The liO regional train network in Occitanie has seen a spectacular increase in ridership, jumping by 68% between 2019 and 2025, reaching an average of 94,000 daily passengers. This exceptional growth is supported by considerable investments from the Occitanie Region, which has signed a 4 billion euro operating agreement with SNCF Voyageurs for 2023-2032. The goal is to increase the number of trains in circulation by 24% and accommodate 18 new train sets, while improving service quality, despite occasional punctuality issues on some lines in 2025.
To support this expansion, SNCF must meet the human resources challenge. Denis Salavert, Deputy HR Director for SNCF Voyageurs TER Occitanie, clarifies that there are no critical skill shortages in the strict sense, with over 500 recruitments made since 2023. However, the challenge lies in maintaining attractiveness in a competitive job market and anticipating future needs.
The rolling stock maintenance sector is particularly sensitive, with SNCF in direct competition with major regional industrial employers, especially in the aeronautics sector in the Toulouse basin, as well as urban transport networks. To attract talent, SNCF emphasizes remuneration, aligning with market salaries, and a strong employer brand, reinforced by the 'Top Employer' label.
Regarding train driving, SNCF provides comprehensive training from scratch, lasting ten months, combining theory, simulators, and practical experience. This profession, offering autonomy and purpose, appeals to profiles seeking meaning, despite the constraints of staggered hours and work on weekends and public holidays. A rigorous selection process ensures candidate suitability, with a success rate of about one trained candidate for every ten CVs received.
A wave of retirements planned between 2029 and 2030 necessitates increased recruitment and training of drivers in the coming years. A 2.1 million euro mobilization plan was also deployed in 2026 to recruit about fifteen maintenance technicians and twenty additional drivers. Continuous training and internal career changes are also priorities.
To broaden its candidate pool, SNCF is multiplying communication efforts, including partnerships with France Travail, local authorities, technical high schools, and participation in job fairs like the TAF events. The company also aims to increase its female workforce, with the goal that 30% of train drivers recruited in 2026 will be women. Other pools are targeted, such as individuals seeking career changes and older candidates. The environmental and societal dimension of public transport is also a key argument for attracting Generation Z.
