The first woman has passed the examination for the train driver’s certificate at the Examination and Monitoring Centre for Train Drivers (CEMM) run by the President of the Railway Transport Office (UTK). So far, 32 ladies have passed the first stage of the exam, i.e. the test for the train driver’s licence. In Poland, 61 women are licensed to drive trains.

Wiktoria Dura will be driving trains at Wielkopolska Railways. Last week, she successfully passed the exam for the train driver’s certificate. The first stage involved passing a test. The next part of the theoretical exam was driving on a simulator. During this part of the exam, the candidate had to react correctly in typical and atypical situations. The final stage was driving a railway vehicle. Here, too, the result was positive, and the exam was successful.

“We have been through several examinations for the first train driver’s certificate at the Examination and Monitoring Centre for Train Drivers. At this stage, we are using simulators for railway vehicles and the first experiences are very positive. Interestingly, our statistics show that there is a growing interest in the train driver’s profession among women, so we can expect more exams like the one held last week”, said Dr Ignacy Góra, President of the Railway Transport Office.

This was the first exam for the train driver’s certificate held at the CEMM which was passed by a woman. Previously, ladies had taken exams for the train driver’s licence. Thirty-two female candidates passed – that is 4.2 % of all those who passed the licence test. 

At the end of 2023, 61 women held a train driver’s licence and certificate. Female drivers account for 0.45% of all drivers. The largest number (26 women) work at Polregio. PKP Intercity employs 10 ladies, and Dolnośląskie Railways – 5.

Adrian Andrzejewski