Queensland's coal freight network services provider QR National will need be opening its doors to young workers who have plans of joining the railway industry.

QR National managing director Lance Hockridge said, “ The rail freight transport sector in Australia is experiencing strong growth, especially on the back of continued development and diversification in the resources sector.”

An additional 225 trainees, apprentices, and graduate positions will be available in the next three years. The new positions are expected to be in Townsville, Bowen, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald, Moranbah, Mackay/Sarina, Toowoomba, Brisbane, and Redbank.

Hockridge said, “There are many highly skilled young people, particularly in regional Australia, who will be crucial to our start as a private sector company.”

Electro technology (electricians, electronics, traction linesperson), mechanical fitters and/or turners, diesel fitters, and fabrication apprenticeships will soon be created. A balance will be established by opening trainee positions in the construction industry and the graduate vacancies in accounting, business and finance, information technology, human resources, transport and logistics, and marketing and

QR National employees come from central Queensland and outside Brisbane. Employees from Central Queensland make up around 30 percent of the company's workforce while those from outside Brisbane comprise close to 70 percent.

“As a new publicly listed company, unlike others we will continue to be an active part of the community in regional towns and cities as we have been for many years,” the managing director said. The new blood, he said. “will be the future of our company and have a unique opportunity to help grow our company into the leading transport and logistics provider in Australia.”