Indonesia railway launches women-only carriages

Indonesian Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi (2nd left) and Women Empowerment Minister Linda Gumelar (3rd left) ride on the womenonly train coach of state railway PT Kereta Api Indonesia during its launch ceremony at the railway depot in Depok, south of Jakarta Thursday. Photo: AFP

Indonesia launched women-only train carriages Thursday to counter sexual harassment on public transport.

The carriages, fitted-out with pink seats, are initially available only on the Jakarta-to-Bogor line and can be found at the front and back of commuter trains, an official with the state rail company said.

"We want to improve our service and protect female passengers so they feel safer," rail official Makmur Syaheran said.

He said the single-sex wagons were optional and women could still use the other carriages if they wished.

"We want to prevent sexual harassment on public transport. There has to be moral support from everyone," the rail official told reporters.

Indonesia has the world's biggest Muslim population of about 200 million people, but men and women are not usually segregated to the extent that they are in more conservative Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia.

AFP