The most recent cohort of trainee train drivers has been put through their paces by Queensland Rail.
A total of 67 drivers have completed an intensive training program which lasts eight-and-a-half months and involves hundreds of hours of classroom theory, simulator training and practical on-track experience.
The program includes modules on rail safety, signalling systems, emergency procedures, and operational protocols, alongside on-track learning with experienced tutor drivers.
Trainees are required to navigate a complex network made up of 850 kilometres of track, 2000 signals and 152 stations.
Train driver roles are often filled internally from Queensland Rail’s talent pool, including from roles like station customer service and train guards.
To be considered to enter the training program, candidates must go through a comprehensive recruitment and selection process, including psychometric and psychomotor assessment.
Queensland Rail’s Manager of Train Service Delivery Training Mitchel Strathie said the training program ensured the next generation of drivers are fully prepared to safely operate Queensland Rail’s South East Queensland train services.
“Each one of our successful trainees embodies Queensland Rail’s dedication to connecting communities,” he said.
“With Cross River Rail, Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail, Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade and The Wave all being rolled out, we have an exciting rail future ahead.
“Our program delivers dozens of new drivers to the tracks each year, so we’re making sure we keep our customers moving now and for decades to come.”
Trainee driver Laurina Neumann is a couple of months into the program and said the course was challenging but rewarding.
“You need to be dedicated. When I get home after work, I’m studying and going over everything I’ve learned,” she said.
“It is like learning an entirely new language. You’re learning new systems, new equipment, how trains and railways operate – there’s a lot to it.
“I’m proud of the amount of knowledge I’ve developed in the past couple of months. It is very rewarding.”
