With LRT service moving closer, recruitment of Ion drivers begins

WATERLOO REGION — Wanted: LRT drivers. No previous experience required.

Keolis Grand River is looking to hire people to drive Ion trains when Waterloo Region’s light rail transit system is finally expected to go online — a year and a half late — in December.

Here’s what it’s looking for.

High school diploma? Check.

Five years driving experience? Check.

Focused on safety and customer service? Excellent. Good communications skills? Wonderful. You fit the advertised profile to helm a light rail vehicle on its 19kilometre journey between Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Fairview Park mall in Kitchener.

“We train everybody assuming they know nothing about LRVs and the system,” said Ian Cushion, general manager of the Keolis office that will operate and maintain the Ion light rail transit system in the region.

“We’re not looking for any particular formal qualifications.”

On Tuesday, the job posting went up just after 10 a.m. for 39 Ion driver positions, each paying $62,000 to $65,000 a year. Four hours later, Cushion said, more than 100 resumes had been

submitted.

In four weeks, the posting will close and an assessment process will begin. The number of applications will be whittled down. The first 13 drivers hired will be brought on board by the end of July.

“We’re not looking for anyone that’s an LRV operator at the moment,” Cushion said. “They’re few and far between, especially in the Region of Waterloo.”

A four-week training period on the local system will deal with how to use the LRV and how to deal with safety events and customers. After that, a reinforcement period follows the training.

Keolis is one of the partners in GrandLinq, the consortium warded the contract to design and build the light rail system. The largest operator of light rail in the world, it is in charge of maintenance for the region’s LRT system for 30 years and operations for 10, with the potential for renewals.

Tuesday marked the first time Keolis had opened recruiting for Ion operators in Waterloo Region, Cushion said.

Production delays at vehicle manufacturer Bombardier have twice delayed delivery of the 14 Ion cars, which need to be tested on the system and have specialized gear installed. A sixth Ion train was expected to arrive in the region this week.

Now, Cushion said, there’s lot more confidence.

“We’ve all agreed to move forward with the recruitment sid.

The 39 drivers will complete a Keolis workforce of about 100 in Waterloo Region. That local workforce already includes 18 administrative staff, 22 maintenance staff and 19 operations staff.