Should station lavatories in London accept Oyster?

[OLJR]

When I travelled through London Bridge last night I noticed, as I have at other stations, that a small fee is required to use the station lavatory.

The fare was 30p and you have to put money into a turnstile barrier. Which is all very well, but I hardly ever carry cash with me and if I do it is normally in the form of ten or twenty Pound notes.

I reckon that it should be possible to tap into and out of a London station lavatory with an Oyster card. Is there any substantive reason for TfL and the station operators not to do this?

 

[Qwerty133]

No, they should not charge.
On another note for a period (a couple of years ago, when the new? ones had opened but there was still female ones on the other bridge) Birmingham New Street had free toilets for females but all the male toilets were chargeable.
But seriously this could open up offers for toilet use, eg:7 day season for £1.20, half price/third off for railcard holders and children, annual pass (£20?)...

 

[ASharpe]

They really shouldn't charge.

Train toilets can't be cleaned as frequently and some people will wait until they get on board to spend a penny.

For anyone else who resents having to pay at Kings Cross: you can walk across the road and use the Toilets at St Pancras for free.

 

[6Gman]

When I travelled through London Bridge last night I noticed, as I have at other stations, that a small fee is required to use the station lavatory.

The fare was 30p and you have to put money into a turnstile barrier. Which is all very well, but I hardly ever carry cash with me and if I do it is normally in the form of ten or twenty Pound notes.

I reckon that it should be possible to tap into and out of a London station lavatory with an Oyster card. Is there any substantive reason for TfL and the station operators not to do this?

What an excellent idea!

I know a lot of people object to a fee, but if it keeps them clean and well-stocked, and keeps out the undesirables, then 30p seems not un reasonable.

 

[TheEdge]

What an excellent idea!

I know a lot of people object to a fee, but if it keeps them clean and well-stocked, and keeps out the undesirables, then 30p seems not un reasonable.

Agree on all counts.

 

[Greenback]

I also agree with the suggestion. I can't see it happening yet, but it could one day.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When one is utterly desperate, as I have been at Manchester Piccadilly, which too has a similar charge, that meagre amount of 30p is well worth the money. I always carry about 50p in loose change for emergencies, this being one example.

 

[najaB]

I also don't have a problem with a fee - but please, for god's sake, make sure the change machine takes folding money! Could've had a very bad start to a day a Liverpool Lime Street if not for the kindness of the toilet attendant.

 

[PeterY]

The toilets on the platforms at London Bridge are free. I try to avoid paying to use the loo but do make sure I carry some change... just in case.

 

[HarleyDavidson]

If it wasn't for the scumbags who constantly vandalize them, then you wouldn't have companies taking the pee in charging now would you?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I also don't have a problem with a fee - but please, for god's sake, make sure the change machine takes folding money! Could've had a very bad start to a day a Liverpool Lime Street if not for the kindness of the toilet attendant.

Surely that have been a matter to have been in the discussions with the turnstile manufacturers prior to the purchase of them. Who do think will be then responsible for ensuring that there would be a much larger amount of change installed in the said turnstile money mechanism to give when a currency note was tendered than there would be if coins only needed to be tendered e.g. the 30p figure mentioned in two postings so far.

 

[rebmcr]

For anyone else who resents having to pay at Kings Cross: you can walk across the road and use the Toilets at St Pancras for free.

Free and probably the nicest public toilets I've ever used. Plenty of decently-sized stalls to cope with demand, appear to have someone on cleaning duty at all times, no harsh lighting, and a layout that means you don't have to touch any door handles after washing your hands. Clearly designed by a smart person.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Free and probably the nicest public toilets I've ever used. Plenty of decently-sized stalls to cope with demand, appear to have someone on cleaning duty at all times, no harsh lighting, and a layout that means you don't have to touch any door handles after washing your hands. Clearly designed by a smart person.

I must be going in different toilets at St Pancras then, as every time I've been in them they've been an advertisement for why they should be charging!

Though having said that, the ones at Euston haven't been much better when I've been in them, and those are pay per pee.

 

[Saint66]

In my experience, the toilets at St Pancras have always been much nicer to use than the pay ones at Euston.

Somewhat off topic... I used Leeds' toilets for the first time on Friday... Why are they 40p, while most in London are just 30p?

 

[Starmill]

Again, the toilets on the platforms at Leeds are free, although somewhat cramped!

 

[ATW Alex 101]

It would seem a sensible option, bit like how the octopus cards work in Hong Kong.

Although I don't believe in pay toilets so I simply find alternative such as a McDonalds or something.

 

[Saint66]

Again, the toilets on the platforms at Leeds are free, although somewhat cramped!

Really? Damnit! I had no idea.

 

[krus_aragon]

It would seem a sensible option, bit like how the octopus cards work in Hong Kong.

Wait, Octopus cards? Oyster, octopus... which city is going to launch the Calamari Card? :roll:

 

[najaB]

Who do think will be then responsible for ensuring that there would be a much larger amount of change installed in the said turnstile money mechanism to give when a currency note was tendered than there would be if coins only needed to be tendered e.g. the 30p figure mentioned in two postings so far.

It's not so much the turnstiles themselves, as the change machines that are often found close by. In most London terminals they take £5 notes, but the one in Liverpool Lime Street has had the note mechanism removed and only takes coins now.

 

[Blindtraveler]

You could always touch your oister for different elimentts too? Touch once just to go, another for soap and water and another for a dryer? Joking! Agree it would be a good idea though, roll it out to LU Stations too?↲

 

[DelayRepay]

I think this is a good idea - and would probably benefit Network Rail by meaning they don't have to collect and bank a load of small coins.

Like the railway they could make you touch out when you've finished, and have the equivalent of a maximum journey time with a surcharge for anyone who takes too long.

 

[306024]

Never mind Oyster, Octopus, or any other sea creature. Is not the latest technology a contactless debit card reader?

Hong Kong indeed had the Octopus card years ago, good in 7-eleven stores and other outlets. But even that is beginning to look like old hat.

 

[Bald Rick]

Swipe in, wipe out.

 

[edwin_m]

Wait, Octopus cards? Oyster, octopus... which city is going to launch the Calamari Card? :roll:

Liverpool has a Walrus card.

But it seems for the toilets you need to pay with a s-quid, or part thereof.

 

[spongsdad]

I trust that there would be additional benefits for first class passengers: at the very least upholstered and freshly laundered seats.

 

[Busaholic]

Being prehistoric, this card-naming started many moons ago with the Goldfish card. Now it's gone full circle. The London Borough of Camden gents W.C.s at Holborn had goldfish in the tanks= I'm sure if you google you'll get full chapter and verse!

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Swipe in, wipe out.

Way too much information... :roll:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Liverpool has a Walrus card.

But it seems for the toilets you need to pay with a s-quid, or part thereof.

It saves you a packet, but it weighs a ton.

 

[Searle]

Free and probably the nicest public toilets I've ever used. Plenty of decently-sized stalls to cope with demand, appear to have someone on cleaning duty at all times, no harsh lighting, and a layout that means you don't have to touch any door handles after washing your hands. Clearly designed by a smart person.

You haven't been to the arrivals at Gatwick, they are luxurious

Also when at Piccadilly, I usually just jump onto a Pendolino and use the toilet there, as they're pretty close to the concourse. If I'm travelling to Hertford from King's Cross, I'll happily get on a train to Finsbury Park, use the toilet there and then catch the Hertford train from there, just to avoid the 30p

 

[TEW]

The toilets on the platforms at London Bridge are free.

But pretty disgusting. It is worth paying 30p to use the much better facilities on the unpaid side.

 

[455driver]

When I travelled through London Bridge last night I noticed, as I have at other stations, that a small fee is required to use the station lavatory.

The fare was 30p and you have to put money into a turnstile barrier. Which is all very well, but I hardly ever carry cash with me and if I do it is normally in the form of ten or twenty Pound notes.

I reckon that it should be possible to tap into and out of a London station lavatory with an Oyster card. Is there any substantive reason for TfL and the station operators not to do this?

So because you cant be bothered to carry small change, TfL, NR etc have to go to the expense of installing Oystercard readers on all the toilets!

Although I agree it seems to be a good idea would the increase in revenue (or any savings that may be possible) cover the costs of installation and maintenance?