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Do you need a driving license to drive a train?

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to drive a train. I’m not saying I want to make it my career, but I might be interested in trying it. At its most basic level, do you need a driver’s license to drive a train?

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Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Driving a train isn’t all that similar to driving a car. It comes with different rules, safety precautions, and vantage points that you don’t encounter when driving a car.
Interestingly, you don’t need a driving license to drive a train—unless you’re driving on public roadways. To this effect, you would only need a driver’s license for a train that shares the road with motorists. Such trains are usually part of light rail systems found in larger cities across the U.S.
However, to drive a train, you will have to become certified and meet the following requirements:
  • Be at least 21 years old
  • Have at least a high school diploma
  • Meet certain medical standards
  • Pass an engineer’s training course in the state where you live
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