Effort Being Made to Recruit Women Train Drivers

South Western Railway aims to reduce industry gender gap

At the moment 92% of SWR drivers are men

September 27, 2024

An attempt is being made to reduce the predominance of male drivers on local train services. South Western Railway (SWR) has launched a new recruitment campaign aimed at increasing the number of women taking up the role. Some of the new drivers will be based at Waterloo. 

Only 8% of SWR’s train drivers are women which is in line with the national average. To support the recruitment drive and to encourage women to consider a fulfilling career on the railway, SWR has released a new video, featuring three women drivers - Gemma, Yasel and Sally, who share their experiences, career journeys and personal and professional benefits of the role.

Gemma, who previously worked as a Guard and in the NHS, says that she finds the railway like no other place to work. Opportunities are also available to those without any previous rail experience. Yasel transitioned from a background in quality control and mechanics and says that train driving is a fulfilling career offering the flexibility to make it easier for her to plan family occasions, holidays and childcare.

Sally is one of 11 women train drivers based at Wimbledon depot and came to the railway after a career driving London buses. She was the first person to drive one of SWR’s new Arterio trains in service and has recently become a Driver Instructor, training the next generation of drivers.

She says “It’s more than just a job, it’s a career with lots of different opportunities. I’m now a Driver Instructor, which has been one of the most memorable accomplishments of my career so far”.

Fraser Dawson, SWR’s Recruitment Business Partner said, “Our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive organisation, where everyone is recognised and represented. We want to encourage applications from all sections of the community. By opening doors to more women, we gain a wider talent pool, fresh perspectives and experience to help shape the industry for the future.”

Once accepted for training at SWR’s Basingstoke campus, candidates must complete various training milestones including a minimum of 225 hours of driving with a driving Instructor. In total, trainees will go through 18 months of training before qualifying as drivers.

SWR also hosts a Women Drivers Network, providing access to networking opportunities and forums that advocate for the career development of women in the industry.

The job of a train driver is a very much sought after role and the application process can close fairly quickly.

Potential candidates should register for job alerts on the FirstGroup careers page to get immediate notification of when driver roles open.