Women in Rail Parliamentary Reception

A message from the Women in Rail Chair Marie Daly:

Yesterday we hosted our inaugural Women in Rail Parliamentary Reception, thanks to Esther McVey MP for making this happen - a powerful milestone in year two of our Agenda for Change business plan.

The purpose is simple but important: to bring the collective voice of women from every role across rail to the highest level of influence. Yesterday, that voice was truly heard - especially through the powerful videos from frontline colleagues sharing their lived experiences.

I am proud every day to be Chair of Women in Rail - but especially yesterday. Alongside celebrating progress, we shone a spotlight on an issue that matters deeply to our members, our industry and society: violence against women and girls. Thank you to Jacqueline Starr for such a compelling call to action and Nia Mellor for sharing the passion from BTP.

As a volunteer‑led charity offering free membership for all, this work is only possible because of the commitment of our 29 sponsor organisations, and with additional support from Morson Group and Hitachi Rail, enabling us to come together in Parliament. Thank you Katie Winstanley Chartered FCIPD and Rachel Evans MCIPD for your inspiring contributions.

At 18.9%, women in rail are not yet on equal footing - which is why we focus on equity, not equality. Since launching our business plan in 2023, representation has grown by 2.6 percentage points - real progress, but with more to do.

As we look to the once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity of Great British Railways, we must be as deliberate about culture as we are about performance. The Women in Rail & RIA EDI Charter provides that roadmap - turning intent into action. And thank you, Heidi Alexander MP Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, as always, for being such a strong advocate for change.

Thank you to everyone who spoke, sponsored, supported and showed up.

This is how we move the dial - together.

A powerful speech was given by the Secretary of State.

The speech focused on the urgent need for meaningful reform within the rail industry, stressing that structural changes alone will not be enough unless they are matched by cultural transformation from within.

It opened by recognising the rapid pace of change across the railway sector, highlighting major developments such as public ownership changes, the confirmation of Northern Powerhouse Rail, the first rail fares freeze in 30 years, and progress on the Railways Bill. These changes were presented as clear evidence that the industry is moving quickly to modernise and improve.

However, the central message of the speech was that true progress depends on building a more inclusive workforce. The speaker made it clear that diversity is not simply a moral consideration, but an essential issue for the future sustainability of the railway, especially in light of workforce shortages and the projected loss of 90,000 staff by 2030.

While acknowledging the progress made in increasing female representation—from 11% to nearly 20% over the past nine years—the speech emphasised that this rate of change is still far too slow. Waiting until the 2060s to reach anything close to gender parity was described as unacceptable.

A key theme was the importance of industry-wide collaboration in driving inclusion forward. The speech particularly highlighted that forums like “Rail Unites for Inclusion” are bringing the industry together to see diversity, inclusion and wellbeing as shared goals, reinforcing the idea that these issues must be addressed collectively rather than in isolation.

Further examples of positive action were also recognised, including initiatives from Women in Rail, Network Rail’s Inspire gender equity group, and recruitment efforts by organisations such as ASLEF, LNER and Avanti to encourage more women into driving roles. Outreach work in schools and universities was also praised for helping more people actively choose rail as a career.

Looking ahead, the speaker positioned Great British Railways (GBR) as a turning point—a “line in the sand” for the industry. Under this new framework, there is a clear ambition to challenge outdated perceptions, particularly the long-held belief that rail is “just a man’s game,” and to replace this with inclusive recruitment, flexible working, and more diverse leadership.

The speech concluded on a hopeful note, celebrating the many women across the industry whose passion and success stories demonstrate that rail can offer rewarding careers for everyone. Overall, it was a strong call for lasting cultural change, inclusive leadership, and a railway that truly reflects the society it serves.