Train company to axe toilets.

[Stuart]

The Southern Railway Company has commissioned new trains on the Portsmouth to Brighton line that have no onboard toilets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11358844

They say this is because the carriages are designed to maximise space available to passengers, but, tbh, I suspect a lot of passengers (particularly the Elderly, those with kids or the disabled) would prefer the toilets back.

The journey is 1.5 hours. I personally think that *any* company selling journeys likely to be that long should be required to provided adequate toilet facilities.

[chris9991]

I think you might find that there will be a few wet seats on these trains

[Graham M]

How much space DOES a toilet take up, 2 seats worth? 3? Money making in my view and it's pathetic.

Hmm! I wonder how they got it past the 'elf and safety bods?

[Graham M]

Money talks

[Ignitionnet]

I have to pee once an hour because I have to stay hydrated. This is dumb.

[Hom3r]

I would say that there taking the pee, but I guess not if they have no toilets

In the Times yesterday one of the reasons stated for this was that one of the OfRail (or whatever it's called) measurement stats was customer complaints about the cleanliness of the loos, and if they were working/available - it was assumed this was one of the ways of making sure they were not marked down on this.

Originally Posted by foreverwar

In the Times yesterday one of the reasons stated for this was that one of the OfRail (or whatever it's called) measurement stats was customer complaints about the cleanliness of the loos, and if they were working/available - it was assumed this was one of the ways of making sure they were not marked down on this.

Well all I can say on their own heads be it.

Having done a journey back in the 70s on a train from Fareham to Bristol with no toilet where one chap was violently sick and had to vomit out of the window..I think they might find having to clean up the trains even more labour intensive than they expect.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

In the Times yesterday one of the reasons stated for this was that one of the OfRail (or whatever it's called) measurement stats was customer complaints about the cleanliness of the loos, and if they were working/available - it was assumed this was one of the ways of making sure they were not marked down on this.

True, but I think they should be marked down on this. It's all very well providing a lack of toilet facilities on local commuter services (many of which are less than 40 minutes long), but quite unacceptable expecting passengers on longer journeys to wait. Especially if they are kids, elderly, disabled or have some other legitimate medical reason to go to the toilet regularly.

Still, the Transport industry in general has long had the same attitude to the disabled. That attitude can be expressed in two words, one of which begins with F and the other is You. They've spent decades doing the minimum required by law to enable the disabled to use their services. This is no different.

Originally Posted by Stuart

True, but I think they should be marked down on this. It's all very well providing a lack of toilet facilities on local commuter services (many of which are less than 40 minutes long), but quite unacceptable expecting passengers on longer journeys to wait. Especially if they are kids, elderly, disabled or have some other legitimate medical reason to go to the toilet regularly.

Or they are ill.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Or they are ill.

I would count that as a legitimate medical reason.

[colin25]

I need to pee..and I'm only reading the story

I don't think people have got all the facts here .
These new trains have been in operation since march according to SR site ,they are refurbished coaches taken from london overground and are only being used on short haul trips ,looking at the time table for these new coaches the max trip is only 45mins Brighton to Littlehampton

Whic h routes will these trains be used for?

From 23 May 2010, Class 313s will be used between Monday and
Friday to operate:

•

Two trains per hour between Brighton and Seaford calling at Seaford,
Bishopstone, Newhaven Harbour, Newhaven Town, Southease, Lewes,
Falmer, Mouslecoomb, London Road and Brighton.

•

Selected trains between Brighton and Lewes, Brighton and Hove,
Brighton and West Worthing and Brighton and Littlehampton
(see details below):

Morning

0557 Brighton – Littlehampton (45 minute journey)
0600 Brighton – Lewes (15 minute journey)
0626 Lewes - Brighton
0722 Littlehampton - Brighton
0722 Brighton – Lewes
0758 Lewes – Brighton
0822 Brighton – Lewes
0846 Lewes - Brighton
0823 Brighton – West Worthing (28 minute journey)

0909 West Worthing – Brighton

Why don’t the Class 313 trains have toilets?

The Class 313 trains did not have toilets when were used by London
Overground and this type of train was not built or designed to have
toilets on board. We know this may be inconvenient, but we will make
sure that we let you know which services don’t have toilets and provide
information on where facilities are available at stations on your journey.
We are also looking for ways to improve our facilities, including longer

opening hours and toilets at more stations.

full passenger info on new trains here

http://www.southernrailway.com/downl...senger-leaflet

seems to that the beeb and everyone else have fell for some Bob Crow scare mongering

But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the 'unacceptable' development runs the risk of turning train carriages into 'stinking cattle trucks' that present passengers and staff with appalling conditions.

[Ignitionnet]

Ah that on the other hand is fine - there are plenty of short haul trains here in London on the loops that have similar journey times and don't have bathrooms.

Thanks for the clarification - this is a non-issue whatever Comrade Crow may say.