Meet Luxembourg City's first female bus driver

(CS) On April 1, 1988, Martine Reichling was the first female bus driver to get behind the wheel for the Luxembourg City public transport service.

Reichling started her career as a secretary. “But after five to six years boredom set in,” she said. Always a keen driver, Reichling in 1986 first completed her lorry driver's licence, before being able to obtain the bus licence a year later. “Those were the rules at the time,” Reichling recalled.

She moved to Luxembourg City, a requirement at the time to be allowed to apply, and in February 1988 passed the City of Luxembourg's entrance exam with the highest marks of all applicants in her group. A few weeks later, on April 1, the then 24-year-old officially started her service.

“I was received well,” Reichling said. “Those who were sceptical at least did not let me feel it.” However, Reichling did sense a watchful eye on her. Would the only woman receive preferential treatment during the planning of shifts and schedules? “That was not the case; I drove every route, at every shift time, with articulated buses or the normal version,” she explained.

Skirt or trousers?

However, she was allowed to be first in line to have her uniform fitted, as it was felt that it would add to her authority as a driver. “The day before I kept thinking: 'Please, no skirt',” Reichling said. There was some discussion at administrative level, but in the end Reichling, like her male colleagues, was issued two sets of the grey-blue uniform with trousers.

Unlike the men, Reichling was issued a side cap instead of a visored cap. Since the item was not obligatory, the cap remained in the closet, Reichling said.

The first female bus driver in Luxembourg City meanwhile raised eyebrows among passengers. Some men would prefer waiting for the next bus, Reichling said, while most girls thought it was cool to see a woman behind the wheel.

Reichling remained a bus driver with the City of Luxembourg until 1993. At the time of her departue there was only one other woman on the job. Currently, there are 17.

For several years, Reichling continued part-time as a school bus driver for a private company. In the meantime she has switched jobs. Remembering the stress and responsibility of her former career, however, she always has a friendly hello for the driver when using the bus today.

Reporting by Paul Hinger