{"id":519694,"date":"2026-08-25T20:51:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T10:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=198761"},"modified":"2026-08-25T20:51:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T10:51:34","slug":"former-bbc-radio-presenter-has-new-lease-of-life-after-switching-careers-to-become-train-driver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=519694","title":{"rendered":"Former BBC radio presenter has \u2018new lease of life\u2019 after switching careers to become train driver"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A former journalist and radio presenter says she has \u201ca new lease of life\u201d after switching careers to become a train driver with Northern.  <\/p>\n

Alex Worsick decided to apply for the role in 2024, after working for the BBC for 22 years.<\/p>\n

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.  <\/p>\n

\u201cI clipped what Lauren was saying for a story on the news bulletins and she made it sound like a brilliant opportunity,\u201d said Alex. \u201cI was looking for a new challenge at the time, so I thought I would give it a go and apply.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had got to the stage where I had done everything I wanted to do with the BBC \u2013 reporting, producing, news reading and editing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a bit nerve racking changing careers in your mid 40s, but I thought \u2018if I don\u2019t do it now, I never will\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had never really thought about a career on the railway and didn\u2019t think Northern would want me, as I didn\u2019t have any transferable skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when I looked through the application form, there were questions about dealing with people, emergencies, deadlines and shift work \u2013 and I have those experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n

Alex is now in the process of gaining 230 hours of hands-on experience in the driver\u2019s cab, so she can safely operate different types of train on five routes that run through Lancashire and Merseyside.  <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a brand-new challenge, so you have to accept it will be difficult at times, but it\u2019s really rewarding,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have never learnt so much stuff in such a short amount of time as I have at train driver school.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in that front cab is surreal, but you feel reassured straight away as you have an instructor with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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 \u2013 taking people where they wanted to go \u2013 felt like a real privilege. It was quite special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alex is working hard to complete her training and encouraging other people who are looking for a new career to consider joining the railway.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I had done it years ago, especially with Northern because everyone I have met has been so encouraging and supportive. It\u2019s like one big family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve got a new lease of life because it\u2019s switched my brain on. It\u2019s such a long time since I had to learn so much new information, I feel like a student again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s really satisfying and it gives me a real sense of achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can find more information about train driver roles with Northern here<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Image credit: Northern<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A former journalist and radio presenter says she has \u201ca new lease of life\u201d after switching careers to become a train driver with Northern. \u00a0 Alex Worsick\u00a0decided 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 [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2022,16013,8221,47,2021,16018,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-519694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-careers","category-general-interest","category-people","category-rail-news","category-training","category-training-recruitment","category-uk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t