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MAINZ, Germany — Special train compartments exclusively for women have been introduced by a German rail company.

The areas for female passengers only are regularly checked by workers on services run by Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn (MRB) in the east of the country.

“We are implementing a request made by our customers,” the firm said in a statement to NBC News on Monday, adding that the compartments “are primarily designed for women who are travelling alone."

Germany’s Pro Bahn passenger association — which has 5,000 members — applauded the move.

Germany now has "women only" train compartments. https://t.co/6OGRX9h994 Should they also be introduced in the U.S.? — NBC News (@NBCNews) April 18, 2016

“Some female individuals have voiced that they feel safer in open coach wagons, but especially regional trains on the route between Leipzig and Chemnitz still have compartments,” Pro Bahn's Karl-Peter Naumann told NBC News.

MRB said it was "still too early" to say whether the segregation — which is optional — would be embraced by all passengers.