Mumbai local trains get first woman driver

She drove a Mumbai local train on Tuesday afternoon between Churchgate and Borivali.

An excited Kumari, who underwent on-field training for six months, said she felt happy with the achievement. Kumari, who was one of three to join WR today, began her day by going to the temple.

Sixty-nine candidates started training for the post in August 2009, of which three were inducted on Tuesday.

Kumari is also the first woman in Indian Railways to gain direct entry to the post. On Central Railway, motorwomen like Surekha Yadav, the first motorwoman in Asia, worked her way up from the post of assistant driver.

A diploma-holder in Electronics and a BA (Honours) in History, Kumari is a native of Banka district in Bihar. She joined WR's Electrical Training College, Mahalaxmi in August last year and stays in suburban Dahisar with her husband who is with the Indian Air Force.