With more women than ever joining the rail industry, Metro Trains Melbourne is investing $1 million to upgrade female facilities across the network.
CEO Raymond O’Flaherty said said the new facilities would help encourage more women to join the rail industry.
“This investment will have a further positive impact for our female employees. As one of the largest public transport operators in Australia, we are committed to achieving a 40 per cent female workplace by 2027,” he said.
Metro’s investment will be used to ensure locations around the network provide adequate toilets, showers and change rooms to accommodate the growing female workforce.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said the new facilities would help encourage more women to join the rail industry.
“Metro’s investment demonstrates a commitment to recruiting more women into the railways, taking up fulfilling, flexible opportunities,” she said.
The locations identified to be upgraded as part of the program are:
- Flinders Street Signals Depot
- Dandenong Signals Depot
- Melbourne Yard Drivers Facilities
- Glenferrie Station
- Kooyong Station
- Clifton Hill Station
Since Metro began operating Melbourne’s metropolitan rail system in 2009, there have been ongoing upgrades to facilities. Last year Metro delivered new driver facilities at Flinders Street Station, which include brand new gender-neutral locker rooms with private change rooms, a maternity room with modern facilities, and other private meeting rooms and spaces.
Today, over 2,200 women are part of the team that keep Melbourne moving. This includes over 580 female train drivers (38.9 per cent), up from just 27 in 2009. This is the highest number of female drivers in any train system in Australia.
The number of women train signallers has grown from 16 per cent in 2009 to around 40 per cent today.
This investment celebrates 15 years of Metro Trains Melbourne with shareholders MTR, John Holland and UGL who are committed to taking action to support an inclusive workplace and equal workplace.
