Former BBC journalist swaps newsroom for train cab

A former journalist and radio presenter said she made a "brilliant" choice when she chose to swap careers to become a train driver.

Alex Worsick decided to apply for the role with Northern in 2024, after working at BBC Radio Lancashire for 22 years as a producer and news reader.

When she heard an interview with Lauren Pugh, who had been invited on to talk about her experience of working as a driver, it sounded like the perfect fit.

"I thought, 'I'm 47, I've got another 20 years to work, at least until I get a state pension, that's an entire new era to get a new career under your belt'" she said.

"I had a great career at the BBC, but I thought it was time for something new," she said when she returned to the studios on Darwen Street in Blackburn.

"I had never really thought about a career on the railway and didn't think Northern would want me, as I didn't have any transferable skills.

"But when I looked through the application form, there were questions about dealing with people, emergencies, deadlines and shift work - and I have those experiences.

"I thought it sounded brilliant."

Alex, who grew up in Accrington, spent the first five months in the classroom.

"You've no idea how much expertise and knowledge a train driver has, you need to know this rule book inside out," she said.

"I thought I might struggle because I'm not mechanically minded, but now I know about shafts and isolation cocks and flanges."

Alex is now in the process of gaining 230 hours of hands-on experience in the driver's cab, so she can operate different types of trains on routes through Lancashire and Merseyside.

"You need to know the names of all the level crossings, where all the signals are and what they can show you.

"It's a huge amount of stuff to learn."

The former journalist says she still loves chatting to people.

"It's really nice standing somewhere like Preston station which is really busy and people coming up and asking you questions," she said.

"It's so nice to be there and be able to help people."

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