Railways have traditionally been a male-dominated industry, but Tahira Bibi is helping to change that narrative. One of Northern’s qualified train drivers, she has made history as the UK’s first female train driver of Pakistani heritage. From Bradford, Tahira passed her final exams to qualify as a train driver. She began her training with Northern in May 2019, though the process was extended due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Before joining the railway, Tahira built a varied career, serving with the British Transport Police (BTP) for a decade and previously working in the charity sector.
On being recognised as the UK’s first female train driver of British-Pakistani and Muslim heritage, Tahira said, “When I first joined Northern, I didn’t really think about it. I noticed there weren’t any Asian females, only a couple of Asian males, but it was only later that I was told I was the first in the country. I thought, ‘Oh wow.’” My family, friends and local community were very proud. It hadn’t been done before, so it felt special. “I see it as being a role model. The railway has traditionally been a male-dominated environment, so if younger girls from Asian or minority backgrounds see me and think, ‘If she’s done it, we can do it,’ then that makes me proud.”
Speaking about the importance of representation in a traditionally male-dominated railway industry, Tahira said, “It’s very important actually, because the way jobs are these days, with equality and women wanting to do something different from the traditional roles they used to go into, especially for young girls, visible representation really matters. I often have students come up to me on station platforms when I’m walking to my driving cab, and they’re inspired to see an Asian female driving a train. I tell them, ‘You can do it as well.’ The country is diverse, full of different minorities, and for them to know they can be part of something that hasn’t traditionally been seen as a job for them, that’s why representation is so important.”
On staying motivated through the demanding journey to becoming a driver, Tahira said, “The whole process is tough, from the application and interviews to the assessments you have to pass just to be considered.” She admitted there were moments of self-doubt, particularly during the nine-to-twelve-month training period, which ends with an intensive four-day assessment. “Some say it’s like doing a full degree in nine months. There were times I thought, ‘I’m not going to be able to do this.’ But what kept me going is that I genuinely love driving trains.”
On whether she has seen positive changes in workplace culture, Tahira said, “Absolutely, especially at Northern. There’s growing female representation, not just in driving roles but across the company.” She added that other Train Operating Companies are also becoming more inclusive. “Northern is proactive about gender equality and bringing in people from ethnic minority backgrounds. It’s definitely changing, and that change needs to happen.”
About the role of support systems in her journey, Tahira said, “My manager, colleagues and the group I trained with were incredibly supportive. Whenever I had a ‘wobble’ and started doubting myself, they would sit down, talk it through and encourage me. We really supported each other; there was a strong network around me.”
Looking ahead, she said, “I’d love to see more female drivers, especially from Asian, Black and minority backgrounds. At Northern, there are only two of us from minority backgrounds, which isn’t many.” She also hopes more women will enter engineering and move into leadership roles. “Representation on the ground and at the top really matters. It is changing, and I hope to see even more women rise through the ranks.”
Tahira added that she has been involved in International Women’s Day events for nearly 20 years. “It’s important to have a visible day that shines a light on women, their struggles, their achievements and their triumphs. It’s also about recognising the challenges women face globally and how they often bear the brunt of world events. Highlighting that is very important to me.”
