Women-only carriages face resistance as UK cities look to proven safety measure

Despite growing public support and international evidence, TfL remains opposed to implementing women-only carriages on the London Underground, raising questions about the future of women’s safety in the capital’s public transport system.

Despite a growing public outcry, Transport for London (TfL) remains steadfast in its refusal to implement women-only carriages on the London Underground, despite mounting evidence from other global cities such as Tokyo and Mexico City that segregation can serve as a practical, if imperfect, solution to sexual harassment. This stubborn stance ignores the distress faced by countless women, with one petition spearheaded by a young Londoner garnering over 12,000 signatures—a clear indication of the widespread frustration and anger at the failure of current measures.

Camille, the petition’s founder, recounts personal trauma—being approached inappropriately at just 13 years old on the Tube—highlighting the persistent safety concerns female commuters face daily. While Tokyo’s metro system has successfully operated women-only carriages during peak hours and expanded such initiatives recently, TfL dismisses similar measures, claiming that segregation is “not the solution.” Yet this dismissive attitude disregards the lived realities of women who feel unsafe in an environment where attacks and harassment continue to rise, with reports of sexual offences on Britain’s public transport up over 10% year-on-year.

In cities like Mexico City, women-only carriages have been in place for two decades amid worries over gender-based violence, but even these measures are not foolproof. The persistent, often underreported incidents underscore the shortcomings of relying solely on policing and awareness campaigns—approaches championed by TfL—without considering physical separation as a basic, preventive step. The truth is, the authorities’ failure to act decisively echoes a broader failure to protect women from harrowing onslaughts of harassment — a problem that no amount of policing or “reporting” initiatives can fully resolve.

Yet TfL continues to dismiss calls for segregation, emphasizing “integrated” safety strategies that place responsibility on victims and police to catch offenders after the fact. Meanwhile, the prescription of “awareness campaigns” and “intelligence-led policing” ignores the urgent need for direct, tangible protections—such as dedicated carriages that could create safer journeys for women. It’s not just a matter of language or strategy; it’s about taking definitive steps rather than hiding behind bureaucratic platitudes.

This stance reveals a troubling reluctance to prioritize women’s safety over political correctness or ideological comfort. Segregation has proven effective elsewhere, and dismissing it out of hand suggests TfL prefers superficial solutions over confrontational measures that would genuinely make women feel safer. The authorities’ commitment to maintaining the status quo ignores the reality that many women will continue to endure harassment unless bold, meaningful action is taken.

In the face of evidence and public demand, it’s clear: TfL’s approach is fundamentally out of step with the needs of its female passengers. It’s high time to move beyond dismissive rhetoric and adopt pragmatic measures—like dedicated carriages—that reflect the urgency of the safety crisis on London’s transport network. Anything less is a abdication of responsibility, leaving women to fend for themselves while the city’s leadership clings to ineffective policies that simply don’t cut it.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative is based on a recent petition initiated by Camille Brown, a 21-year-old UCL student, calling for women-only carriages on the London Underground. The petition has garnered over 12,000 signatures as of 28 October 2025. ([swlondoner.co.uk](https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/28102025-tfl-held-responsible-as-petition-for-women-only-tube-carriages-passes-12000-supporters?utm_source=openai)) This indicates that the content is current and reflects ongoing public discourse. However, similar campaigns have been reported in the past, such as one in 2015, which may suggest a recurring discussion on this topic. ([london.gov.uk](https://www.london.gov.uk/motions/female-only-train-carriages?utm_source=openai)) The report includes updated data on sexual offences, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([swlondoner.co.uk](https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/28102025-tfl-held-responsible-as-petition-for-women-only-tube-carriages-passes-12000-supporters?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
7

Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from Camille Brown, the petition’s founder, recounting personal experiences of harassment on the Tube. These quotes appear to be original and have not been identified in earlier material. However, similar sentiments have been expressed in previous reports, such as one from 2015, which may indicate a recurring discussion on this topic. ([london.gov.uk](https://www.london.gov.uk/motions/female-only-train-carriages?utm_source=openai))

Source reliability

Score:
6

Notes:
The narrative originates from a local news outlet, mylondon.news, which is part of the Reach plc network. While Reach plc is a reputable organisation, the specific outlet’s credibility may vary. The report includes direct quotes from Camille Brown, the petition’s founder, and references to official statistics from Transport for London (TfL), lending some credibility to the content. However, the lack of corroboration from other reputable sources raises some concerns. Additionally, the report’s tone and language may not align with typical corporate or official language, which could be a red flag.

Plausability check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative presents a plausible scenario of a student initiating a petition in response to perceived safety concerns on the London Underground. The inclusion of specific figures, such as the number of signatures and reported sexual offences, adds credibility. However, the report’s tone is unusually dramatic and vague, which may not resemble typical corporate or official language, raising questions about its authenticity. The structure includes excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, which could be a possible distraction tactic.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents a current and plausible scenario regarding a petition for women-only carriages on the London Underground. While the content is based on recent events and includes direct quotes from the petition’s founder, the lack of corroboration from other reputable sources and the report’s tone raise concerns about its authenticity. The presence of similar campaigns in the past suggests a recurring discussion on this topic, but the current report’s originality is uncertain. Therefore, further verification from additional reputable sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy and credibility of the claims.