IN RESPONSE to increasing numbers of groping assaults on female passengers in Tokyo, Keio Teito Electric Railway has reintroduced women-only carriages. One coach per train will be set aside on nine late night services between the business and entertainment district of Shinjuku and the Tama region of western Tokyo from December 7 to 22. ’We will consider whether we will fully introduce the system after listening to passengers’ opinion’, said the company.

The number of reported incidents on board Keio Teito’s line’s has increased recently, and 17% of women passengers surveyed said they had been molested at least once. Female-only carriages were operated in the Tokyo area by Japanese National Railways until 1973, when they decided the concept was outdated.

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