More women are being encouraged to take up a career on Melbourne’s rail network as applications open for the next generation of Metro train drivers.
The Andrews Labor Government’s massive expansion of the train network – including the Metro Tunnel, a record number of weekly services, and the introduction of new, bigger trains – means more drivers will be needed to get people where they need to go.
By the end of the year, Metro Trains is looking to hire more than 100 trainee drivers, with a strong focus on attracting female applicants.
The new batch of trainees will join an established team of more than 1,100 drivers delivering more than 800,000 passenger journeys each day on our metropolitan rail network.
There are more than eleven times the number of women driving trains across Melbourne’s metropolitan network than a decade ago – growing from two per cent in 2009 to almost 29 per cent this year.
There are more than 300 female drivers across the network, and women now make up more than half of all trainee drivers.
The Metro Academy in Kensington trains the next generation of people to work on Victoria’s rail network, including train drivers. Before trainees touch a train, they’re put through extensive practical training to learn all aspects of the network and how to respond to issues.
From there, they will complete in-field training with Metro’s On-the-Job Trainers to put their driving skills to the test, ensuring they are safe and competent drivers.
With strong training requirements in the Labor Government’s new contract to run Melbourne’s train network, even more apprentices and trainees will get the practical and hands on experience they need to kickstart a career in rail.
The current contract will deliver 600 new jobs, including more than 300 apprentices. The contract also includes targets of 40 per cent for women across the workforce and five per cent for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In 2018, Metro’s driver recruitment campaign attracted about 10,000 applications, and from those applications nearly 150 drivers are currently in training.
Metro is encouraging people from all career backgrounds to apply to be Trainee Drivers at metrotrains.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne
“There are more than eleven times the number of women driving trains across Melbourne as there were ten years ago and we look forward to seeing that number rise even further.”
“There’s never been a better time to be a train driver, as we deliver an unprecedented level of investment in new infrastructure, maintenance and renewal across Victoria’s public transport network.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020