As the sector celebrates international women’s day, Network Rail is encouraging more women to join the rail industry as figures reveal that over a third of all the infrastructure owner’s new starters in the last 12 months have been women.
On the West Coast main line between London and Crewe today, 11 of the 15-person-strong signalling team are women.
Network Rail is highlighting the role of four women – Claudine Molloy, Alice Marsh, Kelly Littleton, and Saddiqa Shan.
Claudine, a former solicitor, relishes being part of the signalling team and particularly enjoys that “no two days are the same” in her new role as operations manager.
“You could be working to recover train services after an incident, developing a team member or delivering plans that improve train performance,” she said.
Alice, meanwhile, joined the industry via Network Rail’s graduate programme and is now a seasons delivery specialist, which helps the sector respond to the impacts of climate change.
As a qualified signaller though, Alice can help relieve colleagues when necessary. She said: "There is a lot of problem solving being a signaller, every day a different challenge, and seeing how decisions you make keeps passengers and freight moving is really rewarding."
It also helps Alice support Kelly, previously a primary school teacher, in her role as a roster clerk. Kelly explained: "In my job as a roster clerk, I roster and schedule everyone to make sure that we cover all the critical roles it takes to operate and signal the route."
Kelly was encouraged to join Network Rail after friends and family recommended the organisation.
Saddiqa, on the other hand, is just seven weeks into her time as a trainee signaller. She worked previously for the Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Qatar and is the founder of Lichfield City Ladies FC.
The news comes after Network Rail hosted a myth busting event in York to encourage more young women into the rail industry.
Image credit: Network Rail
