Train driving licences and certificates

The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010 (TDLCR) is a new piece of legislation that brings into force the requirements of European Commission Directive 2007/59/EC ( PDF 236 Kb) (on the certification of train drivers) (the Directive) in Great Britain. It introduces a licensing and certification system for some train drivers in Great Britain.

The Directive forms part of the European Commission’s plan to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Europe’s railways. The key objectives of both the Directive and TDLCR are to:

• make it easier for cross-border rail services to operate;
• create a more flexible labour market for train drivers;
• introduce common standards of driver across Europe; and
• increase public confidence in the rail system through the requirement for certain groups of train drivers to hold a licence.

We believe that introducing TDLCR will:

• Make it easier for train drivers to move employment between railway operators and between Member States;
• Ensure physical and psychological fitness and general driving competence is assessed against EU-wide minimum requirements;
• Ensure recognition of driver licences and certificates by all in the railway industry;
• Allow recognition, in Great Britain, of the validity of licences issued by other member states;
• Establish a ‘single certification’ model for training and competence management of drivers by railway undertakings and infrastructure managers;
• Reinforce management of driver skills and knowledge as a key part of an operator’s safety management system (SMS).

When does TDLCR apply?

The requirement to hold licences and certificates issued in accordance with TDLCR comes into effect in three phases:

• New cross-border drivers - by 29 October 2011;
• New domestic drivers - by 29 October 2013; and
• Existing drivers (cross-border and domestic) - by 29 October 2018.   

Licence applications

Regulation 39(2) allows for applications to be made in advance of these dates, from 6 April 2011. A railway operator may wish to use this provision to make applications for existing and new drivers at the same time. This may be useful, for example if a small number of new drivers are recruited in 2013 and it is more practical to apply for all existing drivers licences at the same time too, rather than waiting until 2018.

Registration of recognised persons

Regulation 23(1) requires us to publish registers of doctors ( Excel 27 Kb) and psychologists who are able to undertake the medical and psychological fitness examinations under Regulation 8 and for trainers and examiners under Regulations 30 and 31 who train for and examine professional knowledge and competence of train drivers. The routes to register for doctors ( PDF 34 Kb), psychological practitioners ( PDF 36 Kb), trainers ( PDF 32 Kb) and examination centres ( PDF 51 Kb) give guidance on how to apply to be on the registers. Applications should be made to:

Office of Rail Regulation
Railway Safety Policy Team
One Kemble Street
London WC2B 4AN

Derogation for 'domestic-only' drivers

At the time of writing, Great Britain has applied to the European Commission to use an opt-out clause (derogation) that will exempt all domestic drivers for a further 10 years from 2013 (i.e. until October 2023) and 2018. This information will be updated once the outcome of the application is known. 

Enforcement

As enforcing authority for the Train Driving Licence regulations we will use the principles established in our HSWA enforcement policy statement to ensure compliance with these statutory requirements.  

Guidance

We have produced guidance ( PDF 2456 Kb) that forms an introduction to TDLCR. This guidance will be updated later in 2011 to include more detail on how to apply for a licence and which forms to complete; how to apply to be included on the registers for doctors, psychologists, trainers and examiners; and our appeal processes.

Last updated: 2 June 2011

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