Daughter follows in father’s footsteps as latest EMR Train Drivers graduate

East Midlands Railway (EMR) has celebrated the graduation of twelve new Trainee Drivers at a special ceremony held in Derby, including a touching surprise where a long-serving father proudly handed over the symbolic Train Driver’s key to his daughter.

Among the new graduates was Alicia Oldham, 32, who was presented with her Train Driver’s key by her father, Ian Oldham, a seasoned Train Driver with more than 30 years of service at Nottingham.

“It’s been incredible,” said Alicia. “My dad has worked on the railway for 31 years, having him here to pass me my Driver’s key, as a driver Driver himself, is phenomenal. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

Speaking at the event Ian, 57, shared his pride in Alicia’s success: “I’m extremely proud. Alicia has worked so hard, it’s a tough course, and we all knew she’d get through it. She’s done us all proud.”

The family has a long-standing connection to the railway. In addition to Alicia and Ian, Ian's son Curtis also works at EMR as a Technician at Eastcroft Depot in Nottingham, and Ian's grandfather served as a Train Guard in city for over 50 years.

Mark Letman, Lead Operations Training Manager, said: “We often see sons following in their fathers’ footsteps in the railway, so it’s fantastic to see a daughter joining her father as a Train Driver.

"We’re incredibly proud of all our Trainee Drivers, the dedication and effort they put into their training is outstanding. It’s especially encouraging to see greater diversity in our training rooms as we shape the next generation of Train Drivers.”

The ceremony also marked a milestone for EMR, as this graduating class is the first with a near 50:50 gender split, a significant step forward in making the rail industry more inclusive.

Kelly Mcghee, another graduate from the cohort, who will be based in Kettering, also shared her experience, she said: “I spent fifteen years working in education. Now that my kids have grown up, I decided it was time for a change and applied to become a Driver. For anyone considering a career in rail, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work, but it’s worth it. I’ve loved the training.”

“We’re seeing a growing number of women applying for roles that have traditionally been male-dominated,” said Kate Holden, HR Director at East Midlands Railway.

“It’s fantastic to welcome so many new female Train Drivers to our team.

"More and more women are recognising the railway as an exciting and rewarding career path, and we’re proud to be part of that shift. We’re committed to attracting the very best talent from all backgrounds, and this increase in diverse applicants reflects the inclusive culture we’ve worked hard to build, one where everyone feels valued and supported.”

The twelve new Train Drivers officially completed their training on Friday, August 1, and will now begin the next step in their careers on the railway, helping to keep the East Midlands network moving.