The Balearic government plans to significantly expand the SFM workforceâfrom 170 employees today to more than 50 percent more. This should improve headways and even enable night connections.
More People Behind the Counters and in the Driver's Cab
Early in the morning at the EstaciĂł Intermodal in Palma: commuters with coffee in hand, students with backpacks, and a train station that on some days looks short of staff. The government now announces that it will fix exactly this. The SFM, Mallorca's railway company, currently has around 170 employees. A planned increase of up to 50 percent would bring it to about 250 to 260 people at most.
Why more staff now?
In short: because trains need more service than just tracks and ticket counters. Passengers want denser headways, more punctual connections and â as was explicitly mentioned â regular night services on weekends for the first time. Background: the workforce has shrunk in recent years; since 2015 there has been a noticeable decline. Therefore, they want to hire staff for locomotive drivers, train conductors, maintenance teams, and an operations hotline.
The plans foresee filling the new positions in stages. Talks with training centers are underway, and recruitment and training programs are planned. In other words: anyone pursuing a career as a locomotive driver could soon have more opportunities than before.
What changes for commuters?
For all who commute daily between Palma and towns such as Inca or Manacor, this means: better availability, fewer surprising outages, and possibly later-running trains on weekends. Early tests for late connections could begin in the coming months, according to informed circles â depending on recruitment and operational safety.
However: more staff alone is not enough. There must also be rail capacity, signaling, and rolling stock. Routes like the one to Sa Pobla or Manacor are still single-track in places â limiting how many additional trains can actually run. Practically, improvements will come gradually, not overnight.
How will recruitment work?
The government apparently plans to publicly advertise open positions and, together with local vocational schools, hold information sessions. Mobility days at stations are also being discussed â a good opportunity to inform yourself on-site. So anyone passing Plaça dâEspanya in the coming weeks might already see flyers or notices.
In the end, many will benefit: commuters, residents and tourists, and not least the employees themselves. One thing is certain: when trains run longer and more often, daily life on the island changes â quietly, in steps, and often only noticeable when you catch a later connection without hurry.
Tip: Pay attention to announcements at your station, the official channels of SFM, and local timetables. The best thing: asking questions costs nothing â and a friendly chat at the information desk can sometimes help before you finish your coffee.
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