Great journeys start with great people

Here at LNER, we're shaping the future of rail on one of the UK's most iconic routes. From our high-speed Azuma fleet, redefining long-distance travel, to our next generation of trains, Serenza, this is a moment of real transformation for LNER. We're investing in cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and most importantly our people, to deliver outstanding experiences for our customers. There has never been a more exciting time to grow your career with LNER!

What will you do as an Apprentice Train Driver?

Ready to start a career that really goes places?

As an Apprentice Train Driver at LNER, you'll begin an exciting and challenging journey towards becoming a fully qualified Train Driver. It's a big commitment, with plenty to learn along the way, but you won't be doing it alone.

Our structured training programme takes around 52 weeks and is designed to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence you'll need to drive safely and professionally on the East Coast Main Line.

You'll start in the classroom, getting to grips with how the railway works, the rules and procedures that keep everyone safe, and the knowledge you'll rely on throughout your driving career. There'll be assessments and independent study along the way, so we're looking for people who are ready to get stuck in and take ownership of their learning. Our dedicated training team will be there to coach, support and challenge you throughout.

Once you've successfully completed the theory stages, it's time to put that learning into practice. You'll head out onto the railway, driving LNER trains with customers on board under the guidance of an experienced Driver Trainer.

You'll develop much more than technical driving skills. You'll learn how to make good decisions, communicate clearly, maintain concentration and stay calm when things don't quite go to plan – all essential parts of being a great Train Driver.

Your training will also include a Level 3 qualification, with the apprenticeship standard fully embedded into the programme. It's part of our continued investment in developing the next generation of professional Train Drivers through the Drivers Academy.

What you'll be doing

As an Apprentice Train Driver, you'll:

• give your full commitment to an intensive training programme and take ownership of your learning.
• prepare for and successfully complete the assessments needed to become a Qualified Train Driver Put safety first – every task, every journey and every decision.
• learn to prepare, drive and secure trains in line with strict rules, processes and procedures.
• communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues across the railway.
• build positive working relationships and work as part of the wider LNER team.
• identify and report defects and work with LNER Control to help keep services running safely.
• play your part in delivering safe, punctual and reliable journeys for our customers.

Is this the right opportunity for you?

Train driving is a fantastic career, but it isn't for everyone. It takes concentration, resilience, personal responsibility and a real commitment to doing things properly – even when you're working independently or carrying out a task you've done many times before.

For this opportunity, you'll need to:

• be aged 18 or over at the time of application.
• live within a 60-minute drive of the depot you are applying for and be able to make your own way to and from work, including at times when public transport isn't running.
• be eligible to undertake Train Driver psychometric testing. Industry rules around previous psychometric attempts have changed, so if you've completed Train Driver psychometric assessments before, it's important to check your individual eligibility before applying. The number of attempts available to you may depend on when you first undertook testing. You can find the full requirements in the current RIS-3751-TOM guidance.
• be able to work our full range of shifts, including early starts, late finishes, nights and weekends.
• be comfortable taking responsibility and following rules, procedures and standards.
• be able to concentrate for long periods and work confidently on your own.
• stay focused and resilient when under pressure or when things don't go to plan.
• communicate clearly and professionally, particularly when safety matters.
• care about providing a great service for our customers.
• work well with others and build positive relationships.
• be open to learning, feedback and change.
• be consistently punctual and reliable – in a safety-critical railway, being on time really matters.

You don't need previous railway experience to apply. We're interested in the skills, behaviours and experiences you can bring with you, wherever you've developed them.

Why start your driving career with LNER?

This is much more than a training programme. It's the beginning of a career that could stay with you for years to come.

You'll be joining the team behind one of the UK's most iconic rail routes across the East Coast. You'll learn from experienced railway professionals, be supported throughout your training and become part of a team that takes real pride in getting people where they need to be, safely. And qualifying as a Train Driver doesn't have to be the end of your journey. Over time, there are opportunities to develop into roles such as Driver Instructor, Driver Team Manager and wider operational leadership positions.

Along the way, you'll also enjoy competitive pay during training, free LNER travel, discounted rail travel for family and friends, a great pension and access to a range of wellbeing and support services.

Think you've got what it takes? We'd love to hear from you.
 

Life at LNER
We're on a mission to become the UK's most loved, forward-thinking, and responsible train operating company in the UK. This means making a real difference by doing the right thing for our customers, our people, and the communities and destinations we serve. Together, we're shaping the future of rail travel through our passion, our innovation, and our extraordinary people. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive and engaged culture that supports everyone at every stage of their journey. This means that when you're with LNER, you can truly be yourself—and it's why so many of our colleagues choose to stay and grow with us.

• • Diversity and inclusion – We are passionate about building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively create opportunities to inspire and attract diverse talent to join LNER. We are committed to supporting all candidates, so if you require any adjustments or assistance at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
  • Developing our people – We're creating a learning culture that enables our people to be the best they can be. We support development and career journeys with the right tools and resources, aligned to our people priorities: readiness for Great British Rail, the future world of work and strong, people focused leadership that delivers for our people, customers, and business.
  • Health and wellbeing - To create a culture where our people can perform at their best, the physical health and mental wellbeing of our people is of paramount importance to us.  

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check 
At LNER, safety is our top priority. If your application is successful and you're new to the business, we'll carry out a basic DBS check as part of our pre-employment process. This is only takes place once a conditional job offer has been made. The DBS check looks for any unspent convictions and conditional cautions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. If there's evidence of an unspent conviction or a conditional caution, the details of these will be reviewed internally by a cross functional panel on a case-by-case basis before a final offer of employment is confirmed. Please note that in some cases, this may result in an offer being withdrawn. Further information on how we collect and use this data is available on our privacy notice. 

Medical screening 
We're a safety conscious business, so when joining LNER in any role you'll need to pass a medical screening and a drugs and alcohol test before we can confirm an unconditional job offer. For safety-critical roles, a safety-critical medical will also be required. Our Talent Team will be on hand to guide you through the process and will send you a medical questionnaire by email. Once complete, this will go directly to our in-house Health and Wellbeing team who will contact you to arrange a convenient location, date and time for your medical appointment. We currently have clinics in Kings Cross, Doncaster, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The sooner we can do it, the better, so please try to be flexible with your availability. Once your medical is approved, we'll finalise any last details and look forward to you joining the team!

How to apply 
We have fantastic opportunities for people from all different backgrounds, so now is the time to join the team at LNER.

We do things a little differently at LNER and offer all applicants applying for this role a text-based interview designed to help you put your best foot forward. This process is backed by AI, but managed by humans. Please do not include any personal information in your responses. We only need to hear about your skills and experiences. Click ‘Apply Now' and start your journey here!