I'm a train driver - here is the biggest misconception about the job (2024)

A train driver has revealed the 'biggest misconception' that members of the public have about their job.

The driver, who chose to remain anonymous, has worked on the railway for six years and said she earns £70k a year.

But despite being 'grateful' for her salary, she revealed the rigorous schedule and long hours train drivers contend with.

She pointed outthey can be required to work 12 hours a day on a scheduled nine-hour shift if there is disruption on the network.

However, there was a particular part of the job that grated her more than most.

She told the Telegraph: 'The worst part of the job is the public perception.

'If there's disruption in the service, I give the passengers all the information I have, but often they think I'm not telling them things.

'Then if I'm asked to run fast to somewhere and to miss out stations, passengers can get really frustrated.'

While it might sound like an attractive job to take on due to the generous income, a lack of public satisfaction over the state of the British railways - and unions' frequent strikes over the past two years - means drivers come in for heavy criticism when they do partake in industrial action.

From June 2022 to December 2023,5.05 million days were estimated to have been lost in labour disputes in the UK.

This is the highest total for any 19-month period for more than 30 years, since 5.34 million day were lost from July 1989 to January 1991.

Nearly half (45%) of the working days lost from June 2022 to December 2023 where data is available were in transport, storage and communication industries, according to analysis by the PA news agency.

This reflects the frequency of rail strikes, as workers from various unions, including theRail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Aslef, chose to strike in a bid to receive better pay and working conditions.

Train drivers are required to be at the wheel and in full concentration in their cab, controlling everything about the train from its speed and braking to how bright its headlights can be in certain conditions and when the doors close.

The train driver said her job had a big impact on her life and said she often has to leave admits to having to leave family and social events early to be able to work with optimum focus the next day.

As they point out: 'If I'm fatigued, the consequences could be disastrous.'

Fortunately for the driver in question, she never had a fatality while driving a train.

Reflecting on a known risk of the job of the role, they added: 'We are all aware that it could happen to any of us. I have had one heart-in-my-mouth moment.

'Someone jumped off a platform to pick up their mobile phone and then jumped back up again.

'I had just passed my signal on my way into the station, my brake was in, when the guy jumped down. I put my train into 'emergency mode' and, when he jumped back up, I took my train out of ''emergency mode''.

'I got into the station, released the doors and contacted the signaller, saying: 'I need a minute.' I was shaken and had two welfare checks to make sure I was OK. All I could think was: was that worth it for a mobile phone?'

Another daily issue that drivers have to contend with is the lack of opportunity for a bathroom break - they cannot go while hurtling through the British countryside at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour after all.

With no toilets being situated in drivers' cabs, they must wait until they arrive at a terminal station before they can take a comfort break.

However, even fitting in the time to do so can be tricky if they only have a 15-minute break before they are due to drive their next train.

Drivers can call the station's signaller to ask for a PNB (personal needs break), after which the controller will delay the train so they can take a bathroom break.