Hello Paul, My 13-year-old son has been talking about his aspirations of becoming a train driver, please see below q's.

Hi Ryan, First of all thank you for your questions on behalf of your son. This is brilliant that he is already looking forward to his careers choices. Before I get down to the answers, If you're around Euston Station in the future let me know as I would love to show you both around a 390 Pendolino driving cab!
We advertise our vacancies on our careers page which is available on the Avanti website. This will list the depots available and the type of driving job; qualified or trainee driver. This will also list the benefits, job description and location. I would always say do ALOT of research, use social media to view what a day in the life of a train driver involves, the pictures they upload and come to the station to speak to me and other drivers. I am always happy to help. We provide a first class training course for every driver who joins the company which will include full rules of the railway training, Simulator training, practical and static training back at the depot. We also offer an apprenticeship scheme to gain English, Maths and IT qualifications alongside your train driving training.
Some people decide to start elsewhere on the railway, build their experience and then move onto driving. I went straight into Train Driving and my only regret.....Not doing it sooner. I hope its given a little insight and answered your questions, But both of you are welcome to Euston for a tour of the station and the driving cab where I can answer more of your questions :)

Hi Paul, thanks a lot for your response this is great advise. I also appreciate your offer of showing us around Euston station. I will certainly pass on this information and tell Sam to start looking at the career via social media. I think it will be difficult to arrange a visit this side of Christmas but will definitely look into this in the New Year. Would I contact you again via this website or do you have an email address that i could contact you on? Thanks again and best regards Ryan.

Morning Ryan. Hope you're well and thank you for adding your question to our careers page. I actually remember being a young lad dreaming of the day I could be a train driver (think its every boys dream job) If you and Sam are in Euston in the New Year please do let me know via this site and I will be more than happy to arrange a time for you both to come down. Show you how our trains actually get to leave as there is a lot of work that goes into this. It would be my pleasure to welcome you down to Euston :) If we don't speak before hand, on behalf of Avanti West Coast and First Group Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2024

Hi Paul, thanks for getting back to me. Apologies for the late reply. I was annual from your last post. We had a lovely Christmas and New year thank you, I hope you and your family did as well! Laura and I will be looking into a visit to London soon, when we finalise the details I will let you know so we can hopefully meet up. Would it need to be a weekday or do you work at the weekend? If a weekday would be best for you we could probably organise something within the February half term? Best regards, Ryan.

Thanks for your message Ryan. A weekday would be better for me. If you let me know what day and time you're planning to visit Euston and I will ensure I have some time free for you coming down to show you around Euston. I look forward to meeting with you all and showing you around Euston. Keep me posted with how you're getting on. Paul

Hi Paul, thanks for your response. I will organise our trip to Euston closer to the time and let you know our plans. I will give over a weeks notice to give time to organise. best regards, Ryan.

Hi Paul, we are planning on a trip to London to include your kind invitation to Euston Station and a look around a 390 Pendolino on Wednesday the 14th of February . We would be looking at getting into Westfield shopping center around 10am, then get onto the underground at Shepherd's Bush market station I believe, onto the Circle line into Euston station. We would need to add on time to be walking between each place. I think it may take around an hour or so? Are you available that day? If so where, what would be the best time for you (approximately) and how should we meet? Best regards, Ryan

Morning Ryan, I will keep myself free from 1100 - 1200/1230 and we can spend some time together. When you arrive at Euston if you wait by the lost property office and I will come down to meet you there. Can you do me a favour and email your telephone number to [email protected] Just detail that we have arranged to meet etc and I will make contact with you before hand and you will have a point of contact on the day too. Look forward to meeting you all and showing you around :)

Hi Paul, thanks a lot for getting back to me I really appreciate it. Can you please confirm the 'recruitment' email address as I have had the email I sent to that address bounce back? Thanks and best regards, Ryan.

Hi Ryan, I will see if I can sort out an email address for you. I will get back to you ASAP. I've been out driving all week and had limited access to my laptop. I will come back to you as soon as I can. Thanks, Paul

Thanks Paul, sorry to be a pain! Best regards, Ryan.

Hi Paul, just to let you know that it may have been my work email that bounced the '[email protected]' email address? I did also send one from my personal Gmail address. Hopefully went through ok but if not I would need another address.