The Danish regional operator Lokaltog, which operates nine local lines on the islands of Zealand and Lolland-Falster, has launched an accelerated recruitment and training campaign amid service expansion and preparations for the introduction of new trains. The company says it will begin training 40 new trainee train drivers in 2026, the largest number in its history spanning over a decade.
Over the past five years, Lokaltog has trained approximately 100 new train drivers, but the need for staff continues to grow. The company currently has 290 train drivers and operates a fleet of 58 multiple units, and increased frequencies on some lines, as well as the expansion of evening and night services, have led to growing pressure on recruitment.
Service expansion puts pressure on recruitment
According to the company, investments made by Region Sjælland and Region Hovedstaden, the regional authorities that ultimately fund operations, have enabled the development of local rail service on several lines in eastern Denmark.
“At Lokaltog, we are fortunate that Region Sjælland and Region Hovedstaden, which ultimately fund our operations, have made significant investments in local rail service in Zealand and Lolland-Falster. This means we run more frequently on some lines than before and have expanded our evening and night services. That is why we have stepped up our training and recruitment efforts,” said Tom Woldger, HR Director at Lokaltog.
In addition to expanding its current service offerings, the company is also preparing to introduce battery-powered trains. Lokaltog has ordered 24 new battery-powered trains for certain lines in Region Sjælland, and for the Nærumbanen line in the capital area, a procurement process is underway for another four battery-powered trains.
The new multiple units also bring additional staffing needs
The company says that the arrival of the new multiple units will not only mean additional staff for day-to-day operations, but also a significant amount of professional development for existing train drivers.
“When the new trains arrive, our drivers will need to be trained to operate the new multiple units. This will mean a lot of additional training over the next few years, and for this reason, we also need enough drivers to maintain daily operations while other colleagues are undergoing specialization,” said Tom Woldger.
In other words, Lokaltog isn’t just recruiting to fill current gaps, but is trying to build up a staff reserve in advance for the next phase of modernization.
Watch here the Video from Lokaltog
The company has also changed how it seeks out candidates
An important part of the strategy was revising how the company promotes itself as an employer. Lokaltog says it has updated its recruitment branding strategy and even produced a new video for prospective candidates, centered on real-life scenes from the cab, workshop, and break rooms.
The idea is simple: not just to draw attention to the job, but to offer a realistic picture of the profession of train driver.
At the same time, the company is trying to broaden its recruitment base. While admission requirements in the past primarily favored male candidates with technical vocational training, changes to the admission criteria have now opened the door to high school graduates as well, which, according to Lokaltog, has already begun to bring more women into the training program.
Lokaltog wants more women in the cab
The company acknowledges that the typical trainee profile is still that of a man between 30 and 50 years old, but says it sees signs of change.
“A few years ago, the admission requirements were revised, and that means we now have a much broader recruitment pool, because people with a high school education can also be admitted. Many more candidates with different backgrounds can apply, and we’re already seeing an increase in the number of female train drivers,” said Tom Woldger.
The company links this openness to its goal of becoming a more diverse workplace.
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