In Mexico, there are currently 11,369 federal railway licenses granted to men, while only 53 belong to women, representing just 0.1% of the 11,422 total licenses.
Linda Hernández, head of the Mexican branch of the League of Railway Women , said that while there has been progress in integrating women into the industry, it has been insufficient, so it is necessary to work together to overcome the barriers that prevent further growth.
“The future is full of opportunity. Technology and innovation are coming. They are transforming our trains, and with this, new opportunities for women. We need to promote labor equality and non-discrimination. How do we do it? With simple things: recruitment and selection processes, equal pay schemes, benefits, more training programs—in other words, greater inclusion and equity,” she said.
She noted that the European Union has a more established passenger transport industry, but only 22 percent of the rail workforce are women , while in the United States, only 9 percent are women.
“In Mexico, five out of 10 women participate in the labor market. Half of us work, while the rest are dedicated to different things. Of this workforce, 5%—only 5% of the workforce in the Mexican railway industry—are women,” she said.
She recalled that since 2002, the League has worked to achieve various milestones, generating growth and, with it, the presence and influence of women in the industry.
Hernández said that historically, women have proven they can forge paths that were previously considered, or were originally, considered for men, including the railroad trade.
She explained that women have not only overcome barriers that impeded their participation in this sector, but have also been at the forefront of the battle and on the front lines, in union struggles, for example, which have been key to promoting gender equality. She mentioned that women’s participation in the railway industry is vital worldwide.
For this reason, Linda Hernández announced that they will continue working on women’s development, promote diversity, seek to improve the results of affiliated companies, and award more scholarships, among other initiatives.
“2025 promises to be much more ambitious. This year, our plans, evidently in addition to expanding our programs and efforts, are to integrate more women and create greater impact, but we can’t achieve this alone; we need everyone’s collaboration and support,” she said.
Comment and follow us on X: @evandeltoro / @GrupoT21
