Young people's reflections on the railway sector: a European perspective

The aim of the Erasmus+ project ASTONRail (Advanced approaches and practices for rail training and education TO inNovate Rail study programmes & improve rail higher education provision) is to generate awareness and encourage young people, particularly those facing career path decisions, to consider the rail industry as an interesting and fascinating alternative to develop their working career. One of the project tasks is to create impactful initiatives, promotional events, and outreach activities to attract and inspire a greater number of aspiring railway talents and young professionals. To this end, focus groups have been used in this paper to explore the perceptions young people hold about this sector and the employment opportunities it can offer. Thus, by resorting to discussion groups, it has been possible to identify key aspects of the young generation’s perception and demands on public transport in general and on the rail mode of transport in particular. As a result, it was found that the way young individuals perceive the railway sector is influenced by their personal experiences and preferences, environment and cultural context. Furthermore, the analysis of the findings indicates that environmental concerns hold considerable importance for the younger generations. In addition, the main expectations of future talents regarding the railway industry have been detected, with the aim of improving its attractiveness to them. In this regard, it became evident that a satisfactory salary alone is not sufficient. Equally vital are factors like a positive work atmosphere, ongoing training opportunities, and a healthy balance between personal and professional life