Ladies only compartments

[ACDC]

Having just come back from India, I was intrigued they had ladies only compartments for women and young children creating a safety space. Granted their population is significantly bigger, but would doing something like this make women feel safer?

 

[Harpo]

We used to have Ladies Only compartments on toast rack stock with a small green triangular sign on the window.

A couple of times in my early commuting I jumped into one at the last minute to various ladies’ amusement and my embarassment. I just had to suffer in silence with a red face and escape at the next stop.

Now we no longer have compartments and have so many rammed off peak trains, I can’t see this working easily nowadays.

 

[6Gman]

This has been discussed before I think and there was a view that - in practice - they could make travel more hazardous by identifying nervous/ vulnerable passengers and removing the potential for other passengers (male or female) to intervene.

 

[30907]

There are ladies-only compartments on the mainland in couchette coaches on overnight trains. Other than that, compartments that can be closed off are increasingly rare, and in the UK non-existent, so there's an issue of practicality apart from anything else.

 

[mike57]

I think the best way to make vulnerable people feel safe is to deal harshly with those who think anti social behaviour or worse is acceptable. Make sure the crime is not worth the time. I would love to see some of the scrotes that make life miserable for everyone in this countr6y try their stunts in somewhere like Singapore.

I also agree that separating out women is not a good idea, as those who are going to prey on them are not going to detered by a few signs.

With nearly all trains being gangwayed these days its pretty well impossible anyway.

 

[Tobberz]

I think that in Europe they are rational on sleepers, but detrimental in other cases.

 

[Bletchleyite]

India has a FAR bigger issue with inappropriate male behaviour and misogyny than Europe does (not to say the issue isn't there at all in Europe as sadly it is) - the need for these compartments is a symptom of that. My hope would rather be that India can progress so this isn't necessary any more rather than the UK regress to a need for their addition.

 

[kkong]

The Dubai Metro trains have ladies only compartments.

They are part of the first class ('Gold Class') carriage, but are separated by a mirrored barrier and door.

 

[Turtle]

I think the best way to make vulnerable people feel safe is to deal harshly with those who think anti social behaviour or worse is acceptable. Make sure the crime is not worth the time. I would love to see some of the scrotes that make life miserable for everyone in this countr6y try their stunts in somewhere like Singapore.

I also agree that separating out women is not a good idea, as those who are going to prey on them are not going to detered by a few signs.

With nearly all trains being gangwayed these days its pretty well impossible anyway.

Indeed. There would have to be a complete sealed off coach. As it happens, I can remember travelling with my mother in a Southern Region ladies only compartment from Kingston to Clapham Junction circa 1950.