International Women’s Day 2025: Central Railways Operates CSMT-Shirdi Vande Bharat Express With All-Women Crew For First Time | X @Central_Railway
Mumbai: Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025 with grandeur, enthusiasm and pride, Indian Railways reinforced its commitment to women’s empowerment. Various inspirational programmes were organised across the country to honour the hard work, contributions and achievements of women employees.
Whether operating trains as loco pilots, managing stations, handling ticket counters, inspecting tickets, excelling in international sports, contributing to engineering or ensuring security as part of the Railway Protection Force (RPF)—Indian Railways’ Nari Shakti (woman power) has proven its efficiency and leadership in every domain.
Operation of All-Women-Staffed Trains
On this occasion, several trains were operated entirely by women staff. The Vande Bharat Express from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Sainagar Shirdi was fully managed by women staff. Similarly, an all-women freight train was flagged off from Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi.
In Bengaluru Division, the KSR Bengaluru–Mysuru Malgudi Express and Mysuru–Jaipur Express were also operated exclusively by women. Additionally, the Bhopal–Bilaspur Express and Bundelkhand Express in Jhansi Division were managed by female Railway staff.
Women’s Participation in Station Management
At Sealdah Station, the ‘Matribhumi Local’ (Ladies Special EMU) train was operated by an all-women crew. The entire management of Gorakhpur Junction was handled by women employees. Matunga Railway Station in Maharashtra and Gandhinagar Railway Station in Rajasthan continued to be led by women staff. Additionally, the Alipurduar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway announced that Cooch Behar Railway Station (COB) will now be managed entirely by women.
Honouring Women Employees
Across different Railway zones, female loco pilots, train managers, ticket-checking staff and other women employees were recognised for their outstanding contributions. Special award ceremonies were held in Northern and Southern Railways to honour women employees for their outstanding contributions. In West Central Railway’s Jabalpur, Bhopal and Kota divisions, commendation certificates were presented to outstanding female employees.
To promote awareness and well-being, Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai organised quiz competitions, yoga sessions and mental health programmes. Western Railway launched a special podcast episode titled ‘Nothing is Impossible’, featuring the inspiring journey of Asia’s first female motorman. East Coast Railway conducted yoga sessions and wellness counselling for women. Additionally, several Railway stations across the country were illuminated with special lights in honour of women employees.
Special Initiatives for Women Employees
Indian Railways announced enhancements in women’s help desks, monitoring systems and security measures. Self-defence and financial literacy workshops were conducted in Kota Division, while seminars on cyber fraud and financial awareness were held in Ratlam Division. In Jabalpur Division, a breast cancer screening camp was organised, benefiting over 200 women.
Indian Railways’ Commitment
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information & Publicity) of the Railway Board, emphasised that Indian Railways is consistently working towards increasing women’s participation in Railway operations and promoting gender equality. Through initiatives like all-women-staffed trains, women-managed stations and various empowerment programmes, Indian Railways ensures that women take on leading roles in every sector.
Currently, out of 12.3 lakh employees in Indian Railways, 1.13 lakh are women. The workforce includes over 2,000 female loco pilots and nearly 1,900 female station managers.
The International Women’s Day 2025 celebrations in Indian Railways not only highlighted the significant role of women but also reinforced the commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. This event was not just a celebration but a strong step toward an inclusive and progressive future.
