Running a railway demands coordination, precision and accountability. Southeastern Railway applies the same discipline to advancing women’s inclusion. International Women’s Day (IWD) is a coordinated extension of work championed through the WIRE (Women in Rail Empowerment) network.
Josephine Wright, Southeastern Railway’s Inclusion & Diversity Partner, explains:
“This year, we are marking IWD through a program of practical, community-focused and culturally meaningful activity aligned closely to the work of our WIRE colleague network.”
Community impact that starts locally
From 6 February to 6 March 2026, colleagues across the network are running a charity drive collecting sealed period products and essentials for local women’s refuges and food banks.
Each site donates locally. Leaders nominate micro drop off points to widen participation. What might sound simple is in fact deliberate. It strengthens ties with local communities and makes it easier for colleagues across operational, technical and office based roles to take part.
Period dignity is not treated as an abstract concept. It is addressed through action, both inside and outside the workplace.
Menstrual health, endometriosis awareness and period dignity are brought together in one coordinated focus. TOIYNO, (Take One If You Need One), is now embedded into business as usual, with trained champions ensuring consistent access to free period care products across all functions of the business.
This matters on a network that runs high capacity commuter services and the UK’s only domestic high speed service. When you operate at that scale, access cannot depend on a poster campaign or a single champion. It needs process, ownership and visibility.
Raising the standard of support
Southeastern Railway has also turned its attention to leadership capability.
Managers participate in experiential menstrual and menopause training designed to strengthen inclusive leadership behaviours. Using Crampsta and MenoVest technology, leaders gain first hand insight into symptoms that many colleagues manage every day.
Josephine is clear about the intention.
“We want leaders to respond with confidence and empathy. Experiential learning helps build understanding that lasts beyond a single conversation.”
A menopause webinar delivered by My Menopause Centre is open to all colleagues, supporting self directed learning and helping to normalise discussion about women’s health.
Together, these initiatives shift the culture from quiet accommodation to informed support. Conversations that may once have felt uncomfortable become part of everyday management practice.
Explore Southeastern Railway’s culture and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Intentional pathways to progress
Support does not stop at wellbeing. Progression is equally prioritised.
Women in leadership apprenticeships provide structured development pathways and nationally recognised qualifications for women at different career stages. Senior female leaders are supported through group coaching, creating space for growth and peer challenge.
A tailored praise wall on the internal communications platform highlights achievements, allyship and contributions from women across the organisation. Recognition becomes visible. Allyship becomes tangible.
In a sector where representation has historically been uneven, targeted recruitment campaigns are designed to attract more women into rail and open clearer pathways into technical and operational roles.
The organisation’s longstanding partnership with WORK180 adds another layer of transparency. Policies, benefits and commitments are visible externally, helping women assess whether the workplace truly aligns with their needs.
Governance that sustains momentum
The difference at Southeastern Railway is not just the breadth of activity. It is the governance behind it.
WIRE provides ongoing leadership insight and challenge, shaping priorities and ensuring that women’s inclusion remains visible at senior levels. Representation and recruitment activity are monitored closely, including insights from WORK180’s platform to evaluate attraction and visibility.
Embedding TOIYNO into everyday operations ensures access to products remains consistent across locations. Learning resources and policy signposting continue throughout the year, so support does not fade after March.
Community partnerships built through the charity drive extend beyond IWD, enabling colleagues to see the lasting impact of local support.
As Josephine reflects,
“Together, this represents a program of tangible action, education and cultural change, ensuring our IWD activity meaningfully improves women’s experiences at work and in the community.”
A railway built to work for women
Rail may be defined by timetables, signals and highspeed trains. But culture is built through quieter systems. Who feels able to speak. Who sees a pathway to lead. Who knows support will be there without having to ask twice.
At Southeastern Railway, International Women’s Day strengthens momentum. The infrastructure for change operates all year round.
For women considering their next move, that consistency matters.
