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13 February 2025 | Editorial Extra | Industry Guide | News | Podcasts | About us | Home | 2 |
![]() Inspire
| ![]() Inspire![]() What it’s like to be one of the railway’s only female mobile operations managersSuzanne Frazer, mobile operations manager, Network Rail
There are very few women in front line roles on the railway. And even fewer who do a job like mine.
I love my job, especially because no day is ever the same. It’s practical, physical and requires you to think on your feet.
You rely on training and knowledge to ensure you make the best decisions at the time, whatever the day offers. It’s a great fit for anyone who enjoys problem solving, the challenge of the unexpected, being outdoors and not being confined to a desk. But MOMs are typically former signallers, who tend to be men. Knowing the role can be demanding, women don’t tend to think it’s a job for them. But I’m here to tell you, you’d love it. ![]() Most of my job is shift work. I briefly worked Monday to Friday office hours but quickly found it wasn’t for me. MOMs cover 24 hours a day every day of the year. My children have grown up with me working shifts and I’ve never missed an important moment in their lives. And trust me, there’s a place for you on the railway if you have no previous experience. I’ve worked on the railway for 30 years after randomly applying for a ticket office clerk role for a train operator on the London Tilbury and Southend Line, now known as c2c Rail. I had no experience and found out I was among 1,300 candidates. To my astonishment, I was one of just 25 successful applicants. So I gave it a go and I’m still here three decades later. I stayed with the same company for 25 years, carrying out all the station-based roles, including train dispatch, ticket office and revenue control before moving into management, where I ended up as a senior manager and auditor. But always in the part of the business dealing with stations and customers; helping people and my colleagues has always been the most satisfying part of any job. Five years ago, I made the move to Network Rail and into my role as a MOM. The good news is that more women apply for the role each year. And we can grow the number of front line women by giving each other confidence and insight. Maybe you’ll help me fill up that break room. Contact details inspire@networkrail.co.uk | Contact details |
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