Women only rail carriages ? Is this sexual discrimination ..?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Here's an alternative - http://newsthump.com/2015/08/26/commuters-suggest-tosspots-only-carriage/

[Phil]

So what happens when a train has a male guard working on it - presumably they won't be allowed to ticket check in the women only carriage?

[BerkshireBugsy]

So what happens when a train has a male guard working on it - presumably they won't be allowed to ticket check in the women only carriage?

They will probably put a sign up saying "this carriage is serviced by male and female train managers" similar to the ones they find in public loos

[patch38]

Here's an alternative - http://newsthump.com/2015/08/26/commuters-suggest-tosspots-only-carriage/

And the usual acerbic take on things from The Daily Mash

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/rail-companies-unveil-women-only-rip-offs-20150827101514

[Rhydgaled]

one of the labour leader candidates is considering introducing women only carriages on some train services...curious to know what other members think about this

I think Jeremy Corbyn needs to get out more, he's obviously never seen a class 153 running alone.

Logic suggests that for equality reasons you should also have men only carriages.

In that case trains would need to be at least 3-car (male carriage, female carriage and carriage for mixed-sex groups travelling together). Of course if you're serious about the sugesstion it would presumably only be implemented on long trains (as quiet carriages are currently) and therefore some areas would see very few, if any, services with the gender-specific carriages.

[JayMac]

I think Jeremy Corbyn needs to get out more, he's obviously never seen a class 153 running alone.

I think people need to read what he actually said rather than whatever spin the media have put on it.

^Some women have raised with me that a solution to the rise in assault and harassment on public transport could be to introduce women-only carriages. My intention would be to make public transport safer for everyone from the train platform to the bus stop to the mode of transport itself. However, I would consult with women and open it up to hear their views on whether women-only carriages would be welcome ^ and also if piloting this at times and on modes of transport where harassment is reported most frequently would be of interest.^

Merely responding to concerns raised and floating the idea of consultation. About as far from actually stating a policy as you can get. Well done to those here who jumped on the outrage bus without looking at what Mr Corbyn said. 

Incidentally, rail minister Claire Perry made similar noises at the Conservative Party conference last September. She also floated the idea of women only carriages. Following the opprobrium levelled at Jeremy Corbyn she has performed something of a u-turn. Funny how she isn't being attacked as sexist, out of touch, hair-brained...

The worst criticism I can level at Jeremy Corbyn is he has taken a government minister's idea and run with it.

[Rhydgaled]

I think Jeremy Corbyn needs to get out more, he's obviously never seen a class 153 running alone.

I think people need to read what he actually said rather than whatever spin the media have put on it.

That was intended as a 'lighter side' comment, hence the smiley.

^Some women have raised with me that a solution to the rise in assault and harassment on public transport could be to introduce women-only carriages. My intention would be to make public transport safer for everyone from the train platform to the bus stop to the mode of transport itself. However, I would consult with women and open it up to hear their views on whether women-only carriages would be welcome ^ and also if piloting this at times and on modes of transport where harassment is reported most frequently would be of interest.^

Oh, that's what Corbyn actually said? The media really are being misleading if that's the case.

[ChrisB]

I think Jeremy Corbyn needs to get out more, he's obviously never seen a class 153 running alone.

I think people need to read what he actually said rather than whatever spin the media have put on it.

I think people need to see smileys & realise they usually mean "Tongue in Cheek" or similar.

[thetrout]

Similar to what other posters have said, It would work as well as Quiet Carriages and First Class on late evening services... I.e. A waste of time.

Having said that, the perhaps more logical and far easier to implement solution is having more BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) on trains themselves and at known crime hotspots. In Spain on Renfe Cercan^as Services (Local Trains) the trains always have some travelling Security Guards (Certainly true for all of the trains I've used). I remember my first journey being quite intimidated by it; but also felt reassured that anyone thinking of causing trouble would be thinking again...

[ChrisB]

Are you happy for fares to rise to provide for more BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) offices? Coz it's the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) that pay for them directly, not the taxpayers

[thetrout]

That's difficult to answer if I'm honest. I think I just accept that the fares are going to go up regardless of what happens.

In respect of the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) paying more ^ for more officers; It could be considered that if a higher presence reduced the amount of Antisocial Behaviour incidents, Increased passenger numbers by giving an impression of a "much safer railway", reduced the bill of repairs from criminal damage, reduces the likelihood of the "chancer" fare evaders and so on and so fourth...

Then throw into the mix that more officers meant less strain on NHS resources, less strain on Network Rail from the likes of Cable Theft etc...

It's a tricky one to get a good balance. I am loathed to say this, but if that is the case then sadly it's for the TOC to decide whether it wants to put profits before passenger welfare.

[ChrisB]

oh, they definitely do juggle their shifts from time to time to get them where they're needed - but if you're saying more are needed, they'll either be juggling them out of where they work now or need to spend more to increase numbers.

It is a hard one - and I don't think more being seen will increase pax numbers, especially late night

[TaplowGreen]

one of the labour leader candidates is considering introducing women only carriages on some train services...curious to know what other members think about this

I think Jeremy Corbyn needs to get out more, he's obviously never seen a class 153 running alone.

Logic suggests that for equality reasons you should also have men only carriages.

In that case trains would need to be at least 3-car (male carriage, female carriage and carriage for mixed-sex groups travelling together). Of course if you're serious about the sugesstion it would presumably only be implemented on long trains (as quiet carriages are currently) and therefore some areas would see very few, if any, services with the gender-specific carriages.

Presumably they'd all have to have facilities for the disabled too? Unless that will be yet another carriage?

[LiskeardRich]

A friend I was with when this was hitting the TV news this week, said she would like this to actually happen in some parts of the country. She said she had felt very uncomfortable in some trains in the London area.

On the other hand having a woman only carriage is an advert to the rapist, mugger etc.

[JayMac]

Are you happy for fares to rise to provide for more BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) offices? Coz it's the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) that pay for them directly, not the taxpayers

 

Taxpayers do pay though. Network Rail are the largest individual contributor to BTP funding.