What qualifications an average do you require to become a Tube driver at TfL?
Request ID: FOI-1948-2223 Date published: 30 November 2022
You asked
Hello there,
I just had been interested in looking to become a driver for any of the 11 Tube lines, London Overground, Elizabeth Line or Tramlink.
Hence, I was just wondering if you can let us know what prior qualifications do we compulsorily require in order to apply for these jobs?
1) What average GCSE grades do you look after (if at all), and are there any specific grades in specific subjects that you necessarily need (eg. English Language, Sciences, etc.)?
2) What A-level subjects + grades do you prefer your candidates to have got at school?
3) Do you require an Undergraduate degree for University or not?
4) Is there any other qualifications & criteria you require from us (eg. a Driving Licence, past experience, a British passport, etc.)?
Thank you.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1948-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 9th November 2022 asking for information about becoming a driver on different TfL modes of transport.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I just had been interested in looking to become a driver for any of the 11 Tube lines, London Overground, Elizabeth Line or Tramlink.
Hence, I was just wondering if you can let us know what prior qualifications do we compulsorily require in order to apply for these jobs?
1) What average GCSE grades do you look after (if at all), and are there any specific grades in specific subjects that you necessarily need (eg. English Language, Sciences, etc.)?
2) What A-level subjects + grades do you prefer your candidates to have got at school?
3) Do you require an Undergraduate degree for University or not?
4) Is there any other qualifications & criteria you require from us (eg. a Driving Licence, past experience, a British passport, etc.)?”
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.
Note that out of the services listed TfL only directly employs London Underground drivers (the London Overground, Elizabeth Line and Tram are run by private operators under contract with TfL, and those contractors employ their drivers directly). In regards to the Underground, your listed criteria (1-3) are not requirements for applications to the role. Rather, when the role is advertised TfL will decide on the key criteria for the role, and the candidate will then need to demonstrate in their application how they meet the set criteria. If they pass the initial application stage they will need to provide Right to Work documentation at interview stage – please see link to the required documents www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
