Call us on: 01780 432930

Call us on: 01780 432930

ABOUT WOMEN IN RAIL

Improving gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in the UK rail industry

With large projects such as Crossrail and HS2, employment opportunities in UK rail are booming, yet the industry is facing a real challenge – a skills shortage and a lack of diversity which threatens the growth of the sector.

To bridge the current skills gap and secure a better future for rail, it is crucial to promote the industry as an exciting career option, to redress the gender balance and fill our ever growing pipeline with the best and most diverse talent.

Person wearing an orange high-visibility jacket with the 'London Midland' logo, a black cap, and gloves, working with machinery in an industrial setting, with visible dirt on the jacket.
Person wearing an orange high-visibility jacket with the 'London Midland' logo, a black cap, and gloves, working with machinery in an industrial setting, with visible dirt on the jacket.
Person wearing an orange high-visibility jacket with the 'London Midland' logo, a black cap, and gloves, working with machinery in an industrial setting, with visible dirt on the jacket.
Railway worker in an orange high-visibility vest and cap, pushing a large train wheel assembly in a maintenance depot, with the underside of a train visible above.
Smiling railway worker wearing a dark cap and blue overalls, standing inside a train maintenance depot with a yellow and green train in the background.
Smiling railway worker wearing a dark cap and blue overalls, standing inside a train maintenance depot with a yellow and green train in the background.
Smiling railway worker wearing a dark cap and blue overalls, standing inside a train maintenance depot with a yellow and green train in the background.

A Women in Rail survey revealed that just 16.4% of the total UK rail workforce are women, an issue that the charity is working to redress, alongside major stakeholders in the industry, by:

  • Establishing a robust networking platform for women and men in our sector

  • Providing strong support through regional development workshops and a cross-industry mentoring programme

  • Devising initiatives positioning rail as an attractive career choice for women and young girls

  • Engaging with key stakeholders to promote diversity as a business strategy

  • Showcasing role models and the business benefits of gender balance

IN THE PAST YEAR, WOMEN IN RAIL HAS:

  • Campaigned to attract women and young graduates in UK rail, through reports, showcasing role models and the range of roles the sector has to offer

  • Held a number of networking events and development workshops across the UK through its regional groups (self-confidence, networking skills, flexible working, unconscious bias etc)

  • Successfully partnered with c.250 mentors and mentees as part of the Women in Rail cross-industry mentoring programme

Smiling railway staff member in a dark uniform, holding a tablet device at a train station, with blurred passengers and an electronic departure board in the background.
Smiling railway staff member in a dark uniform, holding a tablet device at a train station, with blurred passengers and an electronic departure board in the background.
Smiling railway staff member in a dark uniform, holding a tablet device at a train station, with blurred passengers and an electronic departure board in the background.
Police officer in a white uniform shirt and black tie, speaking on the phone at a desk in a busy control room with multiple computer monitors and other staff working in the background.
Two colleagues in a train maintenance facility smiling and talking; one is holding a clipboard and wearing a white shirt with an orange high-visibility vest, while the other is dressed in black.
Smiling train driver in a blue uniform seated at the controls inside the cab of a train.
Two railway workers wearing orange high-visibility vests walking and talking beside train tracks, with a maintenance shed and train visible in the background.
Two railway workers wearing orange high-visibility vests walking and talking beside train tracks, with a maintenance shed and train visible in the background.
Two railway workers wearing orange high-visibility vests walking and talking beside train tracks, with a maintenance shed and train visible in the background.

To support us and help us to work towards our goal, please email Women in Rail on wr@womeninrail.org

To support us and help us to work towards our goal, please email Women in Rail on wr@womeninrail.org

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Together we can end domestic abuse

Copyright © 2025 | The Big Rail Diversity Challenge

Website Delivered by Nimble Media

Launch SafeSpace

Together we can end domestic abuse

Copyright © 2025 | The Big Rail Diversity Challenge

Website Delivered by Nimble Media