Spotlight Series: Meet Owen Gunn
For our latest Spotlight piece, we interviewed Owen Gunn, an apprentice train driver at East Midlands Railway (EMR). Owen has followed in the footsteps of his late father, who was also an EMR driver. He spoke about how it felt to have railways in the family, the complex process of training as a driver and his love for the career he has chosen.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a train driver - what inspired you to pursue this career path?
I was brought up around railways. It runs in the family - my dad became a train driver in 1993, first in freight and then in passenger railways. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to drive trains – I have had my heart set on it for about 20 years!
A few weeks before the pandemic hit in 2020, I began my first job on the railways at age 18 as a customer host. I worked there until earlier this year, when I started my training as a driver. I really enjoyed working as a customer host – it was a good way to get involved in the railway industry as a young person.
What was the most challenging part of your training to become a train driver?
We are given a lot of responsibility, which is great but requires us to memorise a large amount of information and then apply everything we have learned while driving the trains. Learning all the rules and procedures can be lengthy but is an essential part of the training.
The application process was also rigorous. You apply a year before starting, and there are multiple rounds of assessment, including essay questions, a computer-based test and a manager interview.
EMR was my first and only choice of operator where I wanted to work. It is very close to where I live and, of course, where my dad used to drive.
Can you describe a day in your role as an apprentice driver? What are some of your typical tasks and responsibilities?
The apprentice course is intense. It is a combination of practical driving and classroom study. The theory element starts with learning the rules, regulations of personal track safety and the EMR-specific policies. I currently take trains for test runs, accompanied by a mentor, around Derby station, in order to put what we have learned into practice. When the trains come out of service for the day, it is our responsibility to drive them from the station back to the depot.
What skills and attributes do you think are essential for someone to succeed as a train driver?
You need some resilience – you need to keep going and believe in yourself, even if you don’t think you’re doing that well. You also need to be able to absorb a lot of new information. Be prepared to spend six months learning it all!
How did it feel to have a special celebration to mark your qualification as an EMR apprentice driver in recognition of you following in your father’s footsteps?
It felt surreal – it was strange to see my face in the news, in Derbyshire Live and, of course, BBC News! It definitely made me proud as well.
Can you share a piece of advice or a lesson you learned from your father that you carry with you in your career?
My career is a career for life. It is important to recognise that and not take it for granted. If you love the job as much as my dad did and I do, that’s great. It is so important to do something you love (and ideally get paid for it if you can!).
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career as a train driver?
Do thorough background research to see if it is for you. If it is, you will love it!
Reflecting on your journey so far, what has been the most rewarding aspect of training as a driver at EMR?
It is a great team – everyone looks out for everyone. I started when I was 18 as a customer host. Starting from such a young age and then progressing through the company has been a great experience. It is incredibly satisfying to pass each stage of the course and see just how far you've come since you started – you definitely feel a big sense of achievement.
Is there anything that is particularly exciting to you about your career/future as a train driver?
I would love to follow my father’s footsteps and become a mainline driver. Driving 125 miles an hour on the main line to London, like my dad did, would be amazing. I am at the point in my apprenticeship that I will be able to drive by myself in a few weeks. Management is also an opportunity I might be interested in down the line. For now, I am happy. It is a great feeling to be able to achieve my dream at 22 – and to know there is still a long way yet to go in my career!