She is diminutive, hardly the image that you would expect of the driver of a 166.8 tonne train!”

“I became a train driver because everybody said that I couldn’t” says Toyin Salami who is one of 7% of female train drivers for London Underground. “The selection process was tough and there is a 60% failure rate but I made it. The most difficult part of the job is the technical aspect and the knowledge that if my train breaks down I have to fix it”. she went on. “You can’t call the AA or the RAC” she joked.

Toyin is a devout Christian and being a train driver gives her an immense sense of pride and job satisfaction. “When I change ends I often get complimented on the smooth ride. For a woman in a very predominantly male world, there is no greater accolade than that!” she said.

FACT FILE

Did you know that each train has a basic check carried out every night, called prepping, to ensure that everything is working as it should? The 21 day check is called a Reliability Centred Maintenance examination and is similar to an MOT. A more thorough check occurs every nine years. This is called the Henry Overhaul and takes up to three weeks. It means that every nine years every train is completely overhauled, whatever condition it is in.

Average Salary
Qualified train operator - £32,656
Driver Instructors- £34,075
Training: 24 Weeks. No specific technical knowledge is needed but
Part of the recruitment process tests technical aptitude.

To apply please check the LUL website for vacancies.