Poll: Are women-only train carriages a good idea?
Jeremy Corbyn's suggestion that women-only train carriages could be introduced at night to guard against sexual attacks has been condemned by rival Labour leadership contenders and anti-sexism campaigners. What do you think?
The surprise favourite in the election to be Labour leader raised the issue amid a climate of growing concern about sexual harassment on public transport.
But the Everyday Sexism Project described women-only carriages as "a real step backwards" while leadership candidates Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall both insisted it was not the appropriate solution.
The number of sex offences on Britain's railways increased last year, according to figures from British Transport Police (BTP).
There were 1,399 sexual offences in 2014/15, up from 1,117 the previous year.
Transport for London has begun a campaign to encourage more reporting of sex crimes on the capital'sUnderground network.
Launching his street harassment policy, Mr Corbyn said: "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, on 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."
Transport minister Claire Perry last year indicated she was interested in exploring the idea of women-only carriages, which are in operation in Japan, India, Brazil and other countries.
