The Government rail organisation is advertising for people to join its maintenance team on a 10-month contract.
The work is part of a $60million PGF rail and roads funding announcement made by Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones on June 15.
The rail projects include drain and culvert condition surveys, culvert cleaning and maintenance, management of trees and shrubs around tracks and drainage improvements.
In addition to Otago and Southland, work will be carried out from Waikato to Wairarapa, in Canterbury and on the West Coast.
KiwiRail Group chief executive Greg Miller said work began this month and KiwiRail would hold open days to recruit the 90 trainees it needed — 10 of whom would come from Dunedin.
“Given KiwiRail’s geographic spread across the country, we are in an ideal position to support our regions hit by the impacts of Covid-19.
"Our first group of new trainees should have completed training and be on the job by September."
KiwiRail described the roles as a "great opportunity to get a foot in the door into the rail industry".
Applicants needed to be physically fit and willing to work in all weather conditions "and not afraid to get your hands dirty".
The starting hourly rate was $21.04, he said.
