So it looks like Scot Rail have also drunk the Koolaid...

[Destinysdaughter]

Just saw this on Twitter and it would seem that the sleeper train to Scotland allows, in single sex overnight cabins, pp to share with pp who self identify with that gender. As shown here. FFS. I don't think I'd feel comfortable with this at all and it's yet another example of women's spaces being erased.

The rail industry is shit hot on safety. I can't believe that a policy which allows a biological male access to an Equality Act-sanctioned single-sex safe space putting female passengers at very obvious risk isn't violating passenger safety regulations, franchise agreements etc. I'd be interested to hear what the Office of Rail and Road and other rail safety bodies have to say about such blatant disregard for passenger safety.

Just had a look at their webpage.

They are bringing in new trains and you will have to book the 'room' rather than a bed.Shared Room Products from late October 2018

As mentioned, from late October, all our accommodation products will be offered on a “hotel style” room rather than “per traveller” basis. Due to this change, our share with a stranger products will no longer be available. However, all classes are available to book on a solo or twin basis.

We will offer a discounted rate per person to guests who share a room when travelling together. These are available to all of our guests and you do not need a Railcard to take advantage of these fares.

We also have great value Club and Classic Family Fares for those guests travelling with children. This will automatically be shown during the booking process as long as no railcard is chosen

Yes so as they are trying to avoid people sharing until they bring in the new trains, they are likely not to care if this policy puts women off sharing.

When companies do this, and it all goes wrong, which it will, can we sue them for putting us at risk? I know that this will be too late, but it might be worth bringing up with them.

Maybe they have done a risk assessment, and the hotel style option was deemed a good way of removing potential problems.

Fucking hell. CEO of Serco (who run the Caledonian Sleeper) doubling down on the policy on Twitter just now:

"Rupert Soames
‏****@rsoames
Follow Follow @rsoames
More
Replying to @MadamBiro @ManFRIDAY_ @CalSleeper
I think you are referring to the possibility that people may say they are a woman when in fact they are a man. - Sigh - . Fortunately people who travel on @CalSleeper are not deceitful. Never been a problem in past."

"Rupert Soames
‏****@rsoames
17m17 minutes ago
More
Replying to @rsoames @MadamBiro and 2 others
Would also add - @CalSleeper staff are v attentive and watchful; all cabins have call buttons; if a single woman was uncomfortable with the other person they would be moved to another cabin. As I say, this has never to my knowledge been a problem in the past."

"This would never happen because our customers are so nice!"

Maybe they have done a risk assessment, and the hotel style option was deemed a good way of removing potential problems.

That is a possibility.

Also, while the Cal Sleeper is going single-rooms-only: Serco who run it also run Northlink ferries, which run from mainland Scotland to Orkney/Shetland. They have the same room-sharing scheme:

"Cabin share scheme – buy a bed rather than a whole cabin
For those happy to share either an outside or inside cabin with other travellers of the same gender, booking a bed rather than a cabin is a low cost option. We simply ask that those choosing this option show consideration for their fellow travellers."

www.northlinkferries.co.uk/on-board/accommodation/

I knew about Northlink cabins, but didn't know the company was under the Serco group too.

It's going to get expensive to #ManFriday!

I hate the koolaid jibe and would be happy to see it banned on MN. I've seen it used all over the internet including far right websites. It refers to the koolaid killings by a cult leader - kids, everyone. Such an awful term to glibly throw around. I had to say it. Sorry - as you were....

I agree re Kool Aid.

Fortunately people who travel on @CalSleeper are not deceitful.

Why do they have people checking tickets then?

Caledonian Sleeper reassuring us that abolishing single-sex rooms will be fiiiiine .

Because obviously all those nice non-deceitful @CalSleeper travellers will have tickets. No need to embarrass people by checking.

I have travelled standard class on the Caledonian Sleeper loads of times, including once heavily pregnant and travelling alone. About half of those times there has been another woman in the cabin, which was OK.

I would feel very scared if I had to share with a male. The cabins are very small and I also got changed into pyjamas in it, which I wouldn't be able to do if I had to share with a male.

If Scotrail's passengers are "not deceitful", why does Scotrail employ ticket inspectors?

Why do they have people checking tickets then?
Do please tweet that

And even if you could guarantee (somehow?) that no passenger on the Sleeper would ever assault another passenger, I still don't want to share with a bloke. Even a bloke who genuinely believes he is a woman. Even if he's an absolute saint. And they know this, because that's why they offer single-sex accommodation in the first place - otherwise we'd all just travel mixed-sex and be happy with it!

Putting the burden on women who feel uncomfortable to either a) press the buzzer and have a conversation about it two feet away from the person making them feel uncomfortable, or b) head off down the very very long train at 3am in your nightie to find someone sympathetic, and cross your fingers they've got room to reshuffle you elsewhere, is not a fucking solution.

yy. Can someone on Twitter please ask this fool why they check tickets

And at the end for good measure

DM have picked this up. Looking forward to the comments

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5565999/Row-female-compartments-transgender-people-pits-Churchills-grandson-against-Mumsnet.html

The Daily Mail has taken this "self-identification" thing and really run with it. Brilliant work from loads of women (on here and elsewhere) to get to this point. It is now mainstream and people are thinking what the hell?

And that insert about Corbyn's transgender mate saying it is justified to punch women.

I'd like to say I feel sorry for Jeremy Corbyn right now.

But I'd be lying.

No sympathy for Corbyn here. He could have avoided this by actually listening to women. Like his mate Linda Bellos, who he blew off.

It is very Daily Mail to write about an incident that Corbyn had absolutely no involvement in.

And then end with a large insert sticking the boot into Corbyn, via the medium of a supposed friend of his.

Smear tactics 101.

These are the consequences of chucking women under the bus, Jeremy.

Don't give the likes of the Daily Mail the ammo in the first place would be my advice.

Never thought I'd be grateful for the daily mail. The world is a weird place right now.

The only objection I have is that the Corbyn smear piece at the end suggests it's only labour who have jumped aboard the trans-wagon, when it's actually all the parties.

But other than that, good.

Looks like the MSM journalists are keeping an eye on this forum for these sort of stories. Wait until they see the cancelled clothes swap thread. Say what you want about the DM, it's still one of the best ways to get the message out there to the great British public.