Labour plans to introduce a law this week to lower the minimum age for train drivers in Great Britain from 20 to 18. Currently, fewer than 3% of train drivers are under 30. The UK government wants younger recruits to fill a looming gap as nearly 25% of the 24,000 drivers will retire by 2030. The average driver age is 48. Driver shortages already cause last-minute train cancellations. Train drivers usually retire by 62 when eligible for pension, with many in Wales over 55. Train union Aslef supports lowering the age, saying it will help recruit much-needed drivers and improve diversity. Rob Kitley, chair of Aslef’s young members and a driver himself, said, “It is fantastic to see the legislation now being put in place.” He added that this move will bring railways in line with other public transport sectors like buses and the London Underground. The government has not yet commented but transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the change will help “future-proof our railways against delays and cancellations caused by a shortage of drivers.” Other European countries allow drivers from 18 years, though teenage drivers can’t yet drive through the Channel Tunnel due to UK-France agreements. The training to become a driver takes 12 to 18 months, and salaries average around £70,000. The shift to nationalised Great British Railways may ease the change, as operators with short franchises were sometimes hesitant to train younger drivers. Aslef’s general secretary Dave Calfe said, “This change will widen the opportunity for the rail industry to recruit the large numbers of train drivers required over the next five years.”