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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think everyone knows you don't flush train toilets whilst train is standing in a station?

188 replies

ReignBeauDash · 19/02/2023 18:18

I've had to get multiple long distance trains this last week and on several journeys have had to stand in corridors near the toilets as it's been so busy. For various reasons I've not really used trains in about 20 years!

I honestly thought it was common knowledge that you don't flush train toilets whilst at a station? Or has that changed in the last 20 years?

It's like people are actually waiting for the train to stop moving to get out of their seats and head for the loo - over and over at station after station Confused

OP posts:
Amaury · 19/02/2023 19:24

I've got a station at the end of my garden. I'm glad there's never been poo dumped on the track

ClairDeLaLune · 19/02/2023 19:24

Much better to go when it’s at a station because frankly you wouldn’t want to sit down and if hovering you’re less likely to wee everywhere if the train is stationary (stationery?? I always get those muddled up!)

deeplybaffled · 19/02/2023 19:25

Our part of Merseyrail avoids the issue by not having toilets at all!

OntarioBagnet · 19/02/2023 19:26

And if you’ve never commuted three hours a day on a Pacer you have not lived. They were literally a bus plonked on train wheels. I have ptsd and a permanently deformed ankle due to those trains!

Cocobutt · 19/02/2023 19:39

We had Pacer trains on our local line until two years ago and all the poo, etc came straight out onto the track. The train track runs through our village and often visible turds on the line!

It’s madness to think it was just dumped out like that.

CheeseSquared · 19/02/2023 19:41

Omg I literally didn't know this had changed and still avoided loos while in stations. Makes sense though.

CottonSock · 19/02/2023 19:42

I often see toilet paper sewage on the tracks. It does still happen .

SpacePotato · 19/02/2023 19:48

YesYou · 19/02/2023 18:37

I did think all had tanks now but apparently not on Merseyrail. Mingers

Do any merseryrail trains actually have toilets though?
None that I've ever been on.

WeightoftheWorld · 19/02/2023 19:54

SpacePotato · 19/02/2023 19:48

Do any merseryrail trains actually have toilets though?
None that I've ever been on.

Show quote history

No, I didn't think they did either? Been a few years since I was on one though.

Badbadbunny · 19/02/2023 19:55

DillDanding · 19/02/2023 19:15

I was sitting on a train at a platform with my son a few weeks ago. He kindly pointed out to me a pile of toilet paper and shit on the track which I then couldn’t un-see. So it’s clearly still a thing in some places

It's only the occasional "heritage" coaches that are allowed to dump on the tracks these days, i.e. those occasional steam trains using old historic coaches and similar. All other trains must either have retention tanks or not have toilets.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/10/train-toilets-to-no-longer-empty-on-to-tracks

Dibbydoos · 19/02/2023 19:56

Lol, I had funding to put Controlled Emission Toilets on trains and non of tge operators took me up on tge offer. Once the money had gone, they all started asking me to fund it and obviously I couldn't. Other delays occured cos some operators argued for compensation cos they would lose 2 seats and hence revenue.

We used to call toilet flushibgs on track poollution.

So glad it's much better now and CETs are in place. Of course tanks need emptying so someone has to connect the tank to a sewer system at a depot. Nice job...

GlasgowGal82 · 19/02/2023 20:02

It was drummed into me not to flush in a station too and there used to be signs to that effect in train toilets, but I also remember seeing toilet paper on the tracks of my local station all the time so people obviously didn't follow the rule. Most trains have tanks now. Haven't noticed toilet paper on the tracks of my local station for at least ten years.

cakeorwine · 19/02/2023 20:05

I remember travelling on a train in India and the toilet was literally a hole in the floor.

Butchyrestingface · 19/02/2023 20:06

I honestly thought it was common knowledge that you don't flush train toilets whilst at a station? Or has that changed in the last 20 years?

Genuinely ... er... what?

I am confoozled.

userxx · 19/02/2023 20:08

cakeorwine · 19/02/2023 20:05

I remember travelling on a train in India and the toilet was literally a hole in the floor.

Nice.

Southwest12 · 19/02/2023 20:27

Merseyrail don't have toilets on trains, or if they do they never let us have them on the Southport line.

pinkpirlie · 19/02/2023 20:28

ReignBeauDash · 19/02/2023 18:28

One could never describe me as a girl 😅 I'm old enough to remember it being absolutely not allowed to flush train toilets in stations for a start! There used to be signs and everything!

Show quote history

I'm 39 and I still wait for the trains to be out a station before using the loo. I figured they probably didn't dump on the tracks any more (although they definitely were still doing so in the 00s). But I've never looked into it so just don't "just in case".

Sceptic1234 · 19/02/2023 20:32

I was once on a train in Russia.....lifted the lid and could see the sleepers rushing past as I looked down the toilet. There was literally nothing....just a pipe that opened out onto the track!

Apart from anything else....it meant that the toilet cubicles could get bloody cold in the russian winter!

I was amazed to find that we used to do the same thing here.... and am even more surprised that we still do!

Quent · 19/02/2023 20:32

I really starting to doubt that there's anything 'everyone knows'. I have a job that involves anticipating what people will do, and every time I think 'surely everyone knows not to...' I am proved wrong.

Phineyj · 19/02/2023 20:34

Passengers will please refrain
From passing water while the train
Is standing in the station on the line

If you cannot hold your water
Please inform a station porter
He will place a bucket underneath

To the tune of Dvorak's Humoresque

dudsville · 19/02/2023 20:39

Urgh, i forgot we used to do this!

2023pending · 19/02/2023 20:42

I do Manchester to Poulton home from uni 3 times a week and I’m pretty sure those old bangers still dump waste! If I remember tomorrow I’ll check if there’s a sign not to flush

FlashDash · 19/02/2023 20:43

YABU to think that an outdated notion is "common knowledge" to those much younger than you.

NotDavidTennant · 19/02/2023 20:44

Toilets that empty on to the track were banned a couple of years ago. I'd be surprised if there are any in operation that still do this.

Itisbetter · 19/02/2023 20:44

Merseyrail Mingers 🤣🤣🤣