Jobs boost as train firm to hire 200 new drivers
TRANSPORT firm Keolis is creating 200 train driver jobs, in a timely jobs boost for the nation as it suffers a catalogue of job losses across a range of industries due to the coronavirus crisis.
The roles are being created to help deliver increased services and capacity across the Wales and Borders rail franchise, which Keolis operates – under its joint venture with Amey (KeolisAmey) – having been awarded a 15-year contract by Transport for Wales in 2018.
The franchise operates under the Transport for Wales Rail Services banner.
News of the much-welcomed jobs boost bucks the trend of mass job losses announced across a range of industries – including retail and the aviation sector – since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keolis currently employs 800 train drivers across the network, with the latest recruitment drive representing a 25% increase as it looks to further ramp up services.
The starting salary for the trainee drivers will be £28,000, rising to around £52,000 once fully qualified.
However, with things like weekend working, train drivers can earn even more.
Some of the new driver recruits, who will undergo an intensive two year training programme, will be deployed on the Core Valley Lines into Cardiff for which the £738m electrification project is under way and is on track for completion in 2023.
The investment is expected to produce an up to 20% rise in passengers over the next six years.
The investment will see new turn-up-and-go tram-trains, currently being constructed, as well trimode trains, which can which switch between electric, battery and diesel modes, operating on the Rhymney Line.
In the rest of Wales, and with some services covered by the franchise over the border in England, the new recruits will operate diesel-powered rolling stock.
Chief executive of Keolis in the UK Alistair Gordon said of the investment: “It takes about two years to train a train driver so we are now starting the recruitment so we can do the batches ready for the new timetables.”
Mr Gordon said it was hoped that more women and those from more ethnic backgrounds will be appointed.
He added: ”We would like to encourage a more balanced approach.
“We do know that a lot of the drivers are male as it is a very attractive career.
“We do provide things like flexible hours to encourage more women say with young children.”
There has already been huge interest in the train driver roles.
Mr Gordon said: “We have already had 10,000 applicants, which is way higher than we would normally expect.”
The jobs have been advertised across all of its depots in Wales, including Holyhead, Canton and Wrexham, for the first time.
The roles are not open to people who are colour blind.
Keolis, which also operates a number of other rail and light rail franchises across the UK, has established its new UK headquarters in Cardiff.