CHILDREN from Hereford could get the chance to climb aboard trains as "junior conductors".

Four lucky competition winners aged between four and 10 will have the chance to work alongside real train conductors on one of West Midlands Railway's brand-new class 196 trains during the autumn half-term.

Under the guidance of the railway team, the four lucky winners - plus their parents or guardians - will get to experience what it’s really like to conduct a train.

From seeing inside the train’s cab and checking tickets to greeting customers and even making announcements over the public tannoy system, it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Winners will also receive their own whistle, high-viz waistcoat and flags to ensure their journey as a conductor runs smoothly.

Jonny Wiseman, West Midlands Railway customer experience director, said: “We often receive heart-warming letters from little ones sharing their passion for the world of trains and hat’s what prompted us to come up with this great competition to be a conductor for the day.

“The rail industry is a fascinating place to work and, as well as being a lot of fun, initiatives like this are a great way to inspire future generations of rail professionals. We can’t wait to see the entries and welcome the lucky winners aboard one of our brand-new trains.”

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These class 196 trains have joined the railway network across the Hereford, Shrewsbury and the newly-named Elephant and Bear lines, tand feature more seats, additional under-seat luggage space, bike storage and greater accessibility.

To apply to become a junior conductor, parents and guardians are being invited to share a video of their children. The video can be up to 30 seconds long, and can be posted on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok tagging West Midlands Railway and using #LittleTrainConductor. Within the video, they’ll need to explain exactly what they love most about trains and why they think they should be a conductor for the day.

Applications close on Friday 15 September, and entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges who will select the winners.