Some of the benefits of the job include company pension and reduced fares on the network
An Irish Rail train (stock)(Image: Irish Rail)
Irish Rail has launched a major new recruitment drive, with the public transport company looking to hire Intercity and Commuter train drivers to join their team.
The new positions, alongside continuing recruitment for DART drivers, are directly connected to the National Development Plan, with a number of significant projects approaching which will witness rail services expand and passenger experience improved over the forthcoming years.
Investments include:
A record fleet investment, with 285 new electric and battery-electric DART carriages on order, entering service from next year, and a new Enterprise fleet planned on the Dublin to Belfast linePlanning approval is in place under the DART+ Programme to treble the electrification transform the capacity of Greater Dublin Area rail services, with infrastructure works to extend the DART to Maynooth / M3 Parkway, Drogheda and HazelhatchOngoing work on the expansion of the Cork Area Commuter Rail areaPlans for capacity expansion on Galway and Limerick routes
An Irish Rail train (stock)(Image: Gareth Chaney/Collins)
The organisation is particularly urging women to apply, following a rise in female trainees in recent cohorts.
Irish Rail also states recruits are arriving from varied non-rail sectors including banking, airlines, the Defence Forces, and archaeology, reports Dublin Live.
The available train driver positions offer a salary that can reach up to €69,000, though the starting salary has not been disclosed in the job listing.
As well as the pay, there are also some fantastic benefits attached to the job including reduced fares, welfare schemes, further education support, and access to health and wellness programmes.
Irish Rail said the role offers career progression opportunities as well as access to a company pension, welfare schemes and reduced fares across the network(Image: Colin Keegan / Collins)
Candidates must be willing to work various shift patterns including weekend work and applicants must be over the age of 20. They also have to meet European Train Driver Licensing requirements with a minimum of nine years full time education.
Irish Rail say that successful candidates must demonstrate excellent communication skills, show calmness in an emergency, and be able to follow rules and procedures. Additionally, Irish Rail is looking for applicants who are conscientious and have a customer-led focus.
There will be a number of multiple-hurdle phases in the selection process. This will include initial online application and assessments, face to face assessment centres, competency-based interviews, rigorous medical and safety reference checking.
Chief Executive Mary Considine stated: “We in Iarnród Éireann are looking forward to welcoming our latest driver recruits. With so much service expansion planned under our Rail Strategy 2050, and record demand for our services, it’s an exciting time to become part of a growing organisation.
“We are also seeing great interest in careers in Iarnród Éireann from a range of backgrounds – we are a diverse and inclusive employer, and in particular we urge more women to apply for driver roles and are encouraged by the increasing interest from women in recent recruitment drives. We don’t just offer jobs, we offer careers and opportunity.”
Driver recruitment is currently available at www.irishrail.ie/careers.
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