India's First Woman Train Driver Surekha Yadav Retires After 36 Iconic Years with Railways

Surekha Yadav, Asia’s first woman train driver, is set to retire on September 30, ending a remarkable 36-year journey with Indian Railways. At 60, she leaves behind a legacy that broke barriers and inspired thousands of women to follow in her footsteps.

Yadav, who lives in Thane, was honored with a farewell lunch at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) after one of her final assignments—piloting the Rajdhani Express from Igatpuri to CSMT.

“I’ve always felt respected and supported by my seniors and coworkers,” she said. “My parents never stopped me from taking up this job, and the railways gave me a great opportunity.”

Born in Satara, Maharashtra, and the daughter of a farmer, Yadav earned a diploma in electrical engineering before joining Central Railway as an assistant driver in 1989. She became a goods train driver in 1996, a motorwoman in 2000, and later a Ghat driver—handling steep rail sections like Bhor Ghat between Mumbai and Pune.

In 2011, she famously drove the Deccan Queen into Pune—a proud moment for her and the country. In 2018, on International Women’s Day, she led a special all-women crew from CSMT to Panvel, including the driver, guard, ticket checker, and Railway Police. More recently, she was trusted with driving the Vande Bharat Express on the busy Mumbai–Pune–Solapur route.

Her achievements helped open doors for many others. When Yadav started, women were rare in loco cabins. Today, there are about 1,500 women train drivers in India.

Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, said:

“Surekha Yadav leaves behind not just a list of firsts, but a powerful example of courage and dedication.”

As she prepares to retire, Yadav hasn’t planned her next steps—but her story is already set to inspire future generations.