Toilets and Drivers

[gerryuk]

So for arguments sake you are a Cross Country driver. You are working Newcastle to Birmingham and have just left Sheffield.
On leaving Sheffield your stomach starts to rumble. You need to go and you need to go now, however the next scheduled stop is Derby not Chesterfield.
Are you allowed to stop the train at Chesterfield and use the station facilities even though the train was not scheduled to stop there?
Same question however this time Chesterfield station is closed (multi million pound refurb) and you simply cant wait for Derby, Are you allowed to stop the train in the middle of no mans land and climb into the carriage behind and use the luxurious bathroom facilities provided to the customers?

 

[pendolino]

So for arguments sake you are a Cross Country driver. You are working Newcastle to Birmingham and have just left Sheffield.
On leaving Sheffield your stomach starts to rumble. You need to go and you need to go now, however the next scheduled stop is Derby not Chesterfield.
Are you allowed to stop the train at Chesterfield and use the station facilities even though the train was not scheduled to stop there?
Same question however this time Chesterfield station is closed (multi million pound refurb) and you simply cant wait for Derby, Are you allowed to stop the train in the middle of no mans land and climb into the carriage behind and use the luxurious bathroom facilities provided to the customers?

If you need to go, you need to go. Needing the loo is a huge distraction - much better to stop for a call of nature than have a SPAD. If that means stopping at a signal, letting the signaller and passengers know there will be a short delay so you can answer that call, then so be it.

 

[Polarbear]

A few years back, I was on a train from Paris to Strasbourg (pre TGV). Although the service I was on was supposed to be non stop between Paris & Nancy, we actually stopped at other stations with no announcements at around 45 minute intervals.

They may well have been something wrong with the train, but as the driver kept getting in & out of the cab & dashing to the station buildings at each unscheduled stop, I got the impression the stops were for a more pressing need.

 

[wellhouse]

Last year when I joined a Cross Country service at Bristol Parkway, heading for Exeter, the driver nipped on board in front of me to use the loo before we continued our journey.

(It was a scheduled stop!)

 

[M60lad]

Only the other week I was on 19:05 Leeds-Manchester Victoria service and we got stopped by a red signal just outside Manchester Victoria and while we were stopped there the driver got out of the cab and used the onboard toilet, I was hoping we wouldn't get a green light while he was in there and luckily we didnt

 

[deltic1989]

I have heard talk on these forums that, if there is a real need then the driver can pull up (provided the signaller is aware) and answer whatever call of nature presents itself.
The term Personal Needs Break (PNB) came up i seem to remember.
Shouldn't be long before one of our resident drivers pops in an lets us all know the score I'm sure.

 

[pendolino]

I have heard talk on these forums that, if there is a real need then the driver can pull up (provided the signaller is aware) and answer whatever call of nature presents itself.
The term Personal Needs Break (PNB) came up i seem to remember.
Shouldn't be long before one of our resident drivers pops in an lets us all know the score I'm sure.

PNBs are part of a driver's diagram, i.e., a scheduled break during the day for using the toilet, having something to eat etc. Each company will have its own rules about when and where they can be taken.

But, as already stated, if you get caught short while driving you might have to stop and use the loo, notifying the signaller first. Personally I wish more drivers would, there are still some who will p**s in a bottle on the move and chuck it out of the cab window, which is pretty disgusting especially if they miss the bottle.

 

[KA4C]

If a driver needs an urgent PNB, then thats what he needs, if he can't wait until a booked stop, then providing he stops under signal protection and most importantly, advises the signaller what is happening / secures the train, then thats what has to happen. Yes a delay will go to the TOC, but, still cheaper than a SPAD

 

[Whistler40145]

What happens on a long distance service and the Driver is struck down with what I can politely describe as a rather bad case of Gandhi's revenge?


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[broadgage]

What happens on a long distance service and the Driver is struck down with what I can politely describe as a rather bad case of Gandhi's revenge?


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Presuming that this results in a need to use the toilet urgently/frequently I would presume that the driver would be considered unwell and have to be relieved of duty until better.
Hopefuly a relief driver would be available, but in rare circumstances the train might have to be cancelled.

Several drivers whom I know take care to avoid eating foods that are especialy liable to cause such illness.
Shellfish or curries have a particularly bad reputation in this respect.

 

[Whistler40145]

If the Driver became incapacitated in section, I presume he would have to continue to an appropriate location?

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[thelongestroad]

If the Driver became incapacitated in section, I presume he would have to continue to an appropriate location?

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It would depend on how well things were running.

 

[dave55uk]

Seems to be a totally different attitude on the buses then!
One of our local managers - just a week or so ago, said "I don't pay you to go to the toilet" (in response to a driver complaining there was too little time in-between journeys to nip to the loo).

 

[scotraildriver]

It is a well known fact that you must avoid the black coffee from our vending machine before embarking on a long turn.....

 

[AlexS]

Presuming that this results in a need to use the toilet urgently/frequently I would presume that the driver would be considered unwell and have to be relieved of duty until better.
Hopefuly a relief driver would be available, but in rare circumstances the train might have to be cancelled.

Several drivers whom I know take care to avoid eating foods that are especialy liable to cause such illness.
Shellfish or curries have a particularly bad reputation in this respect.

Having had to sort this kind of problem out, poor old drive dragged the train into the station and vacated the cab rather quickly. I then dispatched his guard to the staff bogs to make sure he was OK while I arranged for a cleaner to clean and disinfect the driving cab and I had the grim job of recovering his traps and delivering them to the mess room (he was that bad we initially called an ambulance as he looked like he would need to be rehydrated with a drip or something).

Eventually ended up delaying the train for an hour and the next one coupled up to it and carried the driver back pass to his home depot.

If you're ill, you're ill at the end of the day!

 

[GNER 373]

Most of the drivers I know know when to drink their tea in conjuction with where they are meaning by the time they need to answer the call of nature they're pulling into a scheduled station stop! Doncaster is a favourite with the XC Newcastle drivers as the stop board is right in line with the gents toilets!

 

[Howardh]

I am a driver - although not of trains, happily for the general public! - and the onset of that Noor Virus came very quickly. Sick, diharrea within minutes. Luckily I was close to one of our shops, so could nip in, then organise cover so I could get home (and spend the next 48 hours doing same). Thing is, 10 minutes before the onset, I hadn't an inkling what was going to happen - just a normal day's work.

So, back on topic, what would happen to the driver if he was, say, driving a Pendolino and the illness came on that quickly? I suppose he could stop the train, alert the guard but he seriously probably wouldn't have the time to from the cab to a toilet.

He would deffo have to be sent home ill, so (a) how would they get him home (b) who would take over the train and how?

 

[Rich McLean]

I am a driver - although not of trains, happily for the general public! - and the onset of that Noor Virus came very quickly. Sick, diharrea within minutes. Luckily I was close to one of our shops, so could nip in, then organise cover so I could get home (and spend the next 48 hours doing same). Thing is, 10 minutes before the onset, I hadn't an inkling what was going to happen - just a normal day's work.

So, back on topic, what would happen to the driver if he was, say, driving a Pendolino and the illness came on that quickly? I suppose he could stop the train, alert the guard but he seriously probably wouldn't have the time to from the cab to a toilet.

He would deffo have to be sent home ill, so (a) how would they get him home (b) who would take over the train and how?

In those extreem circumstances, I would of guessed the job would of been stopped, until another pendo coupled up behind, then the driver of that train take it foward to a point where another driver could be sourced or the train detached at an intermediate station, so that pax get get off and board the next service (obviously it would not fit in a platform, however this would be an emergency)

 

[MCW]

funny you should mention that Norovirus, I currently am sat at home having the day off to recuperate as I have a mutation of the virus.... needless to say its not pleasant. I work in a cafe with food so I can't exactly go to work! but needless to say if it was prominent I would want the driver to be at home resting for his sake!

 

[455driver]

PNBs are part of a driver's diagram, i.e., a scheduled break during the day for using the toilet, having something to eat etc. Each company will have its own rules about when and where they can be taken.

A PNB is for the driver to fill up the belly and empty out the <other bits>, if a driver occasionally gets caught short <cough Basingstoke cough> then thats fair enough but if it starts to become regular (no sniggering) then manglement will take a very dim view.

there are still some who will p**s in a bottle on the move and chuck it out of the cab window, which is pretty disgusting especially if they miss the bottle.

Oasis bottles are best (wide top) but the capacity is rather limited.
um so I hear!

 

[notadriver]

Seems to be a totally different attitude on the buses then!
One of our local managers - just a week or so ago, said "I don't pay you to go to the toilet" (in response to a driver complaining there was too little time in-between journeys to nip to the loo).

I'm a coach driver too and managers are different in the road industry. In the rail industry ASLEF has a lot of muscle and drivers seem to be respected.

 

[Nym]

Oasis bottles are best (wide top) but the capacity is rather limited.
um so I hear!

Considering the average bladder at bursting point can hold abor 430ml and an oasis bottle 500ml, one could invest in some of the 1.5ltr Oasis bottles?

Or alternatively, pause and empty out of the cab window?

 

[KA4C]

If you're ill, you're ill at the end of the day!

Spot on

 

[Michael.Y]

How much longer before TOCs make drivers wear Stadium Pals?

http://www.stadiumpal.com/

 

[185]

Brilliant. Just brilliant

 

[dk1]

I recently stopped my train in a convenient (excuse the pun!) location, ie not near crossing controls, & had to use the on-board facilities. Lucky for me i was quite quick & neither the power box or control asked for a delay reason. Not that it would be any problem. I was more worried about having my name in the log & colleagues taking the p*ss (even though a no2 )

 

[Bevan Price]

Whilst waiting to photograph a Class 60 some time ago, the train stopped at a signal (about 200 yards away), the driver descended from the cab and *****d near the fence.

In steam era, with 2 on the footplate, I believe it was not unknown to "de-water" through the cab door, or into the firebox (away from stations, residential areas, of course.)

 

[KA4C]

How much longer before TOCs make drivers wear Stadium Pals?

http://www.stadiumpal.com/

Jest ye not

 

[Rugd1022]

Whilst waiting to photograph a Class 60 some time ago, the train stopped at a signal (about 200 yards away), the driver descended from the cab and *****d near the fence.

Oh yes.... us freight chappies have to make do you know, when you've got to go, you've got to go... whenever it happens to me I always make sure I'm well out of anybody's view, if at all possible. Or wait till it's dark...

 

[Crossover]

I recently stopped my train in a convenient (excuse the pun!) location, ie not near crossing controls, & had to use the on-board facilities. Lucky for me i was quite quick & neither the power box or control asked for a delay reason. Not that it would be any problem. I was more worried about having my name in the log & colleagues taking the p*ss (even though a no2 )

Depending what part of the country you are in, you may find that the signaller won't know because they will have also gotten stuck in their facilities