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Monday 23 Jun 2025

Parallel tracks: Mother and Daughter engineering duo at Network Rail celebrate International Women in Engineering Day

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National

To mark International Women in Engineering Day (23 June), Network Rail is celebrating the inspiring mother-daughter duo, Elizabeth and Katie - two generations of engineers making their mark on Britain’s rail network.

Elizabeth Smith is a performance and assurance engineer with over 22 years of experience in the railway industry, and her daughter, Katie Smith, is now forging her own path as an asset engineer - following in her mother’s footsteps.

Elizabeth joined Network Rail in the early 2000s, at a time when there were very few women in the engineering workforce. Over the past two decades, she has witnessed not only the evolution of the industry but her own family becoming part of that change.

She said: “Having relocated to Crewe, where rail is a major employer, it felt natural to step into the industry and now, being able to work in the same sector as Katie and support her both professionally and personally has been incredibly meaningful.”

Katie Smith, 24,  joined Network Rail in 2020 and works as an asset engineer in our North West region. Her career began in administrative roles in signalling and telecoms before moving to a frontline role within the track maintenance tech team. Today, she supports the safety and resilience of the railway by developing renewal and enhancement schemes and carrying out asset condition inspections.

“What drew me to rail was the scale, purpose and legacy of the industry,” Katie said. “And having grown up seeing my mum’s dedication and pride in her work, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of.”

Elizabeth has supported Katie’s journey at every stage. “Professionally, I’ve been able to mentor and guide her; personally, I’ve been there to offer emotional support and celebrate her successes. Best of all, we’ve become role models for each other—reinforcing confidence and ambition.”

Katie agrees: “It means a lot to share this career with my mum. Her values - work hard, ask questions, never stop learning have stayed with me and helped shape who I am as an engineer.”

Reflecting on the industry's progress, Elizabeth says: “When I started out, it was rare to see another woman on site. Now I get to share this career with my daughter. Watching Katie step confidently into engineering has been one of the proudest moments of my life.”

Both women advocate for greater inclusion across engineering. “Women bring different perspectives, and diverse teams perform better - it’s proven,” Katie said. “My advice? Believe in your abilities. Stay curious, ask questions, and embrace opportunities - even the ones that scare you.”

Elizabeth adds, “Just go for it. People are always willing to support you, even if they’re busy. Don’t be afraid to change direction if you find something that better suits you - there’s space to grow in this industry.”

 

Together, Katie and Elizabeth show the progress and future of engineering in the railway sector. Their story highlights Network Rail’s ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce. While women still make up around 16.9% of the UK’s engineering sector*, initiatives like Inspire Engineering, STEM Ambassadors, and ‘Women in Rail partnerships are working to change that by providing clear pathways into rail careers.

Network Rail continues to invest in creating an environment where women in engineering can thrive - from apprenticeships and early careers support to leadership development and family-friendly policies.

For further information on career opportunities, including apprenticeships and graduate programmes please visit: networkrail.co.uk/careers