Key Points
- When Prativa Pathak arrived in Australia in 2014, she never thought she would one day become a train driver.
- She says the switch from accounting to transport has been rewarding so far.
- Although the train industry is male-dominated, she says there are many opportunities for women interested to be a part of it.
Prativa Pathak's first route as a train driver started in February 2020, which was via Central to Bankstown and Liverpool.
Ms Pathak, who has an accounting degree from Sydney's Macquarie University, said that even though she never imagined that she would drive a train, she had always been curious about them.
"For someone who had never been on a train in Nepal, I would go to uni or go to work, and when I rode the train, I would wonder how it is operated," she said.
A representative image of a train guard in Sydney, Australia. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
From accounting to driving trains
Pathak came to Australia in 2014 and got an opportunity to become a guard on a Sydney train while also working in accounting.
After eight months as a train guard, her manager encouraged her to take up train driving.
"My manager told me that it was the right time for me to join the role of a train driver," she told SBS Nepali.
"He greatly motivated me by saying I could do it and would enjoy it; after that, I started the trainee train driver course in April 2019."
Ms Pathak did not let the opportunity pass, and now she travels around Sydney, leading a 162-metre-long train in all directions.
She said Australia provides freedom of choice when it comes to pursuing a profession unrelated to one's field of study.
"I thought, what is this new thing? Let's give it a go. At that time, I just had a learner car driver's licence," she said.
In Nepal, you have to look for something related to what you studied, but in Australia, there is a choice where you can do whatever you want.Prativa Pathak
Ms Pathak says she finds it rewarding when passengers thank her for taking them to their destination. Source: AAP / NIKKI SHORT
Responsibility with reward
Despite the merry memories, she admits that working as a train driver comes with its challenges.
She said that the job requires an understanding of complex issues related to organisation.
"Whenever there is a problem in the train, it is challenging to sort it out. Sometimes, if there is some problem in the network, the challenge is getting from point A to point B by following all the protocols," she said.
I always have to stay up to date; new rules and regulations keep coming, and I have to read everything and understand it. I need to know where the relevant body is if I need help understanding it.Prativa Pathak
Ms Pathak said what she finds thrilling is taking thousands of passengers to their destination.
In particular, she enjoys it when passengers show their appreciation.
"I get so happy when the little kids wave on the platform. It's fun. Another thing is that when we have to go somewhere, for example, to Hornsby, I take the train from there and bring it back; it is always lovely when people come and say thank you," she said.
Ms Pathak says transport staff need to be aware of updated information regularly. Source: AAP / NIKKI SHORT/AAPIMAGE
Women in transport
According to the Australian Government's Labour Market Insights, females make up to 8 per cent of the train drivers workforce around the country.
Although there are more men than women working as train drivers, Pathak said that women are now entering the field in significant numbers.
She said no one has questioned her ability as a woman and Transport for New South Wales and its employees have always encouraged her to move forward.
"I felt very welcome working for Sydney Trains as a train driver or guard because there were other women there as well," she said.
Although it is a male-dominated industry, many women work in it. I didn't get any negative attitude from anyone saying you can't handle it because you're a female driver. They encouraged women to take on more leadership roles within the company.Prativa Pathak
She acknowledged that the Nepali community had also been very supportive and stated that hard work is the key to success in any endeavour.
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