Women-only train carriages backed by Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn has mooted the introduction of women-only carriages at night in response to rising reports of sexual harrassment and assault on public transport.

Mr Serwotka said he hoped people would not be deflected from any attempt to destabilise the Labour leadership election process, and if anything, should be more determined to vote.

Women-only carriages are already used in countries including Japan, Brazil and India and Transport Minister Claire Perry has previously indicated she would explore introducing them in the UK.

“My intention would be to make public transport safer for everyone from the train platform, to the bus stop, on the mode of transport itself”.

But the Twitter mocked the idea as a “joke”, uncomfortable – and some even called it “apartheid”.

A total of 1,117 sexual offences were recorded by British Transport Police in the year to March 2014 – a rise of more than 20 per cent.

The leader of one of the country’s biggest trade unions has hit back at Labour after being told his vote on the party leadership election had been blocked.

The force said the hike could be attributed mainly to an increase in reporting, thanks to its own Project Guardian scheme.

“It is simply unacceptable that many women and girls adapt their daily lives in order to avoid being harassed on the street, public transport and in other public places from the park to the supermarket”.

‘This could include taking longer routes to work, having self-imposed curfews, or avoiding certain means of transport’. “I think there are all sorts of questions that have got to be answered”.

Mr Serwotka said he had not been a member of any political party for 20 years, but chose to take part in the Labour leadership election because he agreed with Mr Corbyn’s policies.

“Imagine if a woman is assaulted in a mixed carriage if a women-only carriage is available”, she said.

The Health Select Committee chair tweeted: “Segregating women on public transport doesn’t protect anyone, it just normalises unacceptable attitudes”.

“We have to have an expectation of safety on our public transport”.

Ms Kendall said: “Everyone should be able to travel without fear of physical or verbal attacks, and we have much to do as a society to reach that point”.