Engineering is for everyone- GRR speaks to Eurostar’s Chief Rolling Stock Officer

Can you tell us about your role and what a typical day looks like for you?

I’m the Chief Rolling Stock Officer at Eurostar, member of Eurostar’s Executive Committee, responsible for the maintenance and management of our 51 high-speed trains, across three depots.

Our fleet is split into two categories:

• 25 trains certified to cross the Channel Tunnel, primarily maintained at our Eurostar depot in London, Temple Mills International.
• 26 continental trains, maintained across Paris and Brussels.

With our Fleet Management team based in Brussels, my role involves frequent travel between London, Paris, and Brussels. I work closely with our depot teams, oversee key projects, and ensure seamless operations. Our priority right now is also preparing for our new fleet, following last year’s announcement of our plan to order up to 50 new trains. It’s a significant and exciting project for us.

What was your route into rail?

I went straight into the railway industry after completing my engineering studies in Paris. I wanted a career that was hands-on, meaningful, and easy to explain to my children — one that involved teamwork and tangible results. The railway industry was the perfect place to achieve that.

My journey began in infrastructure management, overseeing track maintenance in the greater Paris suburbs. Those early days were spent on the ground, mostly working nights. It was a challenging but rewarding experience!

From there, I became Chief of Staff to the Chairman of SNCF, followed by various operational roles, including Director of a suburban rail line. Now, I have the privilege of leading Eurostar’s rolling stock operations, ensuring our trains are safe, reliable, and efficient for our customers across Europe.

What has been the best part of your experience within the rail industry so far?

I’ve had so many incredible experiences—always as part of a team, always connected to the reality of the field.

Working at Eurostar has been particularly special. It’s amazing to be part of a company that connects cultures across Europe. The Belgians, British, German, Dutch and French sometimes approach things differently, but these perspectives complement each other perfectly. At the same time, we share common values—a strong commitment to safety and a constant drive to improve the passenger experience.

Every day, I’m reminded of how rail travel brings people together, and that’s something I take great pride in.

What advice would you give to women looking to start a career in rail?

Go for it! There’s a place for you in our industry. Rail is a fascinating field—it’s full of expertise, daily challenges, and endless opportunities to grow. You’ll never stop learning, and you’ll never be bored!

I always take opportunities to speak to children about my job, whether in schools or my own children’s classrooms. The more we challenge gender stereotypes, the more we normalize the idea that engineering is for everyone—women and men alike.

What qualities and skills do you look for when recruiting engineering staff across your network?

We’re always on the lookout for engineering talent, and we regularly recruit in the UK, France and Belgium.

We seek engineers with experience in mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical engineering across all industries. We look for people who thrive in a team environment and can communicate effectively; Adapt to new technologies and enjoy solving challenges; Aren’t afraid to get on a train and truly understand how things work.

While technical skills and experience are important, we are committed to supporting our employees’ ongoing development, helping them grow with Eurostar’s ambitions. And of course, we strongly encourage women to apply!

How is Eurostar working to promote gender equality in the workplace?

At Eurostar, we pride ourselves on being a human-scale company, where everyone has a place. To reinforce this, we’ve recently launched our “Everyone Belongs” programme, focusing specifically on diversity and inclusion.

Personally, I’m passionate about mentoring, and I get immense satisfaction from guiding the next generation of engineers. It’s fantastic to see more women making an impact in rolling stock and engineering.