Women who drive trains are rarity among 19,000 drivers in Poland. Data collected by the Office of Rail Transport shows that there are 61 women in this profession. The greatest probability of meeting a woman in a driver's cab is on the trains of POLREGIO. There, 19 women work as a train driver. PKP Intercity is in second place with 8 women who run trains. The third place is ex aequo for two companies: Koleje Małopolskie and Koleje Dolnośląskie. They employ 5 women each in this capacity.
The numbers may in fact be slightly higher as 16 ladies who obtained their license in the last 2 years have not yet completed their tests for a train driver's certificate.
The youngest woman licensed as a train driver is 22 years old and the oldest 51. The largest number of female train drivers (25) are under 30 years of age. In 2019 17 women got their train drivering licences. More and more women choose to join this demanding profession, both in passenger and freight trains. Even more women choose other railway professions - in train conductor teams, in service and maintenance of rolling stock, as cashiers, train dispatchers or flagmen.
On the Women's Day I would like to offer my best wishes to all ladies who work in rail. Wishing you every satisfaction in your profession, recognition from passengers and colleagues and happiness in your life. May every journey be safe and may lights on semaphores be always green for you.
Ignacy Góra
President of the Office of Rail Transport