Amtrak launches apprenticeship pilot program

Amtrak is offering a new apprenticeship pilot program to help participants learn skills on the job and develop a professional career path, the railroad announced yesterday.

The program will be offered to a mix of new hires and existing employees with diverse backgrounds. Students will begin in the classroom and move to hands-on work in a specific trade, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

"With a focus on safety and Amtrak values, the apprenticeship program offers an opportunity for employees to develop new skills and expand their career," said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Qiana Spain.

Regardless of their specializations, all apprentices will take core courses in safety, environmental awareness, personal protective equipment and other areas before meeting their mentors and moving into combined classroom and hands-on instruction, then branching off into craft-specific training.

After three years of training, students take a final exam and become full mechanics. This program creates a talent pipeline for existing and new employees and provides a career track for personal and professional advancement at Amtrak.

"Apprenticeship and effective training programs, just like this one, are proven ways to grow workforces, attract and retain the right talent and help working people expand their skillsets,” said John Feltz, director of the Transport Workers Union Rail Division.

The apprenticeship program will be paid for with funds from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Amtrak's goal is to "connect talented people to Amtrak career opportunities," officials said. So far this year, Amtrak has hired more than 1,500 new employees.