A few years ago they weren’t even allowed to drive a car themselves – now more than 28,000 women in Saudi Arabia have applied to work as train drivers with the Spanish rail company Renfe.
Riyadh/Madrid – It is the first time in the country’s history that Saudi women have access to this profession, the company wrote in a statement on its website. So far, women have had significantly fewer rights than men in the conservative Islamic kingdom. In total, Renfe advertised 30 positions as engine drivers.
Women have only been allowed to drive alone since 2018. In recent years, the Saudi government under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has extended women’s rights. Nevertheless, they are still more restricted than in almost any other country. In addition, numerous activists for human and women’s rights are in prison. Spain’s Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez congratulated Renfe on the knowledge transfer and the important “step towards more equality” for women.
The future train drivers are to drive high-speed trains between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The route was built by Spanish companies and Renfe is also involved in organizing the service, which started in 2018. Those women who pass the selection process can expect a year of paid training, Renfe wrote. Together with the operating consortium, the Spanish company is thus making an important transfer of knowledge to Saudi society. (dpa)
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