Indian and Malaysian trainers are the first ones to be trained by AKN.
In an effort to combat the increasing shortage of train drivers in the industry, EVN AKN has initiated a pilot project. This innovative venture is being carried out at the Kaltenkirchen site.
The pilot project aims to recruit 15 trainees from India and Malaysia. These trainees, who arrived in Germany in early August, are set to begin their training in September. All recruits have completed a university degree and possess German language skills at B1 level, as well as being medically fit. They are also required to hold a school leaving certificate.
The training programme, which takes approximately one year, will equip the trainees with the entire rule set necessary for driving trains and shunting in Germany. Jürgen Stroetzl, Head of Operations and Traffic, explained the training details.
Matthias Meyer, Managing Director of EVN AKN, expressed concern about the decreasing number of people in the German job market, stating that it would not be sufficient for the coming years and decades. The goal of the pilot project is to retain the trainees within the company beyond their training period.
Unfortunately, no specific information was provided about the duration of the pilot project or the number of trainees expected to be trained in the future. However, the trainees for this inaugural project have already begun their journey towards becoming skilled train drivers in Germany.
This pilot project is a significant step towards addressing the persistent issue of the train driver shortage in the industry. As the demand for reliable and efficient public transportation continues to grow, initiatives like this one are crucial in ensuring the smooth operation of the railway system.
