East Midlands Railway (EMR) has proudly celebrated International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) by completing its first-ever all-female wheelskate exercise – a complex engineering procedure that involves safely moving heavy machinery using specialist equipment.
Led entirely by female engineers and operational colleagues from across EMR, the exercise involved using a wheelskate to lift the axle of a damaged or blocked rail wheelset and prevent it from sliding over the rail. With the axle lifted and wheels off the rails, the train could then be moved for repairs.
The exercise showcased the all-female team’s technical excellence, leadership and collaborative spirit, in celebration of this year’s theme: Together We Engineer.
INWED gives women engineers around the world a platform and highlights the fact that they are under-represented across many sectors. The latest figures show that in the UK, only 16.5% of engineers are women.
Alexandra Greig Cooper, Fleet Development Manager, said: “Being a woman in engineering myself, I was excited for EMR to mark International Women in Engineering Day. There are so many talented women across our engineering function, and this was a great opportunity to showcase their skills and encourage young people to consider and pursue a career in engineering.”
“It’s unusual in engineering to work with an entirely female team, so to be involved and lead this exercise was an amazing opportunity. Although physically challenging at times, the camaraderie was strong and morale high, with a shared goal and real team spirit.
“I joined the rail industry in 2014 as a graduate engineer, gained my chartership in 2021, and have had the privilege of working alongside and learning from brilliant engineers and leaders who’ve helped shape my career. Being part of this day is a personal milestone and reflects how far both I and the industry have come – this opportunity wouldn’t have existed 10 years ago. I hope showcasing the skills and abilities of women in engineering helps inspire the next generation and continues to break down outdated stereotypes.”
Annmarie Luesley, Aurora TSA Mobilisation Manager, reflected on the significance of the day. She said: “The day is important to me simply because it never used to be important to me. I thought if I ignored it, didn’t make a big deal of it, it wouldn’t be an issue. I also didn’t want to highlight that I was different in any way.”
“I think going on maternity leave 11 years ago and being told I would never be able to be a ‘mum mum’ and a fleet engineer again – and be part-time – hit me hard. To finally do all three (fleet engineer, part-time and a mum), seven years later, for me, was epic.”
“Embracing what makes us different brings out the incredible variety of strengths we each have.”
“That’s why the theme ‘Together We Engineer’ resonates so much. Engineering is about more than just ‘the engineer’; it’s about everything that supports it too.”
Jenna Galiszewski, currently on secondment with the Fleet Directorate, also took part in the event. She said: “Having worked in rail since 2010 across customer and operational roles, joining the New Trains team has given me a deeper appreciation of the complexity behind the scenes.”
“The wheelskate exercise was eye-opening – something I’d previously taken for granted. Working with such a capable and passionate team of women, and learning from their experiences, was inspiring. It made me genuinely consider new career paths in engineering I hadn’t thought were open to me.”
Kate Holden, HR Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “International Women in Engineering Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility, opportunity and support in our industry.
“It plays a vital role in encouraging more young women and girls to pursue engineering careers by providing a space to share experiences, celebrate achievements and inspire future generations. I’d like to thank the all-women team involved in the exercise – their skill, passion and teamwork embodied the spirit of the day.”
