Relief line (Toilet charges to be scrapped at NR-managed stations next year)

[route:oxford]

I haven't noticed any problems since Birmingham New Street toilets became free, and it saves a lot of hassle making sure you have change before starting your journey. At Lime Street sometimes the change machine is out of order, so people have to go to Boots and buy something - unless they know about the Wetherspoons alternative! Even a token 10p is frustrating if you don't happen to have any small change. I would rather they put 5p on the cost of every ticket and ensured provision of free toilets at all railway stations, although I know hell will freeze over before some rural ones achieve such a luxury!

I believe Glasgow Central charge 50p, which seems excessive. Hope Scottish stations are included and not just English facilities.

At the same time, hasn't Glasgow Central had about half a million spent on one of the "Changing Places" toilets? The ones with the shower, hoist, comprensive handles etc along with a full size nappy changing table for a large adult?

 

[route:oxford]

The toilets at Edinburgh Castle also have these signs up. Makes me wonder if there are other locations in the UK, including stations, that have such signs in place.

Something like this?

How to use a traditional Japanese Toilet:-

http://www.sanitary-net.com/utsuku****oilet/type/images/type01_washiki01.jpg
http://www.sanitary-net.com/utsuku****oilet/en/type/images/type01_washiki02.gif


How to use a traditional Western Toilet.
http://www.sanitary-net.com/utsuku****oilet/type/images/type01_yoshiki01.jpg
http:// http://www.sanitary-net.com/utsuku****oilet/type/images/type01_yoshiki01.jpg
http://www.sanitary-net.com/utsuku****oilet/en/type/images/type01_yoshiki02.gif

 

[Stan63]

Get yourself a RADAR key - there is an accessible loo near Platform 10 - there's also one at the front next to WHSmith with an intercom to open the door. They tend to be very clean, and, are free to use. The key's also work in the Council ones and in shopping centres amongst other places.

I didn't know there was such a thing. It would definitely be handy.

 

[yorksrob]

The toilets in Leeds aren't worth charging for. Not enough cubicles - I resent paying when forced to loiter around.

Had a similar issue with St Pancreas. All of the cubicles were either occupied for an interminably long time or OOU. When one did come free, the paper had broken off in the wall and wasn't grab able. Gave up and went to the Cross instead.

 

[jon0844]

Washing feet before praying is a Muslim thing, but the Swedish embassy isn't quite where I'd expect demand for that to be high.

They make up the majority of people getting Swedish passports, so that makes perfect sense actually. They can get citizenship in Sweden after 2 or 3 years, and then move to the UK to live (as EU citizens).

 

[greyman42]

Don't know why they don't put toi


The free ones at Cannon St are getting equally bad including a nice bit of 'cottage industry' at lunchtimes.

What is this "cottage industry". I know the kind of thing that goes on but the only at lunchtimes bit intrigues me. Is someone selling sandwiches out of them ?

 

[mde]

At the same time, hasn't Glasgow Central had about half a million spent on one of the "Changing Places" toilets? The ones with the shower, hoist, comprensive handles etc along with a full size nappy changing table for a large adult?

If memory serves, said money also included the full refurb of the other facilities - both of the more 'regular' accessible loos were fully upgraded at the same time. A worthwhile investment though, given the railway wants disabled people to travel then more of these spaces should be opened up in mainline stations where possible (there's one in the Wetherspoons at Waverley as a compromise).

 

[theageofthetra]

What is this "cottage industry". I know the kind of thing that goes on but the only at lunchtimes bit intrigues me. Is someone selling sandwiches out of them ?

City workers meeting rent boys.

 

[route101]

What station charges 50P? Glasgow is 40p

 

[greyman42]

City workers meeting rent boys.

Seriously, I had no idea that went on.

 

[talldave]

Why announce now that charging stops sometime next year? Why not stop charging tomorrow? It's just a case of setting barriers to free entry mode.

 

[theageofthetra]

Seriously, I had no idea that went on.

Unfortunately we are forced to use them as many units don't have working toilets (or at all) & the ones in the PN room are so disgusting that the station ones are preferable.

 

[Butts]

Another great reason (if you can get a cheapie) to Travel 1st Class.
Most major stations have a Lounge with "private facilities" which are generally clean and well looked after.

 

[Nat_Collins]

it's about time!! It's well overdue however could this arise multiple issues?

Homeless people using it as they please(Which I have no issue with), more vandalism?

Who knows, I mean I was used to paying 50p for the facility, with Victoria being the terminus I use more than anything, but I feel it could be a good scheme, but we do need to consider the issues that it could arise.

But all in all I feel it's a great idea!

 

[Mikey C]

I never quite understood the inconsistencies in pricing (e.g. Cannon Street free, Charing Cross paid), other than in this case as Charing X is in an area with far more visitors, free toilets are likely to be swamped with non train users, whereas the same doesn't apply to Cannon Street.
The new toilets at London Bridge are free and outside the barriers, from memory at the old station the outside toilets charged, whereas the platform ones on the through platforms were free (but grotty). Apart from the gents on platforms 3 and 4 which were missing after being blown up by the IRA and never replaced...

 

[yorksrob]

Apart from the gents on platforms 3 and 4 which were missing after being blown up by the IRA and never replaced...

If that's not "letting the terrorists win", I don't know what is !

 

[Mikey C]

If that's not "letting the terrorists win", I don't know what is !

The old toilets on platforms 1 and 2 just looked like they'd been blown up...

 

[Ianigsy]

Leeds bus station now charges for the toilets, not much alternative when you're sat on a bus either!

John Lewis in Victoria Gate, during shopping hours.

I don't mind paying for toilets which are looked after, but I do think that if you have a ticket for travel then the charge should be waived. I'll confess that when I had a MetroCard I did occasionally use it to pop through the barriers at Leeds to use the free toilets.

 

[yorksrob]

The old toilets on platforms 1 and 2 just looked like they'd been blown up...

Ah yes, I've seen a few like that !

 

[philthetube]

I would much rather pay for decent ones than have to use dirty ones.

 

[GW43125]

What a s**t thread this is (sorry!)
Usually I wait until I get on the train, I think it's ridiculous to charge when there isn't one. Though if you're going to charge, you have to make it worth it.

The ones at New Street may be inside the gateline, but from my experience the barriers at New St are open more than they're closed!

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I never quite understood the inconsistencies in pricing (e.g. Cannon Street free, Charing Cross paid), other than in this case as Charing X is in an area with far more visitors, free toilets are likely to be swamped with non train users, whereas the same doesn't apply to Cannon Street.

Charing Cross is free

The new toilets at London Bridge are free and outside the barriers, from memory at the old station the outside toilets charged, whereas the platform ones on the through platforms were free (but grotty).

Yes, the old station had free toilets inside the barriers, the new one only seems to have them outside (and also quite a fair walk away from the barriers). I have to admit to not really understanding this arrangement. Given how many people change trains at London Bridge, and the way the station layout is designed to encourage even people starting their journey there to wait inside the barriers, I'd have thought that inside the barriers would have made far more sense. (In contrast to somewhere like Charing Cross where almost noone changes trains, and most people wait outside the barriers, so the outside-the-barriers location of the toilet makes perfect sense).

 

[noddingdonkey]

I didn't know there was such a thing. It would definitely be handy.

You can obtain one via the IBS Network charity's online shop https://www.theibsnetwork.org/shop/supplies

 

[trainophile]

I can't see why so much is made of differentiation between passengers and non-passengers. Using a toilet is not something you do for the hell of it, "because it's there" - you use it because you need to relieve yourself. Thus why should it matter if a non-passenger wishes to avail themselves of the facilities?

It bugs me when cafes have signs on the door saying "toilets for customer use only". If you have a small child with you who is desperate, and there's no public loos nearby, you would have to buy something just to make use of the toilet. I know there are costs - cleaning, loo roll etc., but this is the 21st century and maybe we should be more accommodating.

 

[Mag_seven]

Not much use if one hasn't got a contactless card!

I was thinking of contactless in addition to cash.

 

[Mikey C]

I can't see why so much is made of differentiation between passengers and non-passengers. Using a toilet is not something you do for the hell of it, "because it's there" - you use it because you need to relieve yourself. Thus why should it matter if a non-passenger wishes to avail themselves of the facilities?

The logic would be that the train companies should be concerned with providing facilities for their customers, in the same way that toilets in free museums (e.g. the National Gallery) or shops like M&S are also for their customers. It's not the job of rail companies to provide public toilets, even if they may have that function as well, especially in the absence of "proper" public toilets, but that's a different issue.

Charing Cross is free

That must be a very recent change.

 

[Starmill]

Such a wide variation in provision and charging.

Manchester Piccadilly: No toilets on the platforms, 30p. charge on the concourse near Costa.
Leeds: Free toilets on some platforms but a charge on the concourse near WH Smith.

I've always considered the Piccadilly ones not worth 30p!

There is no charge at present at any of the toilets at Manchester Pic due to refurbishment work.

 

[johnnychips]

The point about paying for a toilet is that you expect them to be attended and clean. That's why I've never minded paying the odd 50c abroad or the 20p here. But it is very annoying if you pay and they are not clean. If some toilets are being made free, they must be attended and regularly cleaned. I have always been impressed by toilets at motorway service stations.

Incidentally, a bouquet to whoever cleans the toilets at Donny station. I have always found them very clean, and they are free.

 

[Bald Rick]

I was thinking of contactless in addition to cash.

Contactless for toilets. Swipe'n'Wipe.

 

[eastdyke]

Contactless for toilets. Swipe'n'Wipe.

All my providers have been requesting that I 'go' paperless ........