Russia’s first female long-distance electric train driver set off on first run on 6 March 2023
Russia’s first female driver Oksana Sokolova has started work. She drove the mainline EP2K electric locomotive pulling passenger train No. 115 on the Tomsk – Adler stretch between Yekaterinburg and Druzhinino.
Oksana Sokolova was the first woman on the network owned by Russian Railways to complete a training course and receive an electric locomotive driving license. After successfully completing her internship, she gained the certifications to carry out independent work.
The RZD Holding has done a considerable amount of work to prepare the infrastructure and rolling stock for the return of women to this profession. It has determined the areas of work and the types of rolling stock where they will work, prepared the infrastructure for comfortable work and rest periods between shifts, had uniforms developed and made up, and developed a range of social support measures etc.
All locomotives and electric trains operated by women meet the highest modern standards. They are ergonomic and now feature many automated control processes and improved security systems.
The opportunity for women to work as part of the locomotive crews on electric locomotives and trains appeared from 1 January 2021 after changes the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation made to the list of professions available to women and the Russian Railways’ programme for the training of female assistant drivers.