Toilet breaks?

[charles123]

Hello everyone,

I do apologise if this has been asked many times!

I am currently an underground driver so able to use toilet facilities about once an hour.

However I am now trying to get on the mainline and just wondering what the situation is with toilet breaks? Are you just expected to be dehydrated so you don't need to use the toilet if you are a lumo driver for example, 3 hours non stop kgx to ncl or is it just totally accepted that you relieve yourself in a bottle whilst driving the train?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Javelin_55]

I don't know the exact arrangements on intercity TOCs, but if you need to use the toilet, you should inform the signaller that you're going to stop the train and do so at the nearest convenient location. You should be keeping yourself well hydrated to aid concentration.

Far better to delay the train for a few minutes than have an incident because you couldn't stop thinking about waterfalls.

*Edited to add that while relieving yourself in a bottle is something that has gone on in some places, that's not a desirable image for any train company. My TOC once actually issued a notice asking drivers to stop.

 

[driver9000]

This is where managing your lifestyle comes into play a bit. Of course you're not expected to be dehydrated but you are expected to look after yourself. Peeing into a bottle on the move would not be acceptable as it is distracting and unhygienic. I certainly wouldn't want to be the next Driver in that cab after you!

I drive long distance Intercity type trains and try to use the toilet before starting a journey. If you find yourself needing the toilet mid trip then go at the next station stop or if you really can't wait then stop the train at a signal and go after informing the Signaller that you've stopped out of course. In reality I find it fairly easy to last 2.5 to 3 hours between toilet trips while driving. As Javelin_55 says it's far more preferable to delay the train than end up having an incident because you were distracted.

 

[Towers]

Back when HSTs roamed the planet and it was a bit of a stroll from the driving cab to the closest toilet, there were well known problems with unpleasant smells in engine compartments. And then are those who ‘value’ driving stock with end gangway connections…

In the modern age however nobody should feel unable to make use of facilities when they need to, including train drivers. I don’t imagine there’d be much legal backup for an employer arguing that a short pause for essential functions is unreasonable!

 

[baz962]

Same as above. I'm getting on now but can usually manage 2-3 hours. I make it the last thing I do before departure. Although you would be ok now and again I wouldn't want to be delaying the train daily.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

It would be gross misconduct and you'd almost certainly be dismissed if you were ever caught peeing in a bottle in the cab, at least for a passenger TOC.

 

[Rockhopperr]

You’re not expected to be dehydrated at all but the diagrams don’t allow for regular toilet breaks. Mine today was over 5hours before an allocated break. There was just enough time 3hours in to nip to the toilet when changing ends but if I did require any longer then it would mean a delay. Which is exactly what I would do.

 

[Joshua_Harman]

I drive buses not trains but was always told when you need to go, you need to go. And no company will sack you because you stopped for a few moments to use the toilet.

 

[RPM]

If you need to go, you need to go. If that causes a delay than that's unfortunate but unavoidable, and you won't be taken to task for it. Deliberate dehydration is a very bad idea. I guess if you have chronic, severe bladder issues your suitability for the job may be questioned, but for people within normal medical parameters, TOCs would prefer the odd toilet-related delay to a driver being seriously distracted by the need to pee.

 

[Sly Sloth]

It would be gross misconduct and you'd almost certainly be dismissed if you were ever caught peeing in a bottle in the cab, at least for a passenger TOC.

They wouldn’t dismiss you for this, the union wouldn’t allow that! As long as you disposed of the waste correctly and didn’t just lob it out of an open window in a siding!

 

[ChuChuMalone]

Are you taking the pi$$??

Sorry I had to use that gag!

I'll see myself out!

 

[SunSeeker]

It would be gross misconduct and you'd almost certainly be dismissed if you were ever caught peeing in a bottle in the cab, at least for a passenger TOC.

Source?

I find that very hard to believe. Dismissed because your body had to do a function that literally everyone has to and you did the only option that was available? Erm don't think so.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Source?

I find that very hard to believe. Dismissed because your body had to do a function that literally everyone has to and you did the only option that was available? Erm don't think so.

It's not the only option. Tazi outlined the options above.

 

[12LDA28C]

It would be gross misconduct and you'd almost certainly be dismissed if you were ever caught peeing in a bottle in the cab, at least for a passenger TOC.

It would certainly not be a great idea to do that in full view of passengers, but gross misconduct and dismissal? Extremely unlikely. Where do you get your information from?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2024 ==

Hello everyone,

I do apologise if this has been asked many times!

I am currently an underground driver so able to use toilet facilities about once an hour.

However I am now trying to get on the mainline and just wondering what the situation is with toilet breaks? Are you just expected to be dehydrated so you don't need to use the toilet if you are a lumo driver for example, 3 hours non stop kgx to ncl or is it just totally accepted that you relieve yourself in a bottle whilst driving the train?

Many thanks in advance!

It's certainly not unreasonable for you to be expected to use the toilet during your PNB or during other times away from the cab. If you have a medical condition that requires you going to the loo every hour it would be best to advise any prospective employer of this during the application process.

 

[Horizon22]

Driver diagrams are built with the trade unions to mutually agreed timings for full breaks, cab environment breaks etc. based on consecutive driving hours. This should prevent such problems but sometimes if you’ve gotta go you advise your controlling signaller / control and ideally at a suitable station take an emergency break.

Of course there is always the (small) risk of substantial disruption preventing movement for several hours but again this only presents a problem for drivers of freight services or of fleet without on-board toilets.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2024 ==

It would be gross misconduct and you'd almost certainly be dismissed if you were ever caught peeing in a bottle in the cab, at least for a passenger TOC.

I guess you’ve not seen how many discarded, discoloured bottles there are trackside at certain parts of the network…

 

[800 Driver]

They wouldn’t dismiss you for this, the union wouldn’t allow that! As long as you disposed of the waste correctly and didn’t just lob it out of an open window in a siding!

As a union rep I'd be pissed off if my company didn't discipline someone for urinating in the cab, rather than one of the 8 actual toilets on our trains.

 

[WirralLine]

I'm a guard not a driver, we have a mix of long distance work and local work. Some of our trips are 3hrs each way and drivers will often give me a call on cab to cab advising at the next stop they'll be nipping the toilet and will let me know when they're back.

If we are held at a signal once they've spoken to the signaller they'll often go to the toilet then too. On local work they can be driving for 4hours (near enough, with a quick change ends and straight back out at each terminus) - most drivers will use the toilet then. If it delays the train by a few minutes so be it, I reply to the delay with "Driver PNB" and never questioned. Better to go the toilet when you've got a spare couple of minutes than get involved in an incident due to either bursting to go, or not drinking enough.

 

[Sly Sloth]

As a union rep I'd be pissed off if my company didn't discipline someone for urinating in the cab, rather than one of the 8 actual toilets on our trains.

I’ve had 2 posts removed….. I’ll try again! I think you should consider if you should be a rep if you'd not offer representation to a paying member in this instance

 

[AverageJoe]

I’ve never had to wee in a cab, we have toilets on our trains and I always try to plan my toilet breaks for when I have access to one.

However I make sure I drink plenty of water throughout the day and if I found myself on a train and I was absolutely bursting and the train was so packed I couldn’t get to the toilet I would rather pee in a bottle than do myself an injury.

If a driver is peeing in a bottle in the cab out of pure laziness I wouldn’t be happy about it, especially as it’s unlikely he is washing his hands and then touching controls I might have to touch.

If a driver has the runs then I’d say take a day sick and don’t risk it.

If a driver has some type of IBS then I’d suggest speaking to a DM or union rep and coming up with a plan that can work going forward.

 

[Sly Sloth]

If a driver is peeing in a bottle in the cab out of pure laziness I wouldn’t be happy about it, especially as it’s unlikely he is washing his hands and then touching controls I might have to touch.

I’d say roughly 25% of men don’t wash their hands when there’s a sink available! The amount of times I’ve called colleagues out for walking out without washing their hands is ridiculous

 

[AverageJoe]

I’d say roughly 25% of men don’t wash their hands when there’s a sink available! The amount of times I’ve called colleagues out for walking out without washing their hands is ridiculous

Go to my gym and it’s 99% that don’t wash their hands… I’m the 1% because I have self respect and respect for others.

Some people are just filthy.

 

[ExRes]

Biggest laugh I had was getting out of the cab of an HST to use the toilet in the first coach, told the platform staff member what I was doing, pointed out to the TM where I was going who decided to lock the doors while I was on the train ......

 

[scotraildriver]

Is it just me that every single time I leg it to use the toilet on the train there's someone in and a queue outside? Quick toilet stop becomes 10 minutes delay.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

As a union rep I'd be pissed off if my company didn't discipline someone for urinating in the cab, rather than one of the 8 actual toilets on our trains.

Exactly this. Almost every TOC would class this as gross misconduct if you were caught. It's a serious biological hazard and throwing anything on the trackside is a major issue. Network Rail staff have to walk along the cess regularly

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Sep 2024 ==

I’ve had 2 posts removed….. I’ll try again! I think you should consider if you should be a rep if you'd not offer representation to a paying member in this instance

You can't just get posts removed because you disagree with them.

You have actual rail staff, plus a union rep telling you that this is unacceptable behaviour and is almost certainly misconduct liable to lead to disciplinary action if caught. It is also a criminal offence under environmental protection legislation and the Railway Byelaws.

The fact that people are not caught regularly does not make this untrue.

As a driver, there are proper procedures for dealing with this, which can include stopping out of course and causing a delay.