Meet The LNER Women In The Driving Seat
05/03/2025
This International Women’s Day, LNER is ‘accelerating action’ by encouraging women to join the company as train drivers.
As recruitment opens for future drivers at two depots, five women have been sharing their experiences of life in the driving seat. Their stories feature in a short film, where they describe what it’s like to be behind the controls of a 430-tonne Azuma train and travel at speeds of up to 125-mph along one of the most historic train lines in the country.
At LNER women are leading the way from start to finish - from driver selection, to training and development, and managing driver teams.
Over the last two years, the number of women on LNER driver training courses has risen from 21 per cent to 33 per cent.
Ashleigh Carroll-Dickson, who leads driver recruitment for LNER, said: “Even though we’ve seen a change in attitudes towards gender equity, there’s still a perception that only men drive trains. That’s absolutely not the case at LNER. We now have 71 women drivers behind the controls of our state-ofthe-art Azuma fleet. But we’re keen to recruit more. We hope by showing the passion our women drivers have for their role it will encourage other women to apply.”
Former driver Steffi Gillies, who is now responsible for the training new drivers receive, said: “I’ve seen the benefits which can be realised when women drivers are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential. I’m proud to be part of the team at LNER which trains and equips our drivers, enabling them to firmly be in control of their career in rail.”
The short film focuses on five women drivers - Jess, Alex and Emma who are based at Newcastle-uponTyne, and Rezwana and Bianca who work out of London King’s Cross. All five share their own stories and reasons for wanting to be train drivers, talk about their route into driving and what they love most about the job.
Newcastle based driver Emma, who has been driving for eight years, said: “It really is a job like no other. I still get a huge buzz as I walk towards an Azuma train and think ‘I can drive this. This is my office.’ And what an office! A constantly changing picture outside of your window as you travel
alongside a beautiful coastline, through green countryside and into the iconic King’s Cross. Add to that the satisfaction of knowing you are safely getting people to important meetings, family reunions, wellearned holidays and more, it’s a fantastic job.”
London King’s Cross based driver Rezwana, said: “When I tell people I drive trains, the immediate response is ‘Oh wow!’ I’d absolutely recommend women, and especially women from diverse backgrounds, to apply. You will be supported and looked after through both application and training and onwards. I’m so lucky because when I’m driving, it doesn’t feel like work, I love what I do.”
For further information about the London King's Cross opportunities visit: https://www.lnerjobs.co.uk/jobs/vacancy/apprentice-driver-kings-cross-talent-pool-3223-london-kings-cross-station/3241/description/
and for Newcastle:
