The West Australian government has opened a new round of recruitment of Transperth train drivers as part of its Metronet urban rail program.
60 new drivers will are sought under the new program, which is to align with a number of key Metronet projects set to expand the network.
The first of the new recruits should be ready in time for the opening of the Forrestfield-Airport Link, due for late 2021.
“There are plenty of us who would have held childhood dreams of driving a train,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti said on August 16.
“With applications now open for the next round of Transperth train drivers, now could be the time to turn these dreams into reality.”
To drive for Transperth, one must first complete a 25-week paid training period, as well as on-the-job training as a trainee railcar driver, to achieve a Certificate IV in Train Driving.
Training includes 11 weeks in the classroom learning theory, including electrical safety, customer service, signalling and communications, before 14 weeks of on-the-job training onboard trains.
“Once the training is complete, these drivers will literally take front seat in witnessing the Transperth network’s Metronet transformation, being among the first in the world to drive on the Forrestfield-Airport Link,” Saffioti said.
“Other Metronet projects are tracking ahead at full steam, with the recent announcement of the route for the Morley-Ellenbrook line and confirmation that construction on the project will start in late 2019 with upgrades to Bayswater station.”