A new institute, focussed on on-the-job training, has opened in Buraidah to train staff for the Saudi Railway Company.

The Saudi Railway Polytechnic, run by a British institute, is connected with several colleges in the Kingdom, a report said.

The institute can accommodate up to 3,000 students between the ages of 19 and 23, who need to complete a two-week assessment before gaining acceptance, it said.

The three-year course will cover both general skills training, such as English-speaking courses, as well as specific courses in railway disciplines, including infrastructure and train operations, a report in the Arab News said.

New train drivers will begin with abstract training courses for six months and then a training course on using communication devices for another six months, a statement said.

Drivers will then work as assistant commanders in the train squares during specific shifts in order to eventually become qualified, which could take around three to five years, it said. – TradeArabia News Service