Kiwirail announces nationwide search for new train drivers
Sixty trainees are being sought to drive passenger services in Auckland and Wellington, and freight services at a number of key locations elsewhere in both the North and South Islands.
KiwiRail currently has around 400 locomotive engineers. Expected growth in both freight and passenger services means at least 100 more are required over the next two years to meet that demand, says KiwiRail Freight Operations Manager Aaron Temperton.
Staffing levels had been static for a number of years, with comparatively low numbers of recruits needed each year to fill vacancies when staff retired or moved on, he said.
“However customer demand arising from our new business direction means we now need to bring in substantially more trainees each year.”
Mr Temperton says he did not expect any shortage of applicants however he warned they faced a lengthy screening and recruitment process in order to be selected for one of the roles.
“It is critical we get people with the right attitudes and skills for this job - they will need to be prepared to work long hours in rotating shifts, and have the right approach to driving.”
Training to become a locomotive engineer takes up to two years, and includes theory training in a classroom and a substantial on the job training component.
Fifty two trainees are currently working their way through this training programme. This next round of recruits would take up their place in the driving schools from early next year.
They would be deployed to Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Otira, Westport and Invercargill.
Advertisements will be placed in newspapers in each of these centres, as well as online recruitment sites. Existing KiwiRail staffs are also being given the opportunity to apply.
City.Mobi
Also in New Zealand today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Wellington.
City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.
However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.
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Wellington.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.
Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.
Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.
City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.