If you pass the tests, you go to Driver Training School. It’s near Acton Town, and it smells like coffee and old wiring. You’ll learn the "rule book"—a massive document that covers everything. Did you know you cannot leave your cab to help a lost pigeon?
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Seriously. Never. You stay in your seat. The rule book says so. You will also learn the "Train Stop"—a terrifying metal arm that slams down to stop the train if you go past a red light. It makes a sound like a giant hammer hitting a trash can.
Your instructors will drill you. "What do you see?" they’ll ask. "A tunnel," you say. "WRONG!" they scream. "You see a signal at the end of the tunnel!" They are very serious about signals.
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Here’s the best part. Driving a Tube train is oddly social. You aren't just driving; you are performing. Every station requires a special "right side" or "left side" announcement. You have to say "Mind the gap" in a specific tone. The old voice recording is still used at Embankment. It’s a ghost of a driver from the 1970s.
Speaking of ghosts, drivers love ghost stories. Many will swear they’ve seen a phantom figure by the tunnel at Bethnal Green or heard footsteps on the roof at closed stations. Is it true? Who cares! It makes the night shift spookier and way more fun to talk about.
Also, you get a free uniform. It’s a very serious, navy-blue ensemble. You look like a pilot, which is the point. You can also wear cool sunglasses when you pop your head out at surface stations. You will feel like a boss.
