Welcome back to our ‘Women On Track’ campaign- which aims to inspire more women to consider careers in the railway industry. Women are already shaping our industry, at all levels, and you can too!
Today we’re introducing you to Lauren: Train Service Manager (West Coast South). She’s worked at London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway for 11 years!
What do you do day-to-day in your role?
Day to day my role consists of monitoring the train service, ensuring that I maintain efficiency for both passengers and the train crew. The role can present various challenges from infrastructure issues to faults on trains. Within my role I work with a team and problem solve to get the train units and the train crew to the position that they need to be.
What do you like about working for the railway?
I have been able to work within multiple roles within my 11 years on the railway which has given be broad understanding from front line to behind the scenes.
How does it feel to be a woman working on the railway? (i.e. do you feel like you stand out as a woman at work)
I feel grateful for the opportunities I have been given within my career, I’m currently pregnant with my first child and feel lucky to be able to maintain both a career and a family.
What would you say to a woman thinking about getting into the railway?
The opportunities are endless within the railway, if you are motivated and willing to put work in you will reap the rewards.
Your role is within the newly expanded Rugby Control Room, how do you think this expansion will help the business?
I’m super grateful for my new role within the expanded Rugby Control room as it allowed me to a gain a permanent role in this job position. I think that the expansion will really help with communication amongst the network, and working as part of a larger team will be beneficial for train efficiency, and therefore passengers’ journeys.
Interested? Inspired? Check out our careers page for more information on our current vacancies, and a (long) list of benefits to joining the railway: https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/about-us/careers