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Toilet smells on trains Virgin/Cross country
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The_Train
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VTWC are too busy implementing talking toilets to worry about how said toilets smell
£3.5m was spent in 2013 on their fleet to fix the issue. People still report smelling it though.
Cannot see why it would be an issue. I haven't seen any complaints on GWR.
nat67
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Meridians have the same problem. I have noticed at Kings Cross LNER HST's sometimes and 91's do have a slight smell when tank filling.
MarlowDonkey
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Meridians and Voyagers are much the same design. Wasn't it the case that the design ran an exhaust pipe too close to the retention tank?
The raw sewage stink found on XC voyager DMU units has been a problem from the first day they entered service.
For several years NOTHING was apparently done to try and rectify the situation, ie to get rid of this obnoxious and unhealthy stink endured by passengers.
Then strong air freshness were used which reduced the stink a little.
Basically the sewage tanks are under the coaches near the a/c equipment thus drawing the foul stink into the coaches.
It is high time the Govt's Environmental Health organisations and managers took some strong action and issued an improvement order etc to the TOC resposible for this ongoing health hazard.
pdeaves
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I agree. Whatever else may be (considered) bad about the 800-series, toilet stink isn't one of the issues. I'm not so keen on the 'CCTV is in use' automatic announcement when using them, though! I know it's just a speaker on the same circuit as the rest of the carriage so you get all the announcements in the loo, but it's still a bit disconcerting!
anamyd
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it's just one of those things that's always going to be a thing on stock with retention tanks, especially those with air conditioning. the 220s/221s and 390s are known for being the most smelly due to said design flaw (and I've experienced their smelly-ness in person) but I've personally also experienced it on 170s (on the XC ones, as the toilet rooms are mounted directly inside the passenger saloons I noticed they fitted external air freshener devices) and 175s, and heard of people experiencing it on 800s and it can even be there on PRM modded (and therefore tank retrofitted) BR-era stock like PRM modded 158s (819 got the smell after a few weeks) and PRM modded 150s. from what I remember of my lesser travelled on class, 350, I'm sure they have the smell as well.
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When Northern's 158s were first fitted with retention tanks the whole unit would absolutely hum after being stood all night when we went to the depot for them first thing in the morning to bring them in to service. After a few minutes moving the smell would dissipate somewhat.
(And don't read this while eating) -
It is worth noting that the retention tanks on a lot of stock have electric heating elements within them to keep the contents warm enough to stop any risk of freezing.
(And don't read this while eating) -
It is worth noting that the retention tanks on a lot of stock have electric heating elements within them to keep the contents warm enough to stop any risk of freezing.
anamyd
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doesn't surprise me! though on Diesel units where the exhaust pipe runs right next to them, do they even need those...?
Temple Meads
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It's unpleasant, nothing more.
Must say that XC's Voyagers do seem somewhat better these days, although not always whiff free!
Except it's actually not
anamyd
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in what way...?
anamyd
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what do you mean...?
I would have thought freezing it would be better when tanking?
Thinking moving a solid block is easier to move than whatever you call whatever is in the tank?
DelW
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That seems highly unlikely ... I don't think there's any practical treatment method that could be fitted on board that would allow that to be done.
Except that liquid expands as it freezes - hence why water tanks in house lofts have to be protected from freezing.
Most units have retention tanks and do not smell as bad as Voyagers and Pendolinos.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
except Virgin DID do something about it................................
Really?
I was once told that this was the problem on the Voyager. The exhaust "cooked" the tank contents leading to unpleasant smells.
The_Train
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It was said a little tongue in cheek. I think I'll stop joking on here as I don't appear to be able to get it across in written form
anamyd
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not as smelly as Voyagers and Pendolinos but the smell is still there, as long as they have retention tanks. at least from my personal experience of 170s (especially), 175s, 350s and (to a lesser extent) PRM modded 158s, and from what other people have told me of 800s and PRM modded 150s (though I travelled on an 800 once and didn't notice the smell, so I suppose it can vary). can't see what would make any other fitted classes different. perhaps different peoples' differing sense of smell comes into it.
pdeaves
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And, possibly, how 'bad' the previous loo occupant had been. Any smells hang around in the air for a bit, retention tank or not.
anamyd
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very true
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