Think about free travel. Tube drivers and their families get free rides on the entire Transport for London network. That’s buses, trams, trains—even the Emirates Air Line cable car.
They also get a generous pension. It’s a defined benefit scheme. Most private sector workers would weep with envy.
And here’s the funniest perk: unlimited tea and coffee. Every depot has a canteen. Drivers call it “the fuel.”
How do you become one?
It’s not easy. You apply online, pass a series of tests. Reaction time, spatial awareness, and memory are all tested. They want you to be sharp.
How much do tube drivers get paid, and why are they striking now?
Then you train for 12 to 18 months. You learn the route, the signals, the safety procedures. It’s like a weird university degree in tunnels.
After that, you’re on probation. One big mistake, and you’re out. No second chances for sleeping at the controls.
