A former journalist and radio presenter says she has “a new lease of life” after switching careers to become a train driver with Northern.
Alex Worsick decided to apply for the role in 2024, after working for the BBC for 22 years.
She was as a producer at BBC Radio Lancashire when she heard an interview with Lauren Pugh, who had been invited on to talk about her experience of working as a driver for Northern and encourage more women to consider a career in rail.
“I clipped what Lauren was saying for a story on the news bulletins and she made it sound like a brilliant opportunity,” said Alex. “I was looking for a new challenge at the time, so I thought I would give it a go and apply.
“I had got to the stage where I had done everything I wanted to do with the BBC – reporting, producing, news reading and editing.
“It was a bit nerve racking changing careers in your mid 40s, but I thought ‘if I don’t do it now, I never will’.
“I had never really thought about a career on the railway and didn’t think Northern would want me, as I didn’t have any transferable skills.
“But when I looked through the application form, there were questions about dealing with people, emergencies, deadlines and shift work – and I have those experiences.”
After submitting an application to become a trainee driver, Alex made it through the selection process, which involves a series of interviews, psychometric testing and a medical.
She then completed 20 weeks in the classroom, learning about how trains actually work, a comprehensive rulebook that all drivers must follow and signalling systems.
Alex is now in the process of gaining 230 hours of hands-on experience in the driver’s cab, so she can safely operate different types of train on five routes that run through Lancashire and Merseyside.
“It’s a brand-new challenge, so you have to accept it will be difficult at times, but it’s really rewarding,” she said.
“I have never learnt so much stuff in such a short amount of time as I have at train driver school.
“Being in that front cab is surreal, but you feel reassured straight away as you have an instructor with you.
“I grew up in Accrington and on one of my first journeys I drove over the big viaduct. I have driven and walked under it thousands of times over the years, but being in that front cab – taking people where they wanted to go – felt like a real privilege. It was quite special.”
Alex is working hard to complete her training and encouraging other people who are looking for a new career to consider joining the railway.
“I wish I had done it years ago, especially with Northern because everyone I have met has been so encouraging and supportive. It’s like one big family,” she said.
“I feel like I’ve got a new lease of life because it’s switched my brain on. It’s such a long time since I had to learn so much new information, I feel like a student again.
“That’s really satisfying and it gives me a real sense of achievement.”
You can find more information about train driver roles with Northern here.
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
Image credit: Northern
