Iraqi woman trains driver in Germany highlights challenges of the job

BARA, Germany — A 34-year-old Iraqi woman living in Germany has drawn attention to the limited number of female train drivers in the country. Bara al-Eslu said people often assume drivers must be tall and physically imposing, and she has faced prejudice because of her appearance. Al-Eslu identified night shifts as one of the most demanding aspects of the job, noting that operating trains during late hours as a woman is difficult. She said weekends bring more incidents, including drunk passengers and fights among young people on board, and that technical breakdowns during service leave travelers stranded. The driver added that the hardest situation she has encountered in her years on the railways is when a person steps in front of a moving train to take their own life, an event she said has occurred more than once during her career. No further details were immediately available.