Train training - new qualifications for railway industry

Two new qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) are making tracks into railway industry training.

Raquel Doreen - one of the four female trainees taking the new rail locomotive qualification with the Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, in the rail simulator at Woburn, near Wellington.

At Toll NZ's training centre in Lower Hutt, where locomotive drivers from all over the country come to upskill, the National Certificate in Rail Operations (Locomotive Engineering) level 3 and 4, and the National Certificate in Rail Infrastructure, were officially launched last month.

The qualifications are aimed at providing formal training and recognition for train drivers (freight and passenger) and those involved with maintaining rail infrastructure.

The training programmes have been on trial since last year and are proving popular with staff. Nearly 50 trainees from across New Zealand are enrolled in the programme and the first graduates will complete their training in 2006.

Competenz has developed the qualifications in association with rail industry operators; Transfield Services, Connex, On Track and Toll Rail.

Competenz chief executive John Broadhead said rail industry employees can now gain formal recognition for their jobs and follow a clearly defined career path.

The qualifications take account of the diversity of interests, backgrounds and career objectives of candidates by allowing trainees to choose up to 30 unit standards that suit their own requirements. The new programmes also recognise the use of general industry qualifications within rail, and encourage transfer of people to other branches of the rail industry.

"These are important new qualifications which will play a key role in providing skilled people to run a rebuilt rail infrastructure," Mr Broadhead said.