EMR driver training is a family affair

When twelve new train drivers graduated from East Midland’s Railway’s latest training course, one of them had a secret advantage.

All of the graduates were presented with a train driver’s key at a special ceremony in Derby. And when Alicia Oldham, 32, stepped forward to receive hers, she was surprised when it was handed over by her own father, Stuart, a seasoned train driver with more than 30 years of service at Nottingham.

“It’s been incredible,” said Alicia (second right in main photo). “My dad has worked on the railway for 31 years, having him here to pass me my driver’s key, as a driver himself, is phenomenal. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

Proud father Stuart isn’t the only family connection that Alicia has with the railway. Stuart’s son Curtis also works at EMR, as a technician at Eastcroft depot in Nottingham, and Stuart’s grandfather served as a train guard in the city for over 50 years.

Mark Letman, lead operations training manager, said: “We often see sons following in their fathers’ footsteps in the railway, so it’s fantastic to see a daughter joining her father as a train driver.

“We’re incredibly proud of all our trainee drivers, the dedication and effort they put into their training is outstanding. It’s especially encouraging to see greater diversity in our training rooms as we shape the next generation of train drivers.”

The diversity Mark referred to was the fact that this graduating class was the first with a near 50:50 gender split.

Another female graduate from the cohort is Kelly Mcghee, who will be based in Kettering. Sharing her experience, she said: “I spent fifteen years working in education. Now that my kids have grown up, I decided it was time for a change and applied to become a driver.

“For anyone considering a career in rail, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work, but it’s worth it. I’ve loved the training.”

“We’re seeing a growing number of women applying for roles that have traditionally been male-dominated,” said Kate Holden, HR director at East Midlands Railway.

“More and more women are recognising the railway as an exciting and rewarding career path, and we’re proud to be part of that shift. We’re committed to attracting the very best talent from all backgrounds, and this increase in diverse applicants reflects the inclusive culture we’ve worked hard to build, one where everyone feels valued and supported.”