An increasing number of women are working as rail signallers in Melbourne, with many based at the new Sunshine Signal Control Centre.
According to Metro Trains and the Metro Tunnel Project, one in three rail signallers in Melbourne are women, with 55 of the city’s 153 signallers female.
In 2018, Metro Trains had 19 female signallers out of a total workforce of 116 signallers.
The Sunshine Signal Control Centre is a purpose-built hub which will be one of the nerve centres for train services running on the Sunbury, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and through the Metro Tunnel when it opens in 2025.
Signallers in the control centre will operate the next-generation high capacity signalling that allows trains to run safely closer together, enabling more trains, more often.
Among the women working as rail signallers is signallers manager Stacey Edwards and signaller Zeb Withers.
Ms Edwards, a former sommelier who worked at London’s renowned River Café, said signalling was a great career for women.
“As much as it’s a fairly invisible job to the outside world, you can’t run a train network without signallers,” she said.
Ms Withers, a former Qantas flight attendant, said she applied for a signalling role on a whim and has since developed an obsession with trains.
“I personally picked everything up really quickly and developed a passion for it. It’s been great,” Ms Withers said.
“I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon.”
Metro Tunnel project director Linda Cantan said it was fantastic to see more women in the role.
“Women like Stacey and Zeb are forging a path in this highly specialised field at a really exciting time as we install a new, state-of-the-art signalling system for the Metro Tunnel.”
Details: metrotrains.com.au/metro-tunnel-careers/
