Train and tram drivers: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 8231 · Process, plant and machine operatives

Train and tram drivers

Train and tram drivers drive diesel, diesel-electric, electric and steam locomotives that transport passengers and goods on surface and underground railways, and transport passengers in trams.

How people enter it

There are no formal academic requirements. Entrants must pass a series of tests and a medical examination. Age restrictions apply in some areas of work. Good hearing, good eyesight and normal colour vision are required. Off and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/SVQs are available at level 2.

What the work involves

checks controls, gauges, brakes and lights before start of journey and studies route, timetable and track information
checks safety equipment, regulates the heating of passenger compartments and records engine defects or unusual incidents on the journey
starts train or tram when directed and operates controls to regulate speed
watches for track hazards, observes signals and temperature, pressure and other gauges
stops as directed to allow passengers to embark/ disembark
makes scheduled stops for the loading and unloading of freight and coupling/uncoupling of carriages and tubs
maintains radio contact with control centre
may make passenger announcements and controls automatic doors
may check travel passes, collect fares and deal with passenger queries

Also called

Diesel driver (railways) · Train driver · Train operator · Tram driver · Shunter driver

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	37,400.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	39,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	40,100.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	500.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	1,000.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	40,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	None	2026-03	1,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	6,800.00	2026-03
East Midlands	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	2,400.00	2026-03
London	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	10,300.00	2026-03
North East	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	1,800.00	2026-03
North West	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	4,300.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	500.00	2026-03
Scotland	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	1,000.00	2026-03
South East	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	7,700.00	2026-03
South West	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	1,100.00	2026-03
Wales	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	1,600.00	2026-03
West Midlands	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	withheld	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	8231 : Train and tram drivers	None	2,500.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for train and tram drivers vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 11 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Air transport operatives · Marine and waterways transport operatives · Other drivers and transport operatives n.e.c. · Rail transport operatives