Not a Safety Solution: Female Passengers Reject Proposal to Move Women's Carriages to the Middle

JAKARTA - Several female passengers who use electric rail trains (KRL) daily to commute to work disagree with the proposal to move the dedicated women’s carriage from the ends of the train to the middle. One of them, Eva (27), a resident who uses the Blue Line KRL route from Bekasi to Jakarta every day, stated that she considers the proposal to relocate the carriage ineffective as a safety solution for KRL passengers. According to her, the current placement of the women’s carriage at the front and rear ends of the train is already ideal. If moved to the middle, she believes it would be less effective because many male passengers would pass through it. “So it would be crowded with men. Then there would be a lot of them coming and going to find the mixed carriage,” she continued. If the aim is to improve comfort and protection for female passengers, she believes the number of women’s carriages should be increased. For example, by adding two women’s carriages in the middle, in addition to those already at the ends of the train. Furthermore, Eva admitted to feeling anxious after the accident between the Argo Bromo Anggrek train and the KRL at Bekasi Timur Station. Especially since the incident occurred on the Blue Line route she uses every day. Nevertheless, Eva said she more often uses the mixed carriage when going to and from work. “There is definitely a feeling of anxiety due to yesterday’s accident, but not trauma. Because honestly, I rarely use the women’s carriage on a daily basis,” said Eva. A feeling of anxiety after the accident was also felt by Putri (34), a Bogor resident who uses the Red Line KRL route from Bogor to Jakarta Kota daily to go to and from her office in Central Jakarta. Putri acknowledged that she is a loyal user of the women’s carriage on the KRL. After the incident at Bekasi Timur, she remains loyal to the women’s carriage for security and comfort reasons.