THE London Underground is essential when you want to travel around the capital.
Some who aren’t experienced in taking the tube may struggle with reading the maps but the drivers know exactly what they’re doing.
How much do Tube drivers earn?
During the initial 12-16 weeks training, trainee drivers can earn up to £32,375.
They can also obtain free travel around London for themselves and a partner as well as having overtime rates of around £36 an hour.
As of October 2024, drivers earn £67,500 but rejected a proposed pay increase to £70,000 in August.
A night train operator earns around £55,000 to £59,999 per year according to the Transport for London’s (TfL) Copy of Job Titles and Responsibilities of Senior Staff.
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Inspectors and operators earn from £60,000 to £64,999 a year.
There is another role, known as a trainer, and this person is in charge of not only offering training to newcomers, but also the whole driving team, to always keep them up-to-date with the latest updates.
They earn the same salary as an inspector.
They can retire on a reduced pension at the age of 50 or a full pension at 60 years old.
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What hours do they work and how much holiday do they get?
Drivers tend to work 36-hour weeks and have 43 days of annual leave, including bank holidays.
Shifts can start as early as 4.45am and end as late as 1.30am.
The drivers cannot drink alcohol for eight hours before a shift starts.
They are sometimes asked to work as many as 17 weekends in a row.
What are conditions like on the Underground?
Tube drivers are expected to maintain a high level of concentration in a dark cabin with nobody for company.
The work is repetitive, with the amount of driving varying between lines.
They also have to maintain a good level of focus and not be feared by the fact that they are responsible for many passengers aboard on the train.
How do you become a Tube driver?
Unless you already work for TfL, applying for a job can be difficult as they don’t tend to be advertised to the public.
Publicly advertised TfL roles include applying to become a customer service assistant.
You can look for TfL vacancies on their website.
