Skip to main content

This is a new service - your feedback will help us to improve it.

Train Driver

Regulators
  • Department for Infrastructure
Nations
  • Northern Ireland
Sectors
  • Transport

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority
Department for Infrastructure
Address

Clarence Court
10 - 18 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8GB

Phone number
+44 (0)2890 540 540

Regulation

Regulation summary

Licensed train drivers are authorised to drive rolling stock on mainline rail infrastructure.

Train driving licences are issued by the Department for Infrastructure and train driving certificates are issued by a railway undertaking or infrastructure manager.

Train drivers must meet certain medical, educational and general professional skills requirements – these are set out in legislation.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

Licensed train drivers are authorised to drive rolling stock on mainline rail infrastructure.


Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

Train drivers must meet the conditions set out in The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (as amended) to be issued with a train driving licence and train driving certificate.

Professionals from other UK nations

Routes to recognition within the UK

Train drivers who hold a GB train driving licence issued by the Office for Road and Rail, and change employer to work as a train driver in Northern Ireland can have their GB licence recognised in Northern Ireland. Alternatively, they can ask their employer to apply for their licence to be exchanged for an NI licence.

While their GB licence will be recognised, or exchanged, this does not exempt train drivers from the need to obtain professional competence for track, traction and route knowledge for the Northern Ireland network.

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
Summary of routes

Holders of a European train driving licence, if they meet the required standards, and are granted a certificate by a railway undertaking or infrastructure manager in Northern Ireland, may be authorised to drive rolling stock on mainline railway infrastructure. Train driving licences are granted by the Department for Infrastructure. Train driving certificates are granted by a railway undertaking or infrastructure manager once the driver has passed the required specific professional knowledge and competence training on the rolling stock and infrastructure they are expected to drive on.


Registration

Registration requirements

The Department for Infrastructure must establish, keep up to date and publish registers of doctors, psychologists, trainers and examiners recognised by the Department as competent to carry out functions under, or referred to in, regulations 8, 29 and 31 of The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (as amended). The Department must establish and keep up to date a register of train driving licences issued, updated, renewed, amended, expired, suspended or withdrawn by it, and any such licences reported lost, stolen or destroyed. The register must contain the data required for licences by paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 of The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (as amended) and must be accessible by the use of a national number allotted to each train driver.


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (as amended).

Website link to legislation
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2010/132

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.