At the end of 2022 there were 57 women working as train drivers. Currently, 61 ladies have a train driver's licence and certificate. The largest number – 26 women – work at Polregio. PKP Intercity employs 10 ladies and Koleje Dolnośląskie employs 5.
One of them obtained her certificate this year at the Examination and Monitoring Centre for Train Drivers (CEMM) in Warsaw. She is the first woman to pass the state exam for the first train driver's certificate according to new rules in the most modern training and exam venue of this kind in Europe. Wiktoria Dura will be driving trains at Koleje Wielkopolskie.
"Working in the railway sector is both demanding and difficult. The work of a railwayman is a daily challenge. It is still more of a man's world than a woman's. But every woman who binds her professional life to this industry brings great value to the railways" – says Ignacy Góra, President of the Office of Rail Transport.
More and more women are choosing to work as train drivers, but there are professions in which there are far more ladies than men. According to figures for the end of 2022, there are over 1,000 female cashiers, but there are not even 100 male cashiers, and there are more than 1,000 women and less than 400 men among level crossing supervisors. There are also more female train inspectors - almost 900 - compared to 800 men.
The highest proportion of female employees is at infrastructure managers – in 2022 they accounted for 33.7% of the workforce. At passenger carriers at that time it was 29%. The lowest number of ladies works in the rail freight sector – 20.1%. In 2022 more than 25,800 women worked in the rail sector, which is 28.6% of all people employed at passenger and freight carriers and infrastructure managers.
"On the occasion of International Women's Day, I wish all the ladies in the railway world joy, health and satisfaction with your job, as well as endless energy to pursue ideas and passions that give a special meaning to life!"
Ignacy Góra
President of the Office of Rail Transport