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. A revised guide ( PDF 2893 Kb) to TDLCR was published in November 2012.

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 - from 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. The application form ( DOC 239 Kb) and guidance ( PDF 51Kb) on completing it are available to download. Applications should be emailed to RSD Admin or sent to:

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

Where a new driver will require a licence by 29 October 2013 the application form must be submitted by 13 September 2013. If applications are being submitted for trainers or examiners as part of the recognition process for a training and examination centre their applications should be sent with the request for recognition by 31 July 2013 at the latest.

Registration of recognised persons

Regulation 23(1) requires us to publish registers of doctors ( Excel 27 Kb), psychologists
( Excel 37 Kb) and training and examination centres ( Excel 37 Kb) 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 emailed to RSD Admin or sent to:

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

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.

Train Driver Certificates Appeals

Regulation 36 of TDLCR allows appeals against a decision of a train operating company or infrastructure manager not to grant an application for train driver certificate or its update or renewal or to suspend or withdraw that certificate. We have published guidance ( Word 401 Kb) on the appeal process which includes an application form. Applications should be emailed to RSD Admin or sent to:

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

Last updated: April 2013

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