There are proposals to lower the minimum train driver age this year, with the Government looking to encourage school leavers to consider a career in the railway industry.
It could mean that teenagers will soon be recruited as train drivers in a bid to 'improve' Britain's railways.
As the average age of a train driver in Britain is 48 years old, and many are set to retire within the next five years or so, the workforce is at risk of shrinking if new career opportunities aren't opened up, The Manc reports.
Amid what have been ongoing strikes for the past couple of years now, and following on from the announcement back in February that ASLEF train drivers at several train companies and operators had voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to continue taking industrial action for another six months, the Government has now proposed lowering the minimum age to become a train driver from 20 to 18.
A consultation on the somewhat-controversial move is to be launched as part of the Government's efforts to open up more careers in the rail sector to young people.
Ultimately, transport ministers believe this could "improve the reliability of rail services" across the UK.
Teens could be recruited as train drivers to help 'improve' Britain's railways amid ongoing strikes / Credit: National Rail
This surprising recruitment drive announcement comes after the Government has revealed that the train driver workforce is projected to shrink without opening up more opportunities for new recruits in the near future - especially given the fact the average age of a train driver in Britain is 48 years old, and many are set to retire within the next five years or so.
Under the new proposals set to go out to consultation, the Department for Transport (DfT) will create a new pathway for school leavers to take up apprenticeships and train to join the profession.
If agreed following the consultation, the new regulations to lower the minimum age for train drivers from 20 to 18 could be in place as early as this summer, according to the Government, which will apparently "help set thousands of young people on track to a career in transport" once they've bid farewell to their school days.
The Government says its proposal to lower the minimum age would "build resilience" across the railway.
The Government has launched a consultation of the lowering of the minimum train driver age / Credit: Northern
Not only is the proposal said to form part of wider Government plans to create more opportunities where young people can gain the skills they need to succeed, all while generating more jobs that lead to a "productive" and "high-skilled" economy, but transport ministers believe attracting more young train drivers would help the rail industry provide a "more reliable service" for customers when other staff are off sick or on annual leave.
By opening up the sector to young people, the Government claims this would be "a positive step" and one that directly benefits passengers.
"We want to open the door for young people considering transport as a career, and this proposal could give school-leavers a clear path into the sector," commented Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, as the proposals were unveiled this week.
"By boosting age diversity in the sector and attracting more drivers, we can help support reliable services while creating opportunities for more young people."
If the proposals are introduced, the Government says all prospective train drivers, regardless of their age, will continue to be held to the same stringent training requirements as before to ensure the safe use of our railways for everyone.
To become a licensed train driver in the UK, trainees must pass mandatory medical, psychological, fitness, and general professional competence examinations.
They must also be trained by their employer on the trains and tracks they will be deployed on.
The UK cities with the best sense of humour have been revealed, and Leeds has made the top ten list.
The very serious research was commissioned by snack company Cheez-It, who partnered with comedian Jason Manford to launch its ‘Comedy Credit Service’, which saw the comedian visiting London to help lift the locals' mood.
The research revealed Liverpool as the city in the UK with the best sense of humour, with 16% of 2,000 people interviewed naming it the place most likely to have them laughing.
The poll showed a very clear north-south divide, with only London and Brighton making it into the top ten list.
Leeds came in at a very respectable number 9, which we will absolutely take. It must be our classic Yorkshire wit.
The research also revealed that 66% of Brits think they are funny, with the most common humour style people identified with was dry or sarcastic.
The top 10 cities with the best sense of humour
1. Liverpool
2. Glasgow
3. London
4. Newcastle-upon-Tyne
5. Birmingham
6. Manchester
7. Belfast
8. Edinburgh
9. Leeds
10. Brighton & Hove
Rui Frias from Cheez-It, said: “We know comfort comes in all shapes and sizes – a shared laugh, or a much‑needed escape from the February slump.
“That’s why we’ve packed our prize pot with joy-boosters designed to brighten even the greyest day, from ‘Comedy Night In’ bundles to mini ‘Cheer Up Kits’ and even laughter yoga.
“And because we’re proudly pro-cheese in every sense, it’s brilliant to see just how much humour matters to people right now.
“Britain’s famous for its dry sarcasm and razor‑sharp wit — and while the North may still claim the crown, we’re hoping a few belly laughs can help spread the joy nationwide.”
Asda launches red shopping baskets to help singles meet the love of their life
Emily Sergeant
Asda has decided to launch red baskets in stores to help single shoppers meet the love of their life.
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that dating in the modern world isn’t easy, right?
According to new Asda research, 94% of Brits say modern-day dating is hard to navigate, but what’s also clear is that face-to-face interactions still hold a special place – with a resounding 87% of people saying it’s better to meet someone in real life than on a dating app.
In fact, 77% of singles saying they’re not currently active on a dating app at all, and to top it all off, 64% say they fancy someone at their local supermarket.
So, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner now, Asda has decided to take matters into its own hands by placing special red baskets in select stores, giving singles a simple way to signal they’re open to a chat while picking up bread, browsing the bakery, or grabbing a few treats.
Unfortunately for us, the baskets will only appear in Leicester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, as this is where the research revealed people are most actively looking for love.
While the supermarket admits there’s no one ‘right’ way to meet someone, its research does suggest that 62% of couples who met face-to-face describe themselves as being ‘extremely happy’, compared with 51% of those who met online.
And that sense of connection goes beyond romance too, as among those couples who met in real life, 71% of them say they ‘trust their partner 100%’, while 66% describe their relationship as a ‘deep friendship’.
“We know people are craving real-life connections, but we also know our customers are busy and don’t always have the time to put themselves out there,” a spokesperson for Asda admitted.
“That’s why we’re turning the weekly shop into the ultimate meet-cute. These red baskets are a fun, light-hearted way to help people connect while they’re already doing their everyday shop – a simple, playful nudge to start a chat and maybe even spark a little romance.”
Emily Sergeant -
16th May 2024 
