Indonesia stops women-only trains
16/04/2012 Just you and the tracks. An ideal thinking spot.The high grass covers you. Nobody is watching.Sit on those tracks. There are no angry drivers to shout at you. No pedastrians to push you out of the way or stomp on your toes. No train to complete your suicide attempt. So go ahead, indulge in those inner thoughts. Picture: Oupa Mokoena 16/04/2012 Just you and the tracks. An ideal thinking spot.The high grass covers you. Nobody is watching.Sit on those tracks. There are no angry drivers to shout at you. No pedastrians to push you out of the way or stomp on your toes. No train to complete your suicide attempt. So go ahead, indulge in those inner thoughts. Picture: Oupa Mokoena
Jakarta -
Indonesia's railway company has decided to scrap women-only trains less than a year after they were introduced, an official said on Tuesday.
State railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia launched seven brightly painted trains in October to provide safety and comfort for women following reports of sexual harassment in mixed-gender commuter cars linking Jakarta to oulying areas.
But the trains are largely empty outside rush hour while regular ones are always packed, company spokeswoman Eva Chairunnisa said.
“To increase capacity, we decided to convert the women-only trains into regular ones,” Chairunnisa said.
“The ladies' trains are full during rush hour, but regular trains are even more packed,” she added.
The spokeswoman said the company planned to add 180 more cars in 2013 and that trains for women only might be introduced again when capacity allowed.
Lack of space has forced many commuters to ride on the rooftops of trains, exposing them to dangers including falling and electrocution.
The railway company has tried various tricks to deter roof riding, including spraying them with paint and hanging concrete balls above train tracks, but they were largely unsuccessful. - Sapa-dpa