CBH’s new agreement with Aurizon sparks recruitment drive for drivers and trainees

Australia’s biggest rail freight operator plans to recruit 140 train drivers and 50 trainees and apprentices in regional WA after signing a long-term contract to cart CBH Group’s grain. CBH announced last week that Queensland-based Aurizon was its preferred provider for rail haulage and maintenance for a six-year agreement, with two two-year options to extend. Existing provider Watco, which had been running CBH fleets for 9.5 years, agreed to transition the contract to Aurizon before the coming harvest, which is forecast to be a record of about 20 million tonnes. The move comes as CBH’s supply chain operations remain in turmoil, with lengthy delays shifting grain from country sites to port, blamed partly on truck and train driver shortages. Big delays have resulted in WA growers paying tens of millions of dollars of demurrage, and has damaged the State’s previously strong reputation as a reliable supplier. Anna Dartnell, Aurizon general manager, iron ore and central west, said Aurizon expected to take on up to 200 new employees across key regional locations, boosting its WA workforce by more than 25 per cent. BHP in May said it was planning to train up to 200 people to be train drivers for its WA iron ore operations in the Pilbara. Ms Dartnell said Aurizon was aware of the strong demand for labour resources in WA but it was an advantage that Aurizon employees lived in the communities in which they worked. She said Aurizon was also working with CBH on a transition plan that included offering current Watco employees opportunities with Aurizon. Aurizon’s careers website says 140 qualified locomotive drivers are needed in WA, with vacancies at Avon, Albany, Wagin, West Merredin, Narngulu and Kwinana. It also expects to recruit about 50 trainees and apprentices, as well as other entry-level roles. Aurizon will establish a training centre at Avon, featuring virtual reality technology to deliver safer, streamlined training and onboarding of local recruits. The mothballed depot at Avon will be reopened as part of a multimillion-dollar investment, which also involves reopening a non-operating Wagin depot. Operational and leadership roles and qualified trades and maintenance staff roles are also expected. The new haulage agreement means Aurizon will use the existing grain fleet of 10 trains, owned by CBH. Aurizon will also introduce an extra three Aurizon-owned grain trains.