Railways have always exuded a certain glamour but few would imagine a Hollywood Walk of Fame-style installation at a station. Even one as elegant as York’s.

But LNER has unveiled just such a feature on the concourse at York station ahead of International Women's Day to celebrate women in rail.

The installation highlights the incredible contributions of female trailblazers within the rail industry – both past and present – with 10 names adorning the stars, many of whom have never had their stories told.

The launch comes after 97 per cent of Britons have no idea how many women currently work in the UK railway industry and 72 per cent have no knowledge of stories of women who have helped shape the railway.

Train driver Helen Donagher who won the LNER Lifesaver Award in 2026 after she heroically saved someone's life by swiftly stopping her train when they were on the tracks and disembarking to administer crucial first aid. Photograph by Tony Johnson.

placeholder image — Train driver Helen Donagher who won the LNER Lifesaver Award in 2026 after she heroically saved someone's life by swiftly stopping her train when they were on the tracks and disembarking to administer crucial first aid. Photograph by Tony Johnson.

LNER launched two installations – the other is at London King’s Cross. They honour a range of larger-than-life characters. Elizabeth Holman, who disguised herself as a man to work on the railway, and Gladys Garlick who was one of the first female train guards and served during the Second World War air raids are among those honoured

There are modern day women celebrated too including train drivers Helen Donagher, whose quick thinking helped save a passenger’s life, and Rezwana Rahman – the first female LNER driver to wear a hijab.

Elizabeth Holman was one of the earliest known women to work on the British railway. In the 1850s she defied social limits by disguising herself as a man to take on dangerous and physically demanding railway construction work.

Nellie Nelson - who worked as a porter for LNER at York station during the Second World War - supported passengers and kept services moving through air raids and blackouts, and Gladys Garlick served as one of the first LNER female guards at this time, both showing true strength and resilience.

Gladys’s daughter, Lesley Cook, who was at London King’s Cross station to see her mother’s star unveiled, said: “Seeing my mother’s legacy live on for her unwavering dedication to the British railway is such a special moment for our family. The railway is part of our roots, with my mum working as a guard, which she was so passionate about and took a huge amount of pride in, and my father being a train driver.”

Paula Bullock, People Director at LNER, said “Gender equity in the transport industry – particularly within rail – is something we’re deeply passionate about and firmly committed to improving at LNER. By unveiling this installation, we’re not just shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women, past and present, we’re also recognising there is still work to be done.”

LNER says it has been a leading example for gender diversity and equality in the transport industry, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Its latest data report reveals that 45 per cent of its workforce is female, compared with the industry benchmark of 17.4 per cent.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s Eastern Region Managing Director, said: “It’s inspiring to see so many remarkable women from across the rail industry celebrated.”