photo: Transport_EU on X (Twitter)/Women in Rail Award 2025
Held in Kraków, the 2025 Women in Rail Award celebrated professionals who are changing the industry through equality, innovation, and education. The event showed both real progress and how much work still lies ahead to make rail truly inclusive.
The 2025 edition of the Women in Rail Award was held in Kraków, Poland, as part of the European Rail Safety Days. Organised by the European Commission, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), CER, UNIFE, EIM, and the Federation of European Train Drivers' Union ALE, the ceremony honoured outstanding individuals and organisations driving progress in gender equality, technical innovation, and educational empowerment across the railway sector.
The award represents a cornerstone initiative that celebrates excellence, empowers future leaders, and drives systemic change across the industry, encouraging more women to join the rail sector. The 2025 edition featured four categories, each reflecting a strategic priority for a more inclusive and sustainable rail industry. This year introduced a new category – the Next Generation Rail Award, reflecting a growing commitment to nurturing talent from early education through to professional careers.
Read more
A new operator has joined Austria’s rail freight map—and it didn’t arrive empty-handed. Backed by a decade of fleet upgrades and cross-border know-how,…
After evaluating applications from across the European Union and associated countries, the jury awarded these exceptional professionals for their initiatives and involvement in promoting women in rail:
- Federica Santini, Trenitalia – Leadership and Mentoring category, for creating tangible opportunities for women in rail.
- Jeanne-Marie Dalbavie, IKOS Lab Consulting – Research and Innovation category, for advancing railway engineering and innovation.
- Diana Binnenpoorte, ProRail – Women Empowerment category, for fostering a workplace where women can thrive and advance.
- Kerstin Wagner and Franciska Manck (DB), Ciaran Masterson (Irish Rail), and Angeles Tauler Alcaraz (Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles) – Next Generation in Rail category, for educational initiatives inspiring girls and young women to explore rail careers.
The winners presented their projects during the European Rail Safety Days, gaining visibility and support for further development within the sector.
Read more
What was once a promise to stitch the north of Serbia together at true high speed. Today at noon, the first commercial train left Beograd Centar for…
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas stated: "Promoting greater participation of women in the rail sector benefits the entire industry and its passengers. When more women join and take part, rail becomes stronger, more modern, and better at serving society."
ERA Executive Director Oana Gherghinescu emphasised continuity and collaboration: "The Women in Rail Award is more than recognition – it is a movement. By celebrating role models and fostering inclusive practices, we are reflecting the diversity of Europe itself."
The 2025 Women in Rail (WiR) Report shows measurable progress: women now represent 23% of all railway employees, up from 21% in 2018. Encouragingly, 80% of companies have adopted gender-equality policies. Gains are also visible in key roles such as train drivers, traffic management, and leadership positions. While these trends are positive, much remains to be done. The European Commission, ERA, EU-Rail, CER, UNIFE, ALE, and EIM reaffirm their commitment to advancing gender equality and building a more inclusive, balanced workforce across the rail sector.
As the industry looks ahead, the Women in Rail Award will continue to serve as a beacon of progress and innovation, inspiring collaboration and opportunity across generations.
Source: CER Press Release