Now 23, Brook Randall said he was “the happiest man alive” after finding out he got the job last October
is used to breaking records on London’s transport system. Aged 18, he became one of the capital’s youngest bus operators less than a year after earning his driving licence.
The Dartford man then continued to climb up the ladder by becoming a bus station controller, but his goal was always to work on the London Underground. “When the train operator job came up in 2024, I went for it,” he told MyLondon.
“I thought ‘I’m young, and probably won’t get it’ but I went in for the assessments and interview with my head held high. When I got the email saying I got the job, I was the happiest man alive.”
Brook spent 18 months completing various assessments before eventually being given the job in April 2025, aged just 22. From this point, he went through an intense training programme, which included learning 160 pages a week of rules and procedures, before he could begin operating Piccadilly line services in October 2025
“I had a great team with me when I was training, and we all thankfully passed,” he said. “A couple of people went on to the Northern line, a couple of people went on the Central line, and four of us ended up on the Piccadilly.
“So, as a group on the Piccadilly when we were in training, we still talk now, and it’s great that we’ve all got that shared experience.”
Now aged 23, Brook said many people are astonished to learn he’s a London Underground driver.
“People are shocked,” he continued, “They’re like, ‘you’re a Tube driver? How did you manage that at 22. Keep it up, don’t stop there and keep going.”
Almost a year into the job, Brook said his favourite thing about the job is seeing the reaction of grateful passengers on the platform. “When you come into stations and you see people waving, that’s a good feeling,” he said.
“The young kids really enjoy it, so I like to wave back and see the smile on their face. My favourite part of the Piccadilly line is the Uxbridge branch, because you get to see Wembley Stadium out of Alperton.
“It’s quite a nice view, particularly when it’s lit up when someone’s playing there.”
Earlier this year, the government lowered the minimum age to drive a train from 20 to 18 to encourage more young people to enter the profession. According to the Department for Transport, a quarter of train drivers are projected to hit retirement age by 2030.
Currently, fewer than one in 25 train drivers is aged under 30, whilst only one in nine is a woman.
Encouraging more young people to enter the profession, Brook said: “It’s great experience and a step in a career where you can progress more.
“Driving a train is great, you keep yourself busy. You get people waving at you in stations, which can be the highlight of your day.
“With young people, I’d say just get onto the railway, any part of the railway, to get a foot in the door and try to become a train driver.”
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