RAIL operator Northern – which runs services on the Airedale line – is launching a recruitment campaign.

The company has revealed plans to take on more than 300 train drivers and conductors across the region this year.

People will be hired to replace existing staff members as they retire, earn promotions or join other companies.

Northern says that during 2024, the aim is to recruit 108 train drivers and 198 conductors.

And the firm says it is "actively encouraging" people with no previous rail industry experience to apply.

New recruits will complete paid apprenticeships at one of Northern’s training academies, which are located in Leeds and Manchester.

The train driver roles – which will be advertised in the next few months – come with an annual starting salary of £23,000, rising to £54,500 after the recruits complete a 64-week training course.

The conductor posts have a starting salary of £22,000, which rises to £29,000 once a 16-week training course is completed.

There will also be a small number of roles open to qualified drivers, which will be based at sites including Leeds.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, says: "We have a range of rewarding roles for anyone who wants to become part of a dedicated team that runs more than 2,500 services a day to over 500 destinations.

"We are looking for customer-focused people with excellent communication skills who thrive in a dynamic environment, and may not necessarily have considered a career in the rail industry before.

"Successful applicants will demonstrate a high level of responsibility, a strong work ethic and a commitment to maintaining safety standards."

She adds: "We will be recruiting throughout the year and provide all the training you need, so if you are interested, please register for job alerts on our website.

"We want our workforce to reflect the communities that we serve and we’re proud to include people from all walks of life in our team, from military veterans and ex-police officers, to former office workers and stay-at-home parents."

Last year, Northern – which currently employs over 2,000 drivers and 1,400 conductors across its network – released a video to highlight the role operational staff in the business play helping to keep services running. It can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=u5wfAix7kDc

Further information about roles available with the company is available at northernrailway.co.uk/careers, where people can also register to receive recruitment alerts.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, running services to more than 500 stations across the north of England.