Eighteen-year-olds will be allowed to drive trains after the minimum age was lowered from 20 in a bid to tackle driver shortages.

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail services are frequently disrupted due to a lack of drivers being available, and the problem is set to get worse with companies struggling to replace a growing number of people retiring with new recruits, the government said.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the change as "bold action to improve train services and unlock thousands of jobs".

Union Aslef said it would open up opportunities for school or college leavers, while the Rail Safety and Standards Board said its research found "18-year-olds are capable of safely becoming train drivers".

In the UK several train companies rely on "rest day working" - when drivers voluntarily work extra shifts to run timetabled services.

But disruption can be caused to passenger journeys when there are not enough volunteers or drivers are off sick.
Some 87% of cancellations made the night before a service is scheduled to run are due to driver shortages, according to the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)).

The average age of a UK train driver is 48, with 30% set to reach retirement age by 2029, it said.

Fewer than 9% of train drivers are female, while under 12% are from an ethnic minority.