Southeastern and Train Toilets

[frankmoh]

Was on a 465 today. Toilet had no lights aside from the door controls and it had smear marks all over the walls (I don't want to know what it was). People have campaigned to get the 707 City Beams to have toilets successfully, but I have a feeling they will be equally as terrible, especially when the 707 was never specced to have them. Bodged jobs involving plumbing rarely work well.

Why do Southeastern neglect their train toilets so much? They were practically forced into having them on both the 707s and the 465s.

 

[skyhigh]

especially when the 707 was never specced to have them

They were specifically specified to allow retrofitting of toilets. They are designed to be easily installed at a later date, it's not a 'bodge job'.

 

[stadler]

I would much rather they invested in more toilet facilities at stations rather than retrofitting the 707s with toilets. The state of the toilets on the 700s is awful. They are always in such an appalling state and absolutely covered in graffiti. So i reckon the retrofitted 707s toilets will end up just like the 700s toilets. For short distance suburban trains like this it is not really necessary to have onboard toilets.

 

[frankmoh]

I would much rather they invested in more toilet facilities at stations rather than retrofitting the 707s with toilets. The state of the toilets on the 700s is awful. They are always in such an appalling state and absolutely covered in graffiti. So i reckon the retrofitted 707s toilets will end up just like the 700s toilets. For short distance suburban trains like this it is not really necessary to have onboard toilets.

The 376s already don't have toilets and you never see people complaining.

 

[SolomonSouth]

Was on a 465 today. Toilet had no lights aside from the door controls and it had smear marks all over the walls (I don't want to know what it was). People have campaigned to get the 707 City Beams to have toilets successfully, but I have a feeling they will be equally as terrible, especially when the 707 was never specced to have them. Bodged jobs involving plumbing rarely work well.

Why do Southeastern neglect their train toilets so much? They were practically forced into having them on both the 707s and the 465s.

Honestly Southeastern toilets on the whole are poor. 375 and 377 toilets are very unreliable. 395 toilets are getting worse. 465 toilets are not great either, though are definitely sturdier than the Electrostar toilets.

 

[duffield]

The 376s already don't have toilets and you never see people complaining.

Well I'll complain right here and now. If you're not a regular traveller on these routes you can get caught by surprise by seemingly random servcies not having toilets, which is inconvenient and worrying - you then have to quickly try and find out on your phone which stations have toilets, and maybe interrupt your journey, hoping the station toilets are actually open.
At least with the Overground (and the Underground obviously), you know exactly where you stand - no toilets on any service - so you can plan ahead easily.

 

[brad465]

The 707 toilet fitting is a long way off apparently, as the design spec needs and planning are quite lengthy. Also I suspect the full 376 refurbishment, including the more complex interior refurbs, will be the first priority.

 

[Mikey C]

Southeastern do at least tell you beforehand when trains don't have toilets

 

[frankmoh]

466 toilets. Looks like it's not been cleaned in ages and there's piss on the floor. I see why the 376 wasn't kitted out with one now.

 

[skyhigh]

466 toilets. Looks like it's not been cleaned in ages and there's piss on the floor. I see why the 376 wasn't kitted out with one now.

"Passengers shouldn't be provided with toilets because the operator can't be bothered to clean them properly"??

 

[frankmoh]

"Passengers shouldn't be provided with toilets because the operator can't be bothered to clean them properly"??

SE have been essentially bullied into giving the 707 toilets because passengers have realised that the Networkers are slowly being phased out on the metro routes, and they are the only trains with toilets.

 

[David M]

I'd argue that every train should have toilets.
So should any bus route of over 1 hour in duration.
Edinburgh to Carlisle, Borders Buses X95 3 hours 45 minutes and no toilet on the bus is an absolute disgrace.

 

[SolomonSouth]

SE have been essentially bullied into giving the 707 toilets because passengers have realised that the Networkers are slowly being phased out on the metro routes, and they are the only trains with toilets.

Won't the big Networker replacement fleet have toilets?

 

[frankmoh]

Won't the big Networker replacement fleet have toilets?

Most definitely yes.

 

[Trainlog]

I would much rather they invested in more toilet facilities at stations rather than retrofitting the 707s with toilets.

Agreed. When Southeastern refurbishes station toilets, they do a good job of it, like the ones at Tonbridge station.

I wouldn't mind seeing more of the investment going into refurbishing station toilets that suffer from vandalism and bringing them back into use. Or to see hand sanitiser stations being maintained/brought back at larger stations.

 

[tfw756rider]

466 toilets. Looks like it's not been cleaned in ages and there's piss on the floor. I see why the 376 wasn't kitted out with one now.

Which is a shame, because I like the way the walls have been vinylled with the "framed photo" and the "wood panelling".