Archive · 1 Oct 2025
Asia's First Woman Loco Pilot Surekha Yadav Retires After 36 Years
Imagine a train driver, but a woman who was the first in Asia!
Surekha Yadav has retired after a long career.
She started working in 1989 and broke barriers in a job usually done by men.
She drove many trains, including goods trains and the Vande Bharat Express.
She even drove the first ladies-only train.
Her job was challenging, but she enjoyed it.
She inspires everyone to follow their dreams!
She's now retired after over three decades, leaving a legacy of courage and paving the way for others.
Surekha Yadav, Asia's first woman loco pilot, retired after 36 years of service.
She joined the Indian Railways in 1989 and became an assistant driver in 1990.
Yadav drove various prestigious trains, including the Vande Bharat Express and Rajdhani Express.
She was the first woman to drive a ladies' special train.
Yadav's final assignment was piloting the Rajdhani Express.
- Who
- Surekha Yadav, Asia's first woman loco pilot.
- What
- Retired after 36 years of service.
- When
- Retired on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
- Where
- India, with final assignment on the Hazrat Nizamuddin-CSMT route.
- Why
- Completed her railway service tenure.
- Name
- Surekha Yadav
- Role
- Asia's first woman loco pilot
- Years of Service
- 36 years
- First Train Driven
- Goods train (1996)
- First Ladies' Special
- CSMT to Dombivli (April 14, 2000)
- First Vande Bharat Run
- Solapur to CSMT (March 13, 2023)