Irish Rail is set to advertise 150 positions as part of a series of recruitment drives in the coming weeks, with the role of rail set to expand significantly as a result of investment in the company's network, fleet and customer service.

From Tuesday (19 April), the company will launch its latest recruitment programme for train drivers, with a panel for up to 80 drivers, before launching an apprenticeship campaign for 30 apprenticeships across fitter, electrician and heavy vehicle mechanic trades from next Monday (25 April).

Also from next Monday, at least 20 positions at station operatives in the greater Dublin area will be advertised to assist customers and work on train operations in the city centre and commuter stations.

Finally from 27 April, 30 positions as on-board customers service officers across the Irish Rail network will be advertised, and those positions will complete the full introduction of customer service officers across the Intercity network.

The driver positions will be based at a number of locations, including Dublin, Cork, Drogheda, Dundalk, Limerick, Galway, Mallow, Portlaoise, Sligo and Waterford.

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Irish Rail is also asking women to consider driving roles, with recent training classes including the first 50:50 driver class in gender balance in the railway's history.

"Iarnród Éireann is a dynamic organisation, which offers excellent progression opportunities. 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," said Jim Meade, CEO of Irish Rail.

"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.  I myself joined the railway as an apprentice, and with a European Railway and CIPD-award-winning talent management function within Iarnród Éireann, we believe we stand alongside any organisation in enabling our people to make the most of their potential.”  

The company's investment programme, part of the National Development Plan 2021-2030, funded by the National Transport Authority and Department of Transport, will see record investment in the fleet, with up to 750 carriages to be added over the next decade.

The DART+ programme will treble the electrification and double the capacity of the railway in the greater Dublin area, with infrastructure works to extend the DART to Maynooth / M3 Parkway, Drogheda and Hazelhatch.

Major investment in the Cork and Galway commuter lines has been confirmed, with plans to improve the Limerick and Waterford lines also in the works.

Photo: New Irish Rail train drivers. (Pic: Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX)