Among Renfe’s plans for this year, the expansion of its workforce through the Public Employment Offer (OPE) 2023 stands out. The increase in personnel will take place especially in one of the most important positions when it comes to offering a good service, that of the drivers of their trains. Thus, the public company will evaluate this Saturday 814 applicants who seek to get hold of one of the 450 places for the gate machinist position, the lowest category on the salary scale within this group of workers. But, how much does a Renfe train driver charge?
At the end of last year, the unions and the Spanish railway company agreed on the III Renfe Group Collective Agreement, where new salary tables were established. In this way, the new train drivers who enter in 2023 will start charging 20,406.60 euros per yearabout 6,000 euros less than what their fellow train drivers earn annually –those without the last name “input”–, who receive 26,751.96 euros.
It is to be hoped that over time, by adding years and experience in front of a train, some of the 450 new operators that the company will add this weekend will come to occupy the position of “main engineer”, which will allow them to enjoy a salary of 31,105.20 euros. Likewise, those who have made the most effort will be able to perform the role of “chief driver”, which will result not only in greater responsibilities but also in a significant economic increase, reaching 38,391.48 euros. Finally, at the top of the salary scale, is the “chief driver” and his 46,652.40 euros per year.
Of the total of 814 people who want to be drivers of the National Network of Spanish Railways only 99, that is, 12.1% of the candidates, are women, as company sources have assured EFE. In addition, 299 of the places offered are for state-wide traffic service teams, with a geographical location to be determined by Renfe according to existing needs; 130 for Catalonia, the Basque Country, Miranda de Ebro and Zaragoza; and 21 for cross-border traffic with France.
The exam that applicants must pass is face-to-face and takes place simultaneously in the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences of the Complutense University of Madrid and the Faculty of Economics and Business of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. It consists of a theoretical-professional test and another psychotechnical one.
In total, OPE 2023 will allow incorporating 1,250 new workers to the company’s staff who, according to the company’s assurances, will all be subject to the working and remuneration conditions established by the collective agreement. In this way, in addition to 450 entry train drivers, Renfe will incorporate 500 entry commercial operators this year, with an initial annual salary of 14,570.76 euros, and 300 manufacturing and maintenance entry operators, who will begin with a salary of 16,487. 28 euro.
