Breaking News English

Train drivers in UK earn more than pilots

Train Drivers - Level 0

Some London train drivers get paid more than pilots. The highest-paid drivers on London's Underground got $130,000 last year. The basic salary is $70,000 a year. This is twice the salary of a nurse. London's police officers start at $28,000. London Underground train drivers also get eight weeks holiday a year.

Many people think the salaries are unfair because the job of a train driver is getting easier. Many drivers no longer have to drive trains. On automated trains, they only have to open and close the doors. A spokesman said their pay was for "professionalism". Thousands of passengers travel on the London Underground every day.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Train Drivers - Level 1

Some London subway train drivers get paid more than pilots. A newspaper said the highest-paid drivers on the London Underground got $130,000 last year. This included overtime, bonuses and pension payments. The basic salary is $70,000 a year. This is double the average wage of a nurse. London's police officers get a starting salary of $28,000. London Underground train drivers also get over eight weeks holiday a year.

Many people think the salaries are unfair. A group said: "These salaries are totally [wrong]...the role of a subway train driver is getting easier." Many train drivers no longer have to drive trains. On automated trains, drivers only have to open and close the doors. The drivers are going on strike for more pay. A spokesman said the pay was for "professionalism and expertise". Hundreds of thousands of passengers travel on the London Underground every day.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Train Drivers - Level 2

Slowest

There are reports that London subway train drivers get paid more than pilots, police officers and nurses. A UK newspaper reports that the highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 last year, including overtime, bonuses and pension payments. This is 69 per cent higher than 2012. The basic salary of a train driver is $70,000 a year - double the average wage of a nurse and more than what many airline pilots get. Police officers in London get a starting salary of $28,000. London Underground train drivers also get over eight weeks holiday a year.

Many people think the high salaries are unfair. The Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salaries are totally [wrong]...the role of a subway train driver is getting easier." Many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because train lines are fully automated. On automated train lines, drivers only have to open and close train doors. The drivers are going on strike for more pay. A spokesman said their pay was for "professionalism and expertise" in "delivering a professional public service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the Underground...every day".

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Train Drivers - Level 3

Newspapers in England are reporting that subway train drivers get paid more than pilots, doctors, police officers and nurses. The Sunday Times newspaper reports that the three highest-paid drivers on the London Underground earned $130,000 last year. This included overtime, bonuses and pension payments. It is a 69 per cent rise in pay since 2012. Journalists say the basic salary of a train driver is $70,000 a year. This is double the average wage of a nurse in London and more than what many airline pilots earn. The newspaper reports that police officers in London have a starting salary of $28,000. In addition to their pay, London Underground train drivers get over eight weeks paid holiday a year.

Many people think the high salaries train drivers get are unfair. James Roberts of the Tax-Payers' Alliance said: "These salaries are totally [wrong]....Increasingly, the role of a [subway train] driver is getting easier." He said that many train drivers no longer have to drive the trains because many train lines are fully automated. He said drivers on automated train lines only have to open and close train doors. He was also surprised the drivers were going on strike for more pay. A train drivers' spokesman said their pay was for, "the professionalism, and expertise...of delivering a professional public service for hundreds of thousands of passengers travelling on the Underground...every day."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson