Despite recent efforts to promote gender equality, the railway sector remains strongly male-dominated. Women still face numerous barriers to enter, progress and remain in the industry. Furthermore, the sector is unable to attract potential female workers due to its inability to create diverse and inclusive environments. The rail transport infrastructure is not yet adapted to meet the needs of female users. This review analyzes the academic literature produced over the past ten years to understand the current situation of women in the railway sector from three different, although interconnected, perspectives: as workers, as potential workers, and as users. The presence of women workers in the railway sector is limited by strong horizontal and vertical segmentation. They encounter numerous obstacles that hinder their access and progress within the sector. It is imperative that targeted measures are implemented to promote recruitment, retention and career development. Complexity of women’s mobility patterns, largely influenced by their role as caregivers and their perception of security, has been demonstrated. These findings underscore the necessity for ongoing efforts to implement structural and systemic changes, with the aim of fostering an inclusive, diverse and equitable sector. This requires the involvement of public administrations, businesses and society.