Moving forward together: for more diversity in the mobility sector

Swissrail and the Association of Public Transport (VöV) have set themselves a clear goal: to make diversity in the public transport sector visible, to promote it and to firmly embed it in the long term. A diverse image not only contributes to a positive industry reputation, but is also crucial for addressing the skills shortage and developing sustainable future solutions.

This process has been significantly shaped by two committed board members: Marie Icardo (Board Member Swissrail; see Editorial) and Christine Meier (Board Member VöV). They laid the strategic foundations and formulated concrete measures – ranging from building networks to promoting women in leadership positions and targeted positioning at panels, committees and specialist events.

A highlight was the #MoveUp event with Women in Mobility (WiM) on 27 August, which connected over 80 women. Already at the Swissrail Mobility Days 2023 and 2025, we had specifically invited women to actively participate in the programme with a #DrinksUp in cooperation with WiM – a clear signal of the need for more networking. Moreover, the kick-off event “Moving forward together: mobility through diversity” in November 2024 already showed the great potential of an industry-wide dialogue on diversity.

A new LinkedIn group has also been created, “Diversität im öV – Diversité dans TP”, which serves as a dedicated exchange platform. It enables requests to be placed and women to be suggested for panels, lectures or committees. In this way, a transparent contact point is created for women and men to bring diversity into the sector not just as a buzzword, but as lived practice.

The goal remains clear: to involve underrepresented voices more strongly, to make new perspectives visible and to create an inclusive environment. Swissrail and VöV invite the entire sector to actively shape this path – so that the mobility of the future is diverse, fair and innovative.