Stefanie Foster
Assistant Editor, Rail Review
Assistant Editor, Rail Review
“Iknew nothing about railways beyond the very basics and would never have thought about joining the industry. In fact, I’d say it was a complete accident.”
Despite having no prior affinity for railways, Stefanie is already approaching veteran status on the RAIL team, having been integral to it for nearly 11 years.
Having grown increasingly disillusioned during her short stint in customer service after leaving school, Stefanie saw an opportunity in an advert for an editorial assistant with RAIL’s then publisher, EMAP.
Now the assistant editor of RAIL’s business publication RailReview, there are few aspects of publishing she hasn’t been involved in along the way, having been a production assistant, production manager, PA, assistant awards director and news and features writer for RAIL, before assuming her current position at the time of RailReview’s launch in 2014.
This wealth of experience has also made Stefanie a selfconfessed ‘office problem solver’, which means that in addition to her day job creating content and relationship building for RAIL,
“I feel as though I get to make a difference every day”
RailReview and its events business, she does an awful lot of things that are beyond her job description in support of her colleagues. “I love that my job gives me the opportunity to dip into anything on the railway. It’s great that I can step back and look at the bigger picture and how all the component parts of the railway fit together. “It is an industry full of complexity, which at times can be frustrating, but it makes for some fascinating and intellectually challenging projects, such as this supplement!” “I had no idea before I became involved in railways that there would be so many highlights, such as travelling to Chicago to see freight trains being built [thanks to GB Railfreight], or getting private tours of abandoned London Underground stations. I’ve had so many incredible experiences in this industry and I know I’m not alone in that.” In order to successfully manage her work/life balance, Stefanie can count on an unhealthy appetite for compiling detailed lists and spreadsheets, plus the unwavering support of her husband Richard, editor of Model Rail magazine. Not only does this make Richard naturally sympathetic to the frequent need to work long hours in order to meet strict press deadlines, but makes him more than happy to indulge her passion for the railway. Having got married last year, the inevitable result has been that their home in rural Lincolnshire is now bursting to the seams with railway books and paraphernalia. Meanwhile Stefanie also admits to owning a sizeable Lego collection that “any child would envy”, and a “somewhat obsessive” interest in neuroscience. To help unwind from the frenetic pace of publishing and the railway industry, Stefanie likes to keep a journal, and volunteers at a local owl and wildlife centre. She explains: “Volunteering is a big commitment, but it’s my escape. Being outside and interacting with birds of prey is completely different from my day job. It’s definitely taught me the value of patience, because birds never really become tame. They’re sensitive to body language, so you need to carefully regulate your behaviour. “I’ve also tried to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, who kept journals and wrote short stories for much of his life. It can be hard to keep up the habit but it’s worth it when I do. It can be very therapeutic to reflect on situations you wrote about last week, last month or even several years ago, and it’s a great way to see how much you have - or perhaps haven’t - changed.” To people considering joining the industry, her message is simple: if you want a challenging, exciting and fulfilling job, then rail is the industry to do it in. “I feel as though I get to make a difference every day. The railway is not just about getting people from A to B - it helps drive jobs, housing and the economy. We are desperately poor at selling this industry, but I’ve found that when someone joins, they rarely leave. It sounds like a cliché, but joining the railway is like joining one enormous family.” ■