# Enrol up to 600 rail apprentices by 2030

> “Up to 600 apprentices between 16 and 21 years old will enrol over the next 4 years on the rail foundation apprenticeship, with the first starters based in Derby helping to cement the city’s role as Europe’s largest rail hub and fostering the next generation of Britian’s railway workforce.”
>
> — HM Government; Press release (Department for Transport), 15 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Education](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/education)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 15 October 2026
- **Where:** Press release (Department for Transport)
- **Deadline:** 15 October 2030
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Young people aged 16 to 21, starting in Derby
- **When:** Over the 4 years from 15 October 2026
- **Paid for by:** Part of the government's £2.5 billion youth employment support package, the Work and Pensions Secretary says
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-railways-takes-shape-as-hq-and-apprenticeship-scheme-confirmed (checked word for word at its source on 18 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 19 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-rail-apprentices-600-2030

## Where it stands

The rail foundation apprenticeship is for people aged 16 to 21, with the first starters based in Derby. The release, dated 15 October 2026, says up to 600 will enrol over the next 4 years, read from that date; it sets no minimum. The card moves when the first apprentices start.

## Timeline

- 15 October 2026, Promised: The government says up to 600 apprentices aged 16 to 21 will enrol on the rail foundation apprenticeship over the next 4 years
- 15 October 2030, Deadline (to come): Up to 600 rail foundation apprentices due to have enrolled by October 2030

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Department for Transport press release, 15 Oct 2026: Great British Railways takes shape as HQ and apprenticeship scheme confirmed](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-railways-takes-shape-as-hq-and-apprenticeship-scheme-confirmed)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 19 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 18 October 2026.

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