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Surekha Yadav never saw the glass ceiling as a barrier—she simply drove through it, breaking stereotypes one at a time
Her milestones included piloting the Ladies Special local in 2000, her promotion as Express/Mail driver in 2011, leading an all-women Mumbai–Lucknow Special on International Women’s Day in 2021, and in 2023, becoming the first woman to operate a Vande Bharat Express. Pic/Railways
The arrival of 22222 Mumbai Rajdhani on Thursday at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will be historic—bringing down the curtain on the remarkable 36-year journey of Surekha Yadav, India’s first woman loco pilot.
Yadav was born in Satara, a small town in western Maharashtra—far from the world she would one day redefine.
After completing her diploma in electrical engineering, she cleared the Railway Recruitment Board exam and joined Central Railway as a trainee assistant driver in 1986.
In 1988, she became the country’s first female passenger train driver—a field usually dominated by men.
On Wednesday, Yadav took charge of the Rajdhani for one final time.
The train’s more than 18-hour journey to Mumbai from Delhi doubles as her farewell run.
She confirmed to News18 that she will officially retire as Loco Pilot Mail after the run. The train reaches Mumbai at 11 am on Platform 14 on Thursday. A grand celebration is planned to honour her journey.
Yadav never saw the glass ceiling as a barrier—she simply drove through it, breaking stereotypes one at a time.
She has helmed some of the most prestigious trains, including the Rajdhani and the Vande Bharat. She also worked as a ghat-loco driver on the challenging Western Ghats line.
Celebrating the #InternationalWomensDayMumbai-Pune Deccan Queen Express was operated by all women crew, with Asia’s first Woman Loco-Pilot, Smt Surekha Yadav, assisted by Sayali Sawardekar Asst. Loco Pilot & Train Manager, Smt. Leena Francis along with 6 Women Head TTEs today. pic.twitter.com/ffgnqEwL0L— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) March 8, 2023
Her milestones included piloting the Ladies Special local in 2000, her promotion as Express/Mail driver in 2011, leading an all-women Mumbai–Lucknow Special on International Women’s Day in 2021, and in 2023, becoming the first woman to operate a Vande Bharat Express. In 2011 and 2023, she drove the Deccan Queen from Pune to CST, one of the most difficult rail routes.
Her achievements in the late 1980s stand out even more given today’s context. Indian Railways has just 2,037 women loco pilots out of a workforce of more than 12.5 lakh, of which only 99,809 are women employees.
It was only in 2023 that a woman was made the head of the apex decision-making body of the railway, as Jaya Verma Sinha was appointed as the Railway Board chairperson. She was the first and only female to hold that position.
Only two women have headed the ministry so far—Mohsina Kidwai and Mamata Banerjee.
Cheers to the amazing woman who just made history by running the Vande Bharat Express! 🚄🌟Surekha Yadav the First women to run the magnificent Vande Bharat Express 🚩
She’s breaking records and proving that women can conquer any field. 🙌 Let’s celebrate her trailblazing… pic.twitter.com/nZbgCXYFbD
— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) December 9, 2023
All-Women Operated Vande Bharat!on this #InternationalWomensDay2025CSMT → Sainagar Shirdi👩✈️ Steered by Mrs. Surekha Yadav, Loco Pilot
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate fearless women who shatter barriers and drive change, one journey at a time!
Empowered Women,… pic.twitter.com/zNLkP4JmBx
— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) March 7, 2025
As the Rajdhani glides into Mumbai one last time under her command on Thursday, Yadav leaves behind not just a career but a legacy. Her journey rewrote Indian Railways’ history and cleared the tracks for thousands of women yet to follow.
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
September 18, 2025, 07:00 IST
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