Israel Railways Launches Women-Only Train Driver Course

Israel Railways has announced the launch of a train driver course exclusively for women. Upon completion, the new drivers will join the passenger train fleet. This initiative is part of efforts to encourage women's integration into railway professions and comes ahead of International Women's Day. Israel Railways is calling on women to apply for the new course and other technical roles available on the Israel Railways website.

The specialized course is expected to start in June, with about 12 new female train drivers being certified. At the end of the course, they will join the passenger train fleet, adding to the three female drivers currently operating. The course lasts for about a year, with each stage serving as a filtering process, ensuring that only the best are trained.

During the course, the trainees will be exposed to the innovative technologies and safety measures used by Israel Railways, the fleet of locomotives and wagons in the passenger and cargo divisions, and they will acquire extensive professional knowledge required to operate what is considered today as the spearhead of public transportation in Israel.

Israel Railways emphasizes that all railway professions are open to both men and women, and today more than 40 women work in technical professions such as engineers, inspectors, technicians, train drivers, team leaders, etc. To apply, you can visit the link or the 'Career' tab on the Israel Railways website.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev said, 'In recent years, we have witnessed a blessed trend of integrating more women into professions that were previously considered for men only. As the Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, I see the integration of women in transportation professions in general and the railway in particular as a blessed step, which will lead more women to believe in themselves and continue to break glass ceilings.'

CEO of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety, Moshe Ben Zaken, said, 'The Ministry of Transportation, led by Minister Miri Regev, who has reached senior positions in the IDF, encourages and promotes women for any role and in any field. Today, when women excel in every field, from managing a high-tech company to fighting in a tank, there is no reason to prevent women from fulfilling any role - from flying a passenger plane to driving a train locomotive.'

Chairman of the Israel Railways Board, Adv. Moshe Shmaoni, said, 'The integration of women in railway professions, and particularly as train drivers, is a blessed step that greatly contributes to the diversification of the existing human capital in Israel Railways and to the promotion of equal opportunities in employment in Israel Railways in particular, and in Israeli society in general.'

CEO of Israel Railways, Shiko Zana, said, 'The railway is not only the spearhead of public transportation in Israel, but also the spearhead in the world of occupational diversity. As the CEO of Israel Railways, which employs diverse, quality, and vital human capital for the entire Israeli economy, I am proud to lead a step that will continue the blessed trend and encourage the integration of women in railway professions.'