We Followed A London Tube Driver For A Day — Here's What It's Like | Insider Business

Business Insider joined a Bakerloo line driver on her daily routine driving a train on the London Underground. Jackie Moriarty has been a driver for 19 years. She told us the things she likes, dislikes, and has experienced while working for Transport for London. Being a Tube driver can be quite demanding, requiring long periods of concentration and many hours in isolation. However, perks do come with the job such as being able to travel free on TFL services.

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We Followed A London Tube Driver For A Day — Here's What It's Like | Insider Business

[AidanCooper]

Moriarty drives though baker street station everyday, this cant be coincidence?

[johnrowland]

These guys (and the bus drivers) are the heartbeat of London.
Imagine being responsible for how many thousands every shift ?
Kudos to all of them !

[Timmyfromphilly]

0:09 the dude get his bag stuck in the door😂😂😂

[TheRandomRailfan]

To everybody complaining about her making 50K: Do you guys realize how precise you have to be when stopping, as well as having to memorize the timetable plus seeing jumpers and suicides?

[fion]

I appreciate you and all other workers working behind the scenes to make our day smooth and convenient.

[steveodonoghue]

A three minute video? This needs to be at least an hour long.

[adelgado]

I wanted to be a train operator for NYC but my lousy hearing kept me out. It was always a dream of mine to do this job. It just goes to show that when you put something out into the universe and envision yourself doing it, it doesn't always come to you. However, never stop hoping but always be prepared for not getting everything you want.

[sewerspitz]

My Dad works as a Driver on the Northern Line, and one thing he enjoys is that because of the concentration you put in can help with normal life as well, which he spends with us.

Very fascinating.

[RazordraacGaming]

Something people aren't considering with pay is the fact that you're also doing shift work, often at night where pay is usually much higher anyway. You have to know your route like the back of your hand, signal/junction locations and braking distances - I've heard many train companies say that they pay drivers for their commitment to the job at any time and knowledge because memorising many miles worth of a route to the metre is not easy for anyone. It's easy to judge when you have no actual idea of how much work is actually involved.

[bnnilein]

I am completely stunned over the accuracy of the Train Simulator right now ... I haven't played in a year but still recognized nearly every location immediately

[jimmygreaves]

Why do people get so annoyed by train drivers salaries? Public service jobs should be paid more I agree but that's no reason to be pissed off by someone else trying to provide for their family. Many people who claim the job is easy wouldn't even be able to get through the job application process. Also the prospect of someone jumping in front of your train at anytime isn't a nice feeling.

[shmaahi]

Thank you so much Jackie. My son thoroughly enjoyed watching this

[ahmadillo]

Over 50 grand a year? That’s actually very impressive

[groovygab]

"But many hours are spent in darkness and isolation" Yep, It's perfect!

[GodotOfficial]

You forgot the part where they undertake their daily strikes

[dukemydogy]

1: Everyone complaining 50k is to much, but would you take that salary and do this job? If not.. then clearly its not to much.
2: Just because you see 3 minutes of her Job you make an entire assumption about what she does her enitre working day?
3: Personally I would avoid this job purely because Id be scared of jumpers/suicide.

[flyboyuk]

Love all the jealous people on here complaining about their £50K salary.
Why don’t you then actually apply for the job, and if you pass the selection tests and the training you can then come on here and tell everybody exactly how easy the job is and how you’ve told TfL to only pay you half the salary because your simply not worth £50k per year!!!!

[sidevon]

I worked for the Underground for 13 years, the last 2 as a Jubilee Line driver. It was the hardest training corse I have ever done with a 80% drop out rate. But I hated the job, it was the most boring job I have ever done and when the chance came I left. London Underground was a good company to work for though and on top of the money it was only 35 hours a week and 8 weeks holiday a year.

[sloth]

As a pilot, I would have to say their salary is nothing for the public to complain about. Train drivers have a huge responsibility. Not just the Tube but all rail lines as well. It is well known that the two safest modes of travel are air and rail. Sure, serious incidents happen from time to time and they make the news...because they are so few and far between. The most critical period for an aircraft is during take off and landing, the rest is fairly mundane really, in a modern commercial aircraft, although pilots are continually monitoring, they do not just sit back and stare into space. The chance of an aircraft colliding with another is virtually zero during flight. Same goes for trains on rails really, although it can happen. Train drivers on the other hand have to be continually looking and checking. This is ground transport, where anything can go wrong, from people doing "one unders" at stations, (not just at Tube stations either), cars stalled or stuck at level crossings, people on tracks, the list goes on. Signals have to be observed continually, and trains have to be stopped safely at platforms, with passenger safety and comfort in mind. Whilst there may be a lot more theory required to operate an aircraft, once in the air and the aircraft is performing correctly, which is 99.9 per cent of the time, little can go wrong of an emergency nature. people cannot jump under a plane in the air, if the weather causes a rough ride that is not pilots fault, there are no vehicles blocking our route needing emergency reactions, and if another plane was a bit close there would be alarms and automatic inputs to avoid it. Trains cannot be steered, they cannot avoid objects and can take a while to stop. They have no reverse thrust capabilities like an aircraft, or flaps and rudders to steer with. only the rails.And most issues with trains are caused by the public. At airports, passengers are only a very small reason for problems. So do train drivers deserve their 50 thousand plus a year salaries. You bet. And remember, they are paying tax on their salary also. Like pilots, they want to get their passengers home safely and without incident. And to do that, it takes extensive training, (as well as involved exams) to achieve it. As for the strikes, no industry is immune from those. I think flyboy747uk's comment here sums it up fairly well.

[tallslimguy]

Lovely lady and a pleasant insight into the work that she does.