Visibility and representation

THE RAILS have traditionally been a male domain, and rail freight is no different. In 2024, only 8.5% of all train drivers across the country were female. But this is changing, with industry-wide efforts to increase female representation. Encouraging more women to join the industry is not just about aesthetics or filling a quota: research has found time and time again that teams with a good gender balance perform better. In the article, I talk through my experiences as a female driver surrounded by men; how this has, and is, changing; and what more needs to be done to encourage women to pursue a career on the rails.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to work in the rail sector. I know this sounds tired and cliched, but it’s true. My dad was a guard for over 20 years, and it always seemed to be the path for me.

I got my first job in the sector in 2018 as a guard, after five years of trying. It felt like a real breakthrough moment: finally, after years of dreaming, plenty of hard graft and my fair share of setbacks, I’d made it.

I now realise it was naïve not to cast my net wider when trying to break into the industry. Getting a foot in the door is so important: once you’re in, making a sideways move becomes much more achievable. This is something I’d advise any young women aspiring to be drivers to think about. But then, if you don’t already know this, it’s hard to know what the options are. Luckily, companies like GBRf are brilliant at helping people get a start on the rails.

Fortunately for me, it wasn’t long before I got my first chance to get into the driver’s seat as a depot driver for a Southwestern Rail. This was the moment I caught the bug and knew I wanted to be a driver. After a couple of years training up in freight, I started work for GBRf at the start of 2024.

Freight has a different energy to it than passenger rail. It’s more hands-on; it’s good fun. I couldn’t see myself moving back to passenger after my experiences in the freight sector. Everyone has been so supportive and is always up for a chat or cuppa; to use another cliché, it really does feel like one big family.

It’s been great to meet other women doing amazing work in the sector, often through networking events to bring together women in the industry, like International Women’s Day events.

As I progressed in my career, I started to see just how important visibility and representation are for women in rail. When I was working as a guard, it didn’t feel obvious to me that I could make the leap to driving. I would look up to female drivers and think ‘my goodness that’s cool – I could do that!’. If I hadn’t been able to see other women making a success of themselves in such a male-dominated industry, I’m not sure I’d be where I am today. Ultimately, if you don’t see people that look like you doing what you want to do, it’s difficult to picture yourself doing it. I’m sure countless women have given up on their dreams because of a lack of representation, so I’m very pleased this is changing.  

There’s no denying that we still have some way to go. If you’ve ever considered a career in rail but hesitated because of the industry’s male dominance – go for it! The sector is changing, and there’s never been a better time to get involved. In a way, this fueled my desire to work on the rails – to prove that women can do it too, just as well as men (if not better!).

GBRf celebrates women, which is brilliant. Compared to some other freight businesses I’ve worked at, there are far more women – and more women in management positions, too. Over time, this representation at senior levels will do so much to improve equality. The business has a dedicated Women’s Network, to empower female employees, and has reworded its job adverts to be more inclusive and value-focused. GBRf is also committed to investing in, upskilling female employees, and accelerating their progression. GBRf have in place a number of measures to improve gender equality.   

We can’t escape the fact that most rail workers are still men. And there’s no use in pretending that we are anywhere close to gender equality yet. But there are plenty of reasons to feel positive about the future of women in the industry.