Train drivers being hired in Athlone as part of new Iarnród Éireann recruitment campaign

Iarnród Éireann has announced a new recruitment campaign for train drivers, which will see a panel established to hire up to 100 drivers over the next two years.

Driver positions are due to be filled in Athlone, Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Westport as part of the recruitment effort.

And Iarnród Éireann is encouraging women to consider train driving roles, with an increasing number of women involved in recent trainee classes.

The company also highlighted the diverse range of previous careers from which recent driver recruits have come. These include careers from banking to airlines, from defence forces to archaeology, and much more.

Investment in Iarnród Éireann's network, fleet and customer service is expected to see the role of rail expand significantly as the backbone of Ireland's sustainable transport network.

The planned development of the rail network includes major investment in rail services for regional cities such as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford

Iarnród Éireann said benefits for drivers who are successful in the recruitment campaign include a "competitive salary on a scale which reaches a maximum of €63,000, and career progression opportunities," as well as company pension, income continuance and welfare schemes, and access to health and wellness programmes.

“Iarnród Éireann is a dynamic organisation, which offers excellent progression opportunities," said the company's chief executive, Jim Meade.

"With the planned expansion of services as part of the National Development Plan, it is 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.

"In particular we urge more women to apply for driver roles, and are encouraged by the increasing interest from women in recent recruitment drives," said Mr Meade.

The driver recruitment campaign went live this morning (Monday). See www.irishrail.ie/careers for information and applications.