A young model who was sexually assaulted while travelling on a London train has become a vocal supporter of a campaign calling for women-only carriages on the Underground network. The incident has highlighted ongoing safety concerns for female passengers using public transport in the capital.
Traumatic Attack on Elizabeth Line Journey
Amber Dowling-Doyle, a 24-year-old part-time model and pet sitter, was returning home after post-work drinks on Friday, June 2, 2025, when she was attacked aboard an Elizabeth Line service. Travelling from Liverpool Street station towards Essex, Ms Dowling-Doyle was wearing earphones when a man approached her and attempted to initiate conversation.
"This man came up to me and he was trying to talk to me with my earphones in," she recalled. "I couldn't hear him, wasn't paying any attention to him, and that's when he grabbed my arm and was saying I was being rude and stuff like that."
After she tried to ignore his advances, the situation escalated dramatically. The assailant positioned himself in front of her, effectively caging her in against the train's glass partition panels between seats. He then placed his hand on her leg before sexually assaulting her.
Passenger Intervention and Arrest
Fortunately, other passengers witnessed the assault and intervened. "Another woman on the train saw and said 'leave her alone,'" Ms Dowling-Doyle explained. "After a few moments a man that was on the train who had seen came down to intervene. He tackled him to get in the way and off of me."
The perpetrator became incredibly aggressive and violent according to witnesses, shouting threats at the man who had stepped in to help. This confrontation prompted further involvement from other passengers. Meanwhile, someone had already contacted the British Transport Police, who met the train at Stratford Station and arrested the attacker.
Ms Dowling-Doyle expressed profound gratitude toward the strangers who came to her aid. "I'm grateful to the strangers. It's something I've not forgotten about and I probably won't ever," she said, acknowledging the psychological impact of their intervention.
Ongoing Trauma and Recovery
The attack has left lasting psychological scars. Ms Dowling-Doyle has been attending therapy sessions since the incident and admits she remains terrified of using train services even six months later.
"I got on a train the other day and I was terrified still and that's six months later, I'm still nervous," she revealed. "I had to get back on the train (for the first time) three weeks after it happened. I felt like I was shaking the whole time - I wasn't but my whole body felt like it was vibrating."
Her anxiety manifests in practical changes to her travel behaviour. "I didn't put my earphones in once, just in case anyone came up to me. That was a nightmare, it was absolutely horrible," she described. The model credits therapy with helping her manage the trauma, stating it has "definitely helped to keep my head above water."
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The offender, whose name Ms Dowling-Doyle chose never to learn, pleaded guilty to sexual assault at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Thames Magistrates Court on December 11, 2025. He received a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to pay his victim £900 in compensation.
Attending court proved emotionally challenging but ultimately provided closure. "I knew it was going to be hard (to be in court) but I needed to hit that bottom in order to start coming back," she explained. "I saw him and he recognised me and they read out my impact statement in the court room, which I wasn't expecting."
Regarding the sentencing outcome, Ms Dowling-Doyle noted: "Not only are the conviction rates for sexual assault against women really low, most of the time it's just a warning or a fine or something like that. I feel like I've got closure now, and it's sort of let me come back to life a bit."
Campaign for Women-Only Carriages
Ms Dowling-Doyle has now thrown her support behind a petition calling for the introduction of women-only carriages on London Underground trains. The campaign, initiated by 21-year-old student Camille Brown, urges Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London to implement at least one women-only carriage on all Tube lines as a protective measure. The petition has gathered nearly 15,000 signatures to date.
"At this point in 2025, looking at all the numbers and things like that, it seems like (women-only carriages are) the only rational thing to keep women safe," Ms Dowling-Doyle argued. "I was assaulted on a Friday night but that doesn't mean that another woman isn't being assaulted on her Tuesday morning commute. I feel very, very big about that."
Rising Offence Statistics
The campaign emerges against a backdrop of concerning statistics. Transport for London figures released in response to a Freedom of Information request reveal that reported sexual offences on the Underground reached 595 across all Tube lines during 2024-25. This represents the highest level in five years, though still below the 776 reports recorded in 2019-20.
These numbers underscore what campaigners describe as a persistent safety issue affecting women using London's public transport network.
Encouraging Reporting and Speaking Out
Ms Dowling-Doyle is now encouraging other women who have experienced sexual assault to report incidents to authorities and speak about their experiences.
"Don't be scared," she advised. "I know it's intimidating - especially that gnawing feeling of 'Am I going to be believed?' That's a terrifying feeling and it's so unfair but don't be scared to speak up. Don't try and deal with it all on your own because it's all consuming and it's hard."
She added: "Being sexually assaulted, talking about sexual assault, going through the whole motion of the system is uncomfortable. Sometimes you have to be a little bit uncomfortable to be free."
Police Response and Safety Measures
A British Transport Police spokesperson emphasised their commitment to passenger safety: "No woman or girl should ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable when travelling by rail, and we take all reports of unacceptable and unwanted sexual behaviour on the railway network seriously."
The spokesperson outlined their approach: "Our officers work tirelessly to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place, and investigate incidents that do occur to identify offenders and bring them before the courts to face justice. We also work extremely closely with our partners across the rail industry to helping ensure the railway is a safe place for everyone."
Passengers are encouraged to save the British Transport Police text number 61016 to discreetly report concerns. The spokesperson reiterated: "No incident is too small to report, and it's important to remember that sexual harassment is never your fault."
The case has reignited debate about women's safety on public transport and whether segregated carriages represent an appropriate response to persistent sexual offences on London's rail network.
