Mother and Daughters Build Railway Careers Together at TransPennine Express
By Community Correspondent
TransPennine Express (TPE) is celebrating a special family connection this Mother’s Day, as a mum and her two daughters proudly share their journeys building careers together on the railway.
Sarah Beauvoisin, a conductor based in Newcastle, works alongside her daughters Frances Beauvoisin, a conductor based in York, and Lauren East, a train driver also based in York.
Lauren was the first member of the family to join TPE six years ago.
She initially started as a dispatcher before progressing through training to become a fully qualified driver.
Lauren said: “I love being out and about and not stuck behind a desk. The scenery is amazing and sometimes you’ll even spot wildlife on the routes. It’s such a unique job."
Inspired by Lauren’s experience and enthusiasm for the role, Sarah decided to make a career change and applied for a conductor position in Newcastle.
Her dedication and commitment were recognised last year when she was named Conductor of the Year at TPE’s internal awards.
Sarah said: “I always thought the railway was a male-dominated industry, but when Lauren joined and loved it, I realised there were real opportunities.
“It makes me incredibly proud that all three of us now work on the railway. We can share stories from our day and understand each other’s experiences.”
Frances later followed in their footsteps after hearing how much they enjoyed working at TPE, joining as a conductor in July 2025.
Frances said: “Every day is different. I love meeting lots of people and travelling to different places.
“It’s also lovely hearing colleagues say nice things about my mum and sister – it makes me really proud.”
The family’s railway connection stretches back even further. Lauren and Frances’ father has worked as a driver on the Tyne and Wear Metro for 20 years, while their grandfather was also a train driver.
Nicola Buckley, People Director at TPE, said:
“Sarah, Frances and Lauren’s story is a great example of how rewarding a career on the railway can be.
“Over the past year, the number of women working at TPE has increased by more than 11 per cent, with women now making up 25 per cent of our workforce.
“We’re proud to see women thriving across the business and we hope their story encourages others to consider a career in rail.”
