Industry working to increase diversity - response to Aslef report
Responding to a study by Aslef on train driver diversity, Jacqueline Starr, Chief Operating Officer at the Rail Delivery Group, said:
Rail companies are committed to increasing diversity in our workforce so that the railway better represents the people and communities we serve. The recently launched Train Drivers Academy is one of the ways the industry is working together to increase diversity by attracting more women and BAME people to a rewarding career in rail.”
Background
Train operators are working towards increasing the number of women working as train drivers in Britain:
The Go-Ahead Group has increased the number of women train drivers by 17.5% since 2017 and is targeting 40% of applicants for train driver roles to be female by 2021.
Arriva Rail London has 10% female drivers.
East Midlands Trains, Greater Anglia and MTR Crossrail have run targeted campaigns to attract more women into rail.
FirstGroup encourages their female drivers to give careers talks to young people to encourage them to consider rail.