Germany is currently struggling with a shortage of qualified drivers, with a number of operators sub-contracting out or amending services due to start with the launch of the 2020 timetable due to a lack of staff. Rhine-Ruhr Transport Authority terminated its contract with Keolis Germany for the operation of two Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn lines, saying the operator had only hired half the drivers required to operate the service.
DB has begun to advertise for staff in other European countries, with recruitment programmes currently running in Greece, Spain, Italy, Serbia, North Macedonia and Romania. DB is looking particularly to hire train, bus and shunting locomotive drivers as well as electricians.
DB says its strong success in Spain is due to the fact that trainee drivers there must pay more than €20,000 to study, unlike Germany where they are paid an allowance with the cost of their study paid for them.
DB financed a language course in Madrid to teach the 30 trainees German to B1 standard, before they began a nine-month training course at DB Cargo’s facilities in Kornwestheim, Mannheim and Cologne in the middle of January. After passing their tests, the drivers will be given an open-ended contract. A second group begun taking language classes in Spain in January.
“We are very pleased that the colleagues from Spain are now supporting DB and that we are offering people a chance and a secure job here if they dare to start over,” says DB human resources director, Mr Martin Seiler. “The Spanish programme shows that new ways in recruiting is the right way to go. With a recently established cross-border unit, we are further expanding our Europe-wide activities.”
As part of the “Strong Rail” strategy, DB plans to hire around 100,000 new employees in the coming years. In 2019, DB hired more than 24,000 new staff, including more than 2000 train drivers, after receiving 400,000 applications.
