Roadtrain Girly 2026: the rail industry is taking steps to increase the number of women in the sector
As International Women’s Day approaches, the Roadtrain Girly 2026 returns for its 2nd national edition on Friday, March 6, 2026, with the aim of promoting gender diversity and enhancing the attractiveness of careers in the rail industry.
An Immersive Day to Discover the Rail Sector
Roadtrain Girly is designed for women who are seeking employment, considering a career change, or reflecting on their professional future. It offers a unique opportunity to explore a strategic, innovative, and meaningful industry that is currently facing significant recruitment needs.
Initiated by the Rail Industries Association of Hauts-de-France and organized in partnership with France Travail, the event is led by the CMQ Ferroviaire Industrie Automobile Éco-Mobilité under the auspices of the French Rail Industry Federation (FIF). It is supported by Mecateamcluster, FERROCAMPUS, FIF Grand Est, and CMQe Mobilité et Transport Intelligent Occitanie.
A Day to Experience, Understand, and Envision
For this new edition, numerous companies across the rail industry have joined the Roadtrain Girly 2026 initiative, demonstrating the sector’s strong commitment to fostering greater gender diversity.
The event offers a practical and immersive experience through:
Industrial site visits and workshop tours: Participants will discover working environments and rail technologies at major industry sites, including Alstom (Petite-Forêt), Novium and Erion France (Montceau-les-Mines), NGE/TSO (Chelles), COLAS RAIL/RAMFER (Grenay), Institut de Soudure (Avoine), WABTEC and Eiffage Rail (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps), SNCF Voyageurs’ Charentes-Périgord Industrial Maintenance Center (Saintes), Vossloh Switch Systems and CAF France (Reichshoffen), Hitachi Rail (Vélizy-Villacoublay), and the SNCF Voyageurs Maintenance Center (Toulouse).
Hands-on workshops and demonstrations: Career-themed escape games, welding demonstrations, virtual reality experiences, and presentations of technological innovations.
Meetings with female professionals: Inspiring testimonials from women working in the rail industry, along with discussions about career paths, required skills, and day-to-day realities.
Employment and training sessions: Practical information on career opportunities, support schemes offered by France Travail, and training programs provided by the Industry Apprenticeship Training Centre (CFAI).
A Strategic Challenge for the Industry
Today, women represent less than 22% of the European rail industry's workforce*, with particularly low representation in technical, production, maintenance, and engineering roles. Through this national initiative, the rail industry reaffirms its commitment to building a more inclusive, diverse, and attractive sector where skills matter more than stereotypes.
Roadtrain Girly 2026 embodies a simple conviction: careers in the rail industry are open to everyone.
*Source: International Union of Railways (UIC)