Aa alkaline battery sparking against positive terminal

Toy 2x AA powered train does not work when on switch is ‘ON’. When tinkering, screwdriver touches positive end of battery and the positive terminal, sparks shoot out and toy turns on (toy switch has to be in “ON” position and the two need to be touched simultaneously. Its like the screwdriver completes the connection, but when i just try to tigthen the positive terminal against the battery it doesnt work. When this is attempted at the 2nd battery positive terminal, toy stays off. How is this happening, what is going on? What is the science behind it, whats causing the spark, could i add something permanent between battery and positive terminal, aluminum foil perhaps… would it be a fire hazard?

Are the terminals in the battery tray clean? My guess is that a little corrosion is preventing contact. When the screwdriver is inserted, it presses a little harder against the terminal than just the battery spring and ‘digs’ in enough to make contact.