forum thread.

What to do before you apply

Check you meet that advert. Then learn the shape of the tests so a scarce attempt isn't spent on surprise. Attempts are limited. Walking in cold is expensive even if you would have been a good driver.

Training with the operator comes after you get through. That's when you learn the traction, the route, and the rule book. Selection is whether they trust you to start that.