Spotlight Series: Meet Melissa Clarke
For our latest Spotlight piece, we interviewed Melissa Clarke, a Train Driver at East Midlands Railway (EMR). Melissa is following in her father's footsteps working on the railway and shares insights into life as a working mum through her popular social media accounts. She spoke to us about some of her viral posts, how she has overcome challenges in her role, and her advice for women considering a career in the rail industry.
Tell us about your journey to become a train driver. What inspired you to pursue this career path?
My biggest inspiration is definitely my dad. He was on the railway for 40 years. Throughout my childhood it felt like I was already immersed within the transport industry. He would take me out on the train, on buses, or really anything transport-related, which shaped my interests as I was growing up.
When I left school, however, I never initially thought about joining the railway as a career. The railway continues to be male dominated, and I could not see where I would fit in. I went to university to study computer science instead, but then I realised that I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and chase what really interested me. I ultimately left computer science and applied for the London Underground.
It took a few rounds of applying to different rail companies before I was hired by c2c as a train dispatcher. Far from being disheartened throughout this process, each rejection made me realise I wanted this more, and my confidence grew rather than got knocked.
After working at c2c for about 2 years, I had my two children. When I went back after maternity leave, I was really committed to making my home and work life function together. This propelled me to start my mainline training, and in 2022 I was confirmed as a train driver. I joined EMR as a driver in 2024, and am proud that I can say I am in a job I love whilst being a present mum.
Could you tell us about your Instagram account @thattraindrivermum?
I started it as more of a personal record of my time in the industry, as something to look back on. I would often post about being a woman in the industry, even just for me, as it was something that isn’t often publicised. About two years ago I started posting more about train driving, and I picked up a following. One video of my kids waving at me whilst I was driving the train ended up getting over 400,000 views, which was crazy, and what really jumpstarted my growth.
As the account has grown, I have tried to showcase that the railway absolutely can be a place for working mums to have a brilliant career. I now get a lot of messages from people asking for tips on how to get into the industry. I have lot of mums asking how I manage work life and home life. It has been amazing.
I've been stopped a couple of times at train stations as well, which has been surreal. People have tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I am who I am. Finding the railway community on Twitter and on Instagram has been great, and it has been lovely to interact with a whole group of people who also share the same interests.
Are there any moments you have shared on your social media that you have been particularly proud of?
The moment that stands out the most is when my wedding went viral on TikTok because it was train themed. My husband and I met on the railway. We both wanted to celebrate our love of trains and have a really unique, memorable day for us both. It was also a tribute to my dad who spent his career on the underground and who sadly passed away before we got married.
Our wedding cake had a train track around it, and we had little figures of me and my husband wearing hi-vis over our wedding suit and wedding dress. Our invitations were on a tube map, our drink tokens were Oyster cards, and the welcome boards to our wedding looked like service information boards on the tube.
We wanted to show our personalities and have a wedding that stood out, and I was so happy with how it all turned out. The weirdest thing of all was when I checked the news one day, and we were the top trending story! It was posted in the Metro, and Okay Magazine did a feature on it as well. It was an unbelievable experience, and it was amazing that there were so many people who loved what we did.
What do you like about your job, and what are some aspects of it that people might not know about?
I love that my office doesn't stay in one place. I really enjoy that I get to travel across the country as my workday.
I could leave London in the sunshine, for example, and by the time I get to my destination it could be snowing. It was particularly amazing on my previous route when I went down by the coast and would see the sunrise and sunset over the water. I don't see train driving as a job - I see it as a hobby that fills my day, and I get paid for it. I feel very lucky to be in this position.
The training is rigorous, but essential. We spend at least 3 months in the classroom learning all the rules and regulations of the job before we even learn how to drive the train. Once we can drive the train, we then need to learn our complete route and each station along it. My route, for example, is 160 miles long, which took three months to get to grips with.
We are aware that you were involved in an incident whilst you were training. Could you talk to us about what happened, and how this has impacted you going forward?
One day during my training, when my instructor was driving the train, a person sadly stepped out in front of our train and took their own life. It is something that we in the industry are all aware could happen, but it is not something that you can prepare for.
That moment taught me a lot about both my own mental health, and the mental health of others. It really made me think about what was going on in that person’s life that they got to such a place that they felt that there was no other way out.
Throughout the incident, EMR was really supportive. Our employer gave us the time we needed to recover and checked on us a few times a week. We were also offered counselling.
Since then, I have gone out of my way to do more for people who need help. Even if it's not directly to do with mental health, my husband and I regularly donate to foodbanks to support those who are less fortunate than us. After the incident, I have prioritised giving back.
What qualities do you think are important to thrive in the rail industry? Is there anything you have learnt over your time to help you succeed?
One of the most important qualities is the ability to keep calm under pressure. It is an industry in which no day is the same, but this means that you are bound to face situations where something has gone wrong, and you need to be okay with that. When something is not going to plan, you need to remember to just take a moment to think about what to do before you act.
Being organised and taking the time to prepare for the day is one of the key things that has helped me navigate the industry, and deal with some of the stresses that might come my way. There are a lot of procedures and rules that help you know what to do in different situations, so being able to follow these is not only important but helps you deal with the changing environment. In my day to day, being able to communicate well has also been important in these situations. I think as I have gone through different roles in my career, embracing the constant change has just become part of me.
With each challenge I have faced, I have got a little bit stronger. When I first started on the platforms and things would go wrong, I would naturally become more anxious. By putting myself out of my comfort zone, I have grown to be able to handle whatever the industry throws at me.
Is there any advice that you'd give to someone thinking about joining the rail industry? Is there anything you would say to women in particular?
IFor anyone who's looking to join the industry, I would go for it! It is one big family where everyone is so supportive of each other.
Another thing I would say is if you do not manage to get in first time of applying, keep trying! I have learned from every time I've been rejected, and since I knew I wanted to have this career I just kept working to get here. Being in the rail industry is definitely a job for life, and the work is so enjoyable, so try to not get disheartened when you are looking to break in.
For women, do not see the gender imbalance in the workforce as a barrier. We need more women on the railway!
When I joined c2c in, 2014, I was the only female dispatcher on the platforms. When I left, we were probably in double figures, but it was still under 20% of drivers. Now, at EMR, 43% of the drivers on the mainline are women.
While it is definitely better than it was, the industry is still male dominated. There is room for so many more women to join, especially mums. I want other mums to know that you can have responsibilities both in your home life and your work life, and that though sometimes it can be tough, to not let yourself feel limited.
What type of advice do you give to mothers who are looking into the career?
Because my husband is also a train driver, we manage to work alternate shifts, which means that one of us is always around for our kids. We are very lucky to be in this position, so I would say that especially when starting out it is often important to have a good support network, as some of the training can be quite intense.
I wouldn't let shift work put anyone off, however. A lot of rail operators are very accommodating. Some Transport UK operators even have targeted advertising campaigns that are geared toward recruiting women drivers and mums into part time roles.
I actually see my kids more than I would if I worked a 9 to 5, as I can often be there for school drop-off or pickup. If any mums are anxious that a career in the rail industry could mean sacrificing their time as a mother, I want to reassure them that they can do both!
You can find Melissa on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads via the handle @thattraindrivermum, and on X via @traindrivermum.