First female engine driver at Russian Railways’ holding takes out train
The head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov and the head of the Kuibyshev Railways Vyacheslav Dmitriev took part in the train’s ceremonial departure under the control of a female engine driver.
Alena Mironova is one of the six women who were the first to master the profession of "Machinist’s Assistant" at Russian Railways, which they then "upgraded" to "Electric Train Driver".
In the near future, 5 more women will complete their internships, after which they will receive permission to work independently in the Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Sverdlovsk and Omsk regions.
The opportunity for women to work on the locomotive crews of electric trains and electric locomotives is a result of, first, the Russian Railways’ programme for the training of female assistant drivers and machinists and, second, the changes the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation has made to the list of professions available to women.
From Kaliningrad to Irkutsk, 57 women across Russia have been trained and employed as Assistant Engine Drivers at Russian Railways, of which 41 are assistant electric train drivers and 16 assistant engine drivers. In the future, this list will expand: two women are currently undergoing training as assistant locomotive drivers. The Company is accepting applications for training.
The Russian Railways’ Holding has invested a considerable amount of effort in preparing its infrastructure and rolling stock for the return of women to the profession as train drivers. Areas of work and types of rolling stock have been identified, infrastructure has been prepared for comfortable working conditions and rest periods between shifts, and uniforms have been designed and made up. In addition, the Company has developed and put in place a range of social support measures etc.