History in motion: Female signallers take the lead today on the West Coast Main Line
Today, on International Women’s Day, 11 of the 15 people needed to signal trains on the West Coast Main Line between London and Crewe are women.
Signalling and controlling this busy route is something that Kelly Littleton and Claudine Molloy enjoy after a career change to join the rail industry. Saddiqa Shan is just seven weeks into her rail industry journey as a trainee signaller, and Alice Marsh chose to qualify as a signaller after joining Network Rail through the company’s graduate programme.
Alice said: “I enjoyed taking part in some of the entry level signalling training as part of the graduate scheme, so made the decision to look for an opportunity to fully qualify.
“There is a lot of problem solving being a signaller, every day a different challenge, and seeing how decisions you make keeps passengers and freight moving is really rewarding.”
In the past 12 months, over one-third of new starters at Network Rail have been women. A role in signalling and controlling trains may not have attracted women to apply in the past, but having trained as a solicitor Claudine Molloy, operations manager, says that since she changed profession she has never looked back.
Claudine said: “I love that in my job no two days are the same. You could be working to recover train services after an incident, developing a team member or delivering plans that improve train performance.”
Following her training as a signaller, Alice is now a seasons delivery specialist, a crucial role as the rail industry responds to the impacts of climate change. However, as a qualified and competent signaller, Alice provides relief cover by signalling trains when she is needed and making sure that passenger and freight trains are kept on the move. This helps Kelly Littleton, who left her previous role as a primary school teacher, to become a roster clerk.
Kelly said: “Having friends and family that already work in the rail industry, they have always told me what a great company Network Rail is and so I looked into what jobs were available.
“In my job as a roster clerk, I roster and schedule everyone to make sure that we cover all the critical roles it takes to operate and signal the route.”
Saddiqa Shan has a passion for championing women into professions that traditionally have attracted men. Before recently joining the rail industry on the latest cohort of signalling trainees, Saddiqa worked for the Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Qatar and is the founder of Lichfield City Ladies FC.
On International Women’s Day (Friday 8 March), Alice, Claudine, Kelly and Saddiqa would like to encourage more women to consider jobs in the rail industry.
Network Rail is an equal opportunities employer that recognises the importance of recruiting a diverse workforce and values an inclusive environment where everyone can play their part.
If you are interested in a career in the rail industry with Network Rail, please visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/
For more information on International Women’s Day visit: https://www.internationalwomensday.com
