Nottingham tram driver is concert pianist by night

A tram driver lives out his two passions by driving trams in the day and being a concert pianist by night.

Reuben Lee, 25, from Lenton, Nottingham, has been playing the piano since he was five, but has also always been interested in public transport.

Mr Lee said: “I went from working in fast food to doing essentially what was my dream.

“I like them equally, but if I could take up both professions at the same time I would.”

He added: “I’ve always been interested in transport like railways, trains, trams, buses – with music my mum always had Classic FM on so I’ve grown up listening it, it’s embedded in my brain.”

Mr Lee started working in public transport by manning a train refreshment trolley.

He then moved to the train station depot, cleaning carriages, when services had to be stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic, and then two years ago got the job to drive the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) trams.

His biggest performance to date as a musician was as the pre-concert entertainer at the Royal Northern Sinfonia show at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham.

He is also set to play at the Mansfield music and drama festival, but has also performed at the Derby arts festival and in most train stations.

He said: “We got a piano when I was five and a half, started bashing the keys, my parents thought ‘we can make him sound a bit better’ then they got me playing lessons and I’ve never stopped since.”

Mr Lee shared how competitive the music industry can be, adding it is difficult to gain a regular income, which tram driving provides.

The “level of concentration” and the “hand-eye coordination” are the main skills he uses in the two jobs but he says “I love doing both”.