Asia’s First Woman Train Driver, Surekha Yadav, Retires After 36 Years in Service
Surekha Yadav, Asia’s First Woman Train Driver, Retires After 36 Years of Service
Mumbai: Surekha Shankar Yadav, Asia’s first woman train driver, will retire on September 30, 2025, after an illustrious 36-year career with Indian Railways. At 60, she leaves behind a legacy that changed how women are seen in one of India’s most male-dominated professions.
From Farmer’s Daughter to Pioneer
Born in Satara, Maharashtra, into a farming family, Yadav earned a diploma in electrical engineering before joining Central Railway as an assistant driver in 1989. She went on to break several barriers—becoming a goods driver in 1996, a motorwoman in 2000, and later taking charge of the difficult Bhor Ghat route between Mumbai and Pune.
Career Highlights
Yadav drove some of India’s most iconic trains, including the Deccan Queen, Rajdhani Express, and Vande Bharat Express.
- In 2011, she piloted the Deccan Queen into Pune to much celebration.
- On International Women’s Day in 2018, she led an all-women crew on a special local train.
- Recently, she was chosen to drive the Vande Bharat Express on the Mumbai–Pune–Solapur route.
Her final assignment was driving the Rajdhani Express from Igatpuri to Mumbai, after which she was given a farewell at CSMT.
Family and Support
Yadav, who lives in Thane, credits her parents for encouraging her career choice. Her husband works with the police, while her two sons are engineers.
A Lasting Legacy
When Yadav began, women loco pilots were unheard of. Today, over 1,500 women train drivers work across India. “Yadav leaves behind not just a record of firsts, but also a legacy of determination that will inspire future generations,” said Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway.
