A trainee driver with Avanti West Coast wants her experiences in the rail industry to encourage other women to look at similar careers.
Joining Avanti West Coast in August 2020, Chloe McKinlay, 25, will join her dad Kevin when fully qualified to become the first father/daughter driver duo for Avanti West Coast.
In the past, a train driver role has been seen as a male dominated career, but that is set to change, with a third of new recruits on Chloe's course being female.
“Even though my dad is a driver, growing up, never once did I think driving was an option for me. Only men drive trains I thought,” explained Chloe. “As a Degree Apprentice, I spent some time working with the Driver Team and I thought why not?
“The company have been incredibly supportive, and that's given me the confidence to ‘go for it'. And on International Women's Day that's the message I'd like to pass onto other women. Don't' be afraid to challenge gender stereotypes. If I can do it, why not you? Train driving is a wonderful career, one that carries a lot of responsibility and job satisfaction.”
Paul Makepeace, Head of Drivers at Avanti West Coast said: “We, like many other train operators face a potential skills shortage with a large number of our drivers expected to retire in the coming few years. The industry needs to identify and develop the train drivers of the future, and we're hoping that Chloe's story will encourage more women to seriously consider it as a realistic and achievable career to pursue.”
Chloe's Dad Kevin, who has over 20 years driving experience behind him, was full of praise for his daughter. “We're so proud of her, not only for getting this far, but also how she's wanting to use her story to encourage other women who might have previously been put off from applying to be a train driver.”
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