A survey of 1,400 women workers across rail, bus, metro and passenger ferries found most did not report the incidents as they did not think they would be taken seriously.
More than 80 per cent of respondents to the Rail, Maritime and Transport union poll said sexual harassment on public transport was becoming more of a problem. Incidents included groping and sexual aggression.
One woman stated: “I have had numerous men stroke my bum and that’s in the day. On a night when they are drunk, it’s worse.
“I’ve had a group of men grab me and say, ‘Come on love, sit on my knee’.”
Another reported: “Cat-calling, touching, staring, uncomfortable conversation, unwanted ‘compliments’ and people taking pictures of me.”
One woman added: “Aggressive and explicit language is frequent.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “More staffing and reducing lone working will help make our members feel safer.”
