Apprentice Train Driver- Plymouth

XC Trains Limited; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday 30 days

Pension

Free rail travel

Rail discounts

European rail travel

Arriva Village

Job summary

CrossCountry in Plymouth is recruiting an Apprentice Train Driver to join a team delivering safe, reliable rail services. The role combines hands-on learning with a structured, fully supported training programme designed to develop you into a qualified Train Driver.

Starting salary £33,863 per year, rising to £44,865 on completion of training, with benefits including generous holiday entitlement, pension, free travel on Arriva Rail services, and discounts on rail travel.

Responsibilities

• Prioritise safety and take personal responsibility for maintaining a safe and supportive working environment
• Bring a positive, proactive approach to learning, collaboration, and supporting others
• Be committed to delivering excellent, accessible, and inclusive service to all our customers
• Meet the relevant Rail Industry Standards requirements (reasonable adjustments considered where needed)
• Be able to commit to the 35–39-week training programme (starting in 2026/27) with full support from our team to help you succeed
• Live within 1 hour of the depot you are applying to. (We’re happy to discuss flexibility or adjustments where needed)

Job description

Apprentice Train Driver - Plymouth

Starting salary: £33,863 per annum, rising to £44,865 on completion of training.

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference every day? Join us as an Apprentice Train Driver and be part of a team that plays a vital role in delivering a safe, reliable, and pivotal service for our customers. We’re proud to welcome people from all walks of life into our workforce. Whether you’re changing careers or just starting out, we’ll provide a structured, fully supported training programme to help you become a fully qualified Train Driver.

Responsibilities

• Prioritise safety and take personal responsibility for maintaining a safe and supportive working environment
• Bring a positive, proactive approach to learning, collaboration, and supporting others
• Be committed to delivering excellent, accessible, and inclusive service to all our customers
• Meet the relevant Rail Industry Standards requirements (reasonable adjustments considered where needed)
• Be able to commit to the 35–39-week training programme (starting in 2026/27) with full support from our team to help you succeed
• Live within 1 hour of the depot you are applying to. (We’re happy to discuss flexibility or adjustments where needed)

Benefits

• Holiday, starts on 30 days, goes up by one day a year up to 35 days
• You can buy more holiday
• Pension is defined benefit, so contributions can vary but benefit is fixed and inflated each year
• Free travel on Arriva Rail services (CrossCountry and Grand Central)
• 75% off other UK rail companies
• Discounted European rail travel after one year
• Access to the ‘Arriva’s Village’ (offering web-based discounts on various products/services on the high street)

Recruitment Process

We’re committed to a fair and inclusive selection process, and we believe that transparency helps everyone feel confident and supported throughout the recruitment process. Once you’ve submitted your application, our recruitment team will review it against the role criteria, and you’ll hear from us about next steps within two to three weeks. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to an online assessment, with plenty of notice and clear guidance to help you succeed. The selection process includes:

• A review of your online application
• Online assessments (facilitated by our assessment partner, SHL)
• Train Driver Psychometric Testing
• Values Alignment meeting
• A safety‑critical medical

This process can take several months to complete and will normally result in successful candidates being held in our talent pool until a vacancy arises at their chosen location. When a vacancy arises, the preferred candidate will be selected from the talent pool, formally offered an apprentice Train Driver role and given a start date. The start date will normally align to the commencement of your training, which you must complete before you can be authorised to drive a train without being supervised by a qualified / licensed Train Driver.

Apply by: 14th October 2026

Equal Opportunities

At CrossCountry, we’re committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and the passengers we support every day. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences including women, people from ethnic minority / global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ colleagues, and those with caring responsibilities. We believe inclusion drives innovation, and we’re proud to be building a culture where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.

Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 34,400 people and delivering around 1.6 billion passenger journeys. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike‑sharing systems, on‑demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day. The activities of Arriva are divided into four business units: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe. Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.