We advertise our Trainee Driver roles once a year. This is usually between August and December. The best way to stay informed about these roles is to register your interest through our email service, and we will notify you when we are next recruiting.
You do not need any previous railway experience to become a Train Driver.
We welcome applications from candidates aged 16 and over. Due to the length of our recruitment process, applicants may apply before they are eligible to begin training.
However, you must be at least 17 years and 9 months old before you can start the Trainee Train Driver programme and 18 years old before you can qualify and undertake driving duties.
EMR has played a leading role in the development of the national Train Driver Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard. If you are successful through our recruitment process, you will automatically be enrolled onto the apprenticeship when you join.
Find out more about the apprenticeship
We are passionate that our train driver roles are open to everyone so if you do not currently have GCSE grade C/Level 4 or equivalent in Maths and English, we will support you to achieve this as part of the apprenticeship.
Our recruitment process is thorough and designed to identify candidates with the skills, behaviours and aptitude required to become a Train Driver. The process typically consists of the following stages:
1: Stage 1 OPC psychometric testing
2: EMR Assessment Day (You will be assessed on group and individual activities)
3: Competency based Driver Manager Interview
4: Stage 2 OPC psychometric testing
Candidates who are successful at every stage will be placed into a Talent Pool for up to two years.
As Trainee Train Driver apprenticeship vacancies become available at your chosen depot, we will contact suitable candidates from the Talent Pool and offer them the opportunity to join the next available training course.