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.

 

[Mikey C]

We definitely need separate ladies only compartments for hen parties, to give the rest of us some peace

 

[Sorcerer]

I don't begrudge anyone thinking that women-only coaches could be a decent idea, but I think it'd be a lot better if the railway (and society at large for that matter) were better able to tackle such antisocial behaviour so that any form of sex-segregation on public transport doesn't need to be on the table. Everyone would be better off for it.

The Dubai Metro trains have ladies only compartments.

Of the many things I love about the Dubai Metro, this is not one of them. On a rapid transit system serving a large metropolis that can get pretty crowded during rush hour, restricting carriages shouldn't be a common practice. I suspect this is more to do with the UAE's Islamic roots than anything related to antisocial behaviour.

 

[Iskra]

Imagine the arguments over what constitutes a lady...

 

[Howardh]

Imagine the arguments over what constitutes a lady...

Indeed! But as for compartments, where does one begin and stop? Trains are sometimes divided into classes (Avanti has three!) and quiet coaches, if we further subdivide we will have no room for standard passengers!

Almost* (?) every carriage has CCTV which covers just about every seat, that should be a deterrent, plus emergency buttons.

*Is every single UK train now covered by CCTV?

 

[Mikey C]

Is there a major issue with lone women on trains feeling unsafe in this country anyway? As opposed to once they leave the train at an unmanned station, and then have to walk along poorly lit streets.

And it wouldn't necessarily be safer in a women only carriage, if you're the only person there, than in a busier "mixed" carriage.

 

[Iskra]

True, passengers who are anxious about safety can of course sit in the carriage that they observe the guard to be operating from*.

*on trains where a guard exists of course.

 

[Turtle]

Imagine the arguments over what constitutes a lady...

I hadn't thought of that one!

 

[Haywain]

Of the many things I love about the Dubai Metro, this is not one of them. On a rapid transit system serving a large metropolis that can get pretty crowded during rush hour, restricting carriages shouldn't be a common practice. I suspect this is more to do with the UAE's Islamic roots than anything related to antisocial behaviour.

There are also 'ladies only' areas on buses in Dubai. I think the trams around Dubai Marina also have them.

 

[kkong]

I think the trams around Dubai Marina also have them.

Indeed - the trams also have a Gold Class section with nice wide, padded seats.

 

[andy33gmail]

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.

I find it strange you can get women only but not men only.

Presumably there are men who would prefer from a safety, religious, dignity or liability perspective not to snooze in the company of female strangers.

Although to be fair, I’d not want to share sleeping accommodation with strangers in general

 

[LowLevel]

Indeed! But as for compartments, where does one begin and stop? Trains are sometimes divided into classes (Avanti has three!) and quiet coaches, if we further subdivide we will have no room for standard passengers!

Almost* (?) every carriage has CCTV which covers just about every seat, that should be a deterrent, plus emergency buttons.

*Is every single UK train now covered by CCTV?

No, XC and most of the EMR 170s have no CCTV though it is being fitted during their refurbishment. I think they're firmly in the minority now though.