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Last week, CLECAT submitted its input to the evaluation of the Train Driver requirements. The initiative aims at improving the EU harmonised certification scheme for train drivers by ensuring that it is future-proof, keeps pace with technological progress and increased demand for international journeys, and makes the train-driving profession more diverse and attractive to young people. This includes, inter alia, the language requirements, the use of digital tools, as well as training.

Focusing on the need to particularly address the language requirements and the mobility of train drivers with a more long-term perspective, CLECAT highlights that language requirements should be simplified, e.g. by mandating English as a single, common operational language, similar as in aviation. This would be beneficial in daily operations, as well as in the case of an accident. Generally, such a change of language requirements would lead to major improvements and would finally no longer require train drivers to change at the border

Additionally, CLECAT recommends the use of digital tools to help lower the level of language requirements. In that regard, CLECAT suggests looking into initiatives of the private sector to overcome language barriers. As such, the Sector Statement Group (SSG) added in 2020 a new priority to overcome language barriers and supported the Translate4Rail project.