The best paid Queensland Rail driver made more than $210,000 last year after working more than 918 hours of overtime.

That is the equivalent of 17 extra hours worked every week of the year.

The top five Queensland Rail drivers earned $315,684.88 in overtime payments between them last year. Credit:Alamy

The top five best-paid Queensland Rail train drivers earned between $179,711 and $210,316 last year, by working between 560.81 and 918.4 hours of overtime.

However, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the latest figures showed a focus on recruitment had reduced overtime claims from the rail operator's hardest working drivers and guards.