Rail Sector Unites Behind New Drive to Bring More Young People into the Industry

Industry-wide Rail Youth Promise aims to boost opportunities as Great British Railways takes shape

Britain's rail industry has unveiled a new national commitment designed to encourage more young people to pursue careers on the railway, as employers seek to tackle an ageing workforce and prepare for the arrival of Great British Railways (GBR).

Launched at a parliamentary event on 15 July, the Rail Youth Promise brings together Network Rail, the Department for Transport Operator (DFTO), train operating companies, suppliers and youth organisations behind a shared ambition to improve access to careers for people aged 16 to 24.

The initiative comes as the sector looks to address a significant demographic imbalance. While young people account for around 12% of the UK population, they currently represent only around 6% of the railway workforce.

A coordinated approach to attracting future talent

The new charter establishes a common framework for employers across the rail sector, encouraging organisations to work collectively to inspire, recruit, develop and retain young people as the industry undergoes significant structural change ahead of GBR's planned introduction in 2027.

Built around five core themes—Inspire, Hire, Learn, Grow and Connect—the programme aims to increase awareness of railway careers while creating clearer routes into employment and long-term progression.

The initiative also aligns with the Government's Youth Guarantee, which is intended to ensure every young person has access to employment, education or training opportunities.

New recruitment initiatives already underway

Several operators are already introducing schemes designed to widen access to rail careers.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has introduced what it describes as an industry-first programme that enables university students to work part-time as on-board supervisors while continuing their studies.

Elsewhere, South Western Railway is preparing to welcome a new intake of engineering and leadership apprentices this autumn, while Southeastern is developing work experience placements specifically aimed at young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Another significant change came into force at the end of June, when the minimum age to become a train driver was reduced from 20 to 18, opening one of the industry's most recognised careers to school and college leavers at an earlier stage.

Government backs industry initiative

Speaking at the launch, Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said the programme demonstrated the industry's commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for younger generations.

She said: "The rail industry is full of skilled careers, and the Rail Youth Promise is a clear signal that the industry is serious about making those opportunities available to every young person. By lowering the minimum age for train drivers from 20 to 18, young people can access these jobs earlier than ever before, as we build the workforce our railways need for the future."

She added that the initiative complements the Government's wider £2.5 billion youth employment support package.

Industry leaders welcome the commitment

Paul Marshall, Chief Financial Officer at Network Rail, described the initiative as an opportunity to reshape perceptions of careers across the railway.

"The Rail Youth Promise is about showing young people that rail is an industry full of opportunity, purpose and long-term career potential," he said.

"At Network Rail, we're proud to support this commitment as we look ahead to Great British Railways, working together across track and train to create clearer routes into the industry and inspire the next generation of talent our railway needs."

Ruth Busby OBE, People Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, highlighted the benefits of offering flexible employment opportunities that fit around higher education.

"We're proud to be leading the industry with a completely new way to recruit students for on-board supervisor roles, working with two key universities. This model has the potential to be adapted across many other areas of the railway."

Meanwhile, Alex Hynes, Chief Executive of DFTO, said attracting younger people into rail would be critical to delivering the customer-focused railway envisioned under future reforms.

"The Rail Youth Promise is a significant step towards ensuring we continue to attract the next generation of railway professionals," he said.

Supporting the railway's long-term future

Sponsored by Rail Unites for Inclusion alongside GTR, the Rail Youth Promise represents one of the first industry-wide workforce initiatives to unite organisations across both infrastructure and train operations under a shared recruitment and skills strategy.

As the railway prepares for one of its biggest structural transformations in decades through the creation of Great British Railways, the initiative seeks to ensure the industry develops a workforce equipped to meet future operational, engineering and customer service demands while creating more accessible career opportunities for young people across Britain.