Women on duty in İstanbul as station masters

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Metro İstanbul, the public rail transport operator affiliated with the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İMM), advertised for "Station Unit Masters." The candidates started receiving training for the position last February.

On duty now following their training, 13 of the 30 station masters are women, which marks the first time in the 33-year history of the company that the rate of women among the station masters is so high.

Making a statement about the issue, Metro İstanbul General Manager Özgür Soy has said, "We have 268 station masters in total and 255 of them are men. Because railways is a sector dominated by men across the world. We set out to create a family atmosphere which prioritizes women and gives priority to meritocracy and career development."

Security masters start working at Metro İstanbul after receiving a difficult technical and theoretical training for two months. Every candidate can start working only after a comprehensive training process which includes crisis and team management, leadership, first aid and communication.

Following this training which also includes applied programs, both written and verbal examinations are held. In these exams, the prospective station masters are tested for a series of subjects, such as the repair of an out-of-order escalator or elevator or the response to a passenger who faints at the station. (EMK/SD)