The Times 11/2/22 Women-only carriages ‘would make ScotRail trains safer’

[Gastonia]

I don't have a share token. The article starts: "Ministers have been urged to consider creating female-only ScotRail train carriages after vowing to make the network safer for women."

Of course, the comments note the irony about this... I just had to cut and paste one exchange between two readers below, as it made me smile.

Mark Patrick: Well that's fine, because I will simply go into these carriages and if anybody questions me I shall say that I self identify as a woman (but only on trains). And what can they do? I will hoist them by their own ridiculous petard.
Stuart Whitby: So you're a trains-woman then?

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-only-carriages-would-make-scotrail-trains-safer-jw287tx55

@DevonTF

I honestly think the Scottish Government are trolling us.

I fear you may be right...

It’s a bit odd to argue for female only train carriages for safety reasons and yet argue against female only loos as if safety no longer matters. I would argue the opposite- female loos but mixed sexed carriages.
I agree with the pp who said the existence of a female only carriage makes the other carriages less safe

As I said the women only carriages work well in other countries.for sure it would be great if we could trust men to behave , to not intrude on women travelling, but I see no evidence that this is happening . So half the train for women , half for men seems fair with some allocated for families. The best travelling for women in Delhi for example, is in the women only carriage where there is definitely a sense of relief, safety and solidarity. In other places the middle section is made a safer space for women...not quite as satisfactory, but men are literally shown the door.

In the days of compartment stock (often with no corridor), "Ladies' compartments" made sense. You were stuck in a small space with strangers and no way out. Could be very dangerous for a lone woman (one ended up clinging to the outside of a train to escape a predator). Even so, they weren't that well used - more often by mothers/nurses with children than other women. With corridor stock and later open saloons there was no real need anymore as you weren't trapped in a confined space. They were seldom used by the time BR abolished them.

Much better to ensure that trains are well staffed, providing a visible presence. Sadly many trains just have a driver working alone. The government is hell-bent on cutting back front line staff.

And yet when in a women's prison, a man doesn't pose a risk because he's said he is a woman in order to get in there.

Sorry for stating the blindingly obvious. They're thick as mince.

I wish there was another, better world for women and children to inhabit. - a world where we could move around freely and without fear of sexual assault, rape or being attacked. In my ideal world, men would treat women, not as targets, but actual fellow humans. Where did society go so very wrong that women and girls are living in ever increasing fear of violence both outside and inside our homes?

Yeah it’s weird Scottish government saying that women and girls are unsafe on the trains because of mens violence

But any man could say the6 are a women and come into our changing rooms, toilets women only compartments

So what is the threats to women on trains and how can the threats be identified?
Yeah they are trolling us Idiots the whole lot of SG

As I said the women only carriages work well in other countries.

Which countries do they "work well" in?

@lovelyweathertoday

As I said the women only carriages work well in other countries.

Which countries do they "work well" in?

The poster mentioned Dehli is that not the country with amazing trains which people load up inside and out?

The Guardian article I found mentioned India, Japan, UAE, Iran.

I don't think we should be copying countries with appalling human rights records for women.

Why don't we introduce a system to keep women safe at all times, maybe make sure they only access public spaces in the company of a male family member for example...