Career Pathways into Career Pathways into the Rail Industry Michael McCarthy Project Officer South Australian Freight Council Inc.

A Growing Industry: But Why? Australia’s Economy is Growing Australia’s Freight Task is expected to double every 14 years. Between 2010 and 2030 Rail Freight is expected to jump 90% (Road Freight is only 50%) But Why Rail? Cheaper: To move one tonne of freight one kilometre (on average) Truck: 2.79c Rail:0.24c Greener: The average Freight Train takes 110 trucks off the road. Reduces truck movements by around 49.7m truck kilometres a year. One passenger train reduces carbon emissions by the same amount as planting 320 hectares of trees.

The Rail Workforce Approx. 110,000 Staff Over 170 organisations -Private and Public Operators across Regional, Rural and Remote Australia. -Passenger Operations, Track Owners & Managers, Freight Operators, Manufacturers & Suppliers Wide Range of Occupations, Disciplines and Professions

Job Roles & Opportunities Asset Management Manufacturing and Maintenance Corporate Specialists Customer Service Employment Programs Engineers Infrastructure Operations

Rail: A Growing Industry Employee numbers to grow by 6% in the 5 years to ,100 new Train/Tram Drivers needed by 2017 Training Needs: Estimated to be 6,500 new qualifications needed by 2017 Almost 66% of all training is for Rail Operations Occupations

Career Pathway for New Entrants Example of Aidan Matthews Always Wanted to be a Train Driver Finished School in Now Locomotive Driver at Genesee and Wyoming. Aidan’s and other Career Pathway’s available at

Find all your Career Information in Transport and Logistics at Look out for the first Annual Rail Careers Week 8-14 September