Stations with water refill points

[dan4291]

Next time I am at a station, probably Newcastle I'll take a picture and upload it here showing the exact position.

Perhaps others will follow and we'll all get to know the locations.

I'd never heard of the Refill app mentioned previously .. might give it a try, although some reviews aren't too good

The one at Newcastle is on platform 4 next to a vending machine about halfway along the platform. I use it regularly. Could do with one or two more dotted about near the concourse though.

 

[Rail101]

There is one at London Bridge, a little to the left (so the Tooley Street side) of the arches through to the underground (if facing towards the underground). Apparently also one on the upper level concourse but I've not used that one myself

 

[Railcar]

At East Croydon, Caithness Walk forms a link from the overbridge to Dingwall Road. At the end of Caithness Walk is a water refill machine.

 

[BenS123]

Bournemouth has one which is in a rather weird location (outside the platform 3 gateline and turn left after leaving the station building), it also charges 25p per refill

 

[secretlondon]

Vauxhall’s one is by the stairs to platform 3 and 4. I don’t know if it has a free option.

 

[telstarbox]

There is one at London Bridge, a little to the left (so the Tooley Street side) of the arches through to the underground (if facing towards the underground). Apparently also one on the upper level concourse but I've not used that one myself

The lower one is outside the gate line near the Hotel Chocolat shop (I'd say nearer the St Thomas St side). The upper one is at the top of the stairs which lead down to the lower concourse.

 

[LUYMun]

Passed through Basingstoke recently to find there's a water refill point, but it's a chargeable one from a private company (forgot the name). I've added it to the list on post 79.

 

[jon0844]

Does it definitely charge or does it seek to look like it does, by offering a series of different options (that you arguably don't need) at cost, but still dispensing tap water for free?

The one at King's Cross is like that and I was surprised to see many people paying.

I can't quite remember but I think you pay for filtered water and flavours, or even CO2, and it really does push them so you don't notice the free option.

A bit like free museums that pretend there's an entry fee by making signs with suggested donations look like price lists.

 

[LUYMun]

Basingstoke appears to definitely charge, with a choice of 0.5L or 1L of still water priced at 25p per 0.5L, but this doesn’t seem to be in operation, giving everyone free drinks. It says “free until start of May” but visiting the kiosk today and pressing the two options will result in the dispensing of water, so it’s still free. There’s also a sparkling option waiting to be implemented. See pic attached.

 

[Russel]

Basingstoke appears to definitely charge, with a choice of 0.5L or 1L of still water priced at 25p per 0.5L, but this doesn’t seem to be in operation, giving everyone free drinks. It says “free until start of May” but visiting the kiosk today and pressing the two options will result in the dispensing of water, so it’s still free. There’s also a sparkling option waiting to be implemented. See pic attached.View attachment 158044

25p, to me, is a reasonable charge considering the cost of installing and maintaining these facilities.

If it means they are a little more reliable, then I'm all for it.

Too many water points get installed, stop working and aren't repaired for 12 months, Euston being a prefect example.

 

[infobleep]

Basingstoke appears to definitely charge, with a choice of 0.5L or 1L of still water priced at 25p per 0.5L, but this doesn’t seem to be in operation, giving everyone free drinks. It says “free until start of May” but visiting the kiosk today and pressing the two options will result in the dispensing of water, so it’s still free. There’s also a sparkling option waiting to be implemented. See pic attached.View attachment 158044

Why do some stations charge, some have an optional charge and others don't charge? It's a postcode lottery.

I like using that term for things others might not think to use it for because they wouldn't consider the issue that important.

Going back to charging, are the free ones there due to a subsidy to put them in?

 

[jon0844]

25p, to me, is a reasonable charge considering the cost of installing and maintaining these facilities.

If it means they are a little more reliable, then I'm all for it.

Too many water points get installed, stop working and aren't repaired for 12 months, Euston being a prefect example.

Back in the day, you had a water tap. Arguably they need to be kept clean to be safe, and you don't want someone leaving one on - so we got machines that dispensed in a more controlled manner.

Now someone has come along and monetised them. Set them up to look like you need to pay, and offer fancy options when all anyone really wanted was simple tap water (which in the UK is perfectly safe, even if tourists might panic and take the upsell for filtering).

I am not sure I want to accept that we should pay, as before you know it the price will creep upwards and the original idea of getting people to refill bottles (as well as providing water to people who might otherwise fall ill and cause delays) gets completely forgotten. Might as well just direct people to WH Smith.

 

[transportphoto]

Too many water points get installed, stop working and aren't repaired for 12 months, Euston being a prefect example.

Grantham platform 2/3/4 being another… still sits broken.

 

[LUYMun]

Updated Bishops Stortford to include a water refill at the end of the footbridge above platforms 3/4.

 

[LUYMun]

It seems like ap2o (the same company running a water refill point at Basingstoke on this thread) has just launched a new one at London Marylebone, with a couple of representatives helping customers how the machine operates. This refill point is located next to the Bicester Village mini stand.

 

[Russel]

It seems like ap2o (the same company running a water refill point at Basingstoke on this thread) has just launched a new one at London Marylebone, with a couple of representatives helping customers how the machine operates. This refill point is located next to the Bicester Village mini stand.

If a representative has to show customers how to use a water dispenser, then they've over-complicated the design.

 

[jon0844]

The one at Victoria is still a simple push-a-button-for-water type. Unlike the King's Cross one that appears to want money, even if that's for all the extra 'upsell' options.

KISS!

(Of course, I have no doubt Network Rail will soon switch the simple one for the one that can sell things, and charge the operator a rent and take a small share of the profits. Somewhat forgetting what the purpose of a slightly glorified water fountain was).

 

[Russel]

The one at Victoria is still a simple push-a-button-for-water type. Unlike the King's Cross one that appears to want money, even if that's for all the extra 'upsell' options.

KISS!

(Of course, I have no doubt Network Rail will soon switch the simple one for the one that can sell things, and charge the operator a rent and take a small share of the profits. Somewhat forgetting what the purpose of a slightly glorified water fountain was).

I actually found the one at Kings Cross quite simple to use, I even upgraded to the chilled, sparkling water, which when you add a dash of the super-concentrate Robinsons summer fruits squash (little squirty bottle), was actually rather refreshing on a hot day!

 

[jon0844]

I actually found the one at Kings Cross quite simple to use, I even upgraded to the chilled, sparkling water, which when you add a dash of the super-concentrate Robinsons summer fruits squash (little squirty bottle), was actually rather refreshing on a hot day!

It is easy to use, but it looks like something that sells things and a lot of people will either not use it to refill a bottle, or will pay for something as they don't realise there's a free option.

It's also slower to use, but I fully understand why it exists and assume they'll appear everywhere unless they prove uneconomical because of increased equipment and maintenance costs.

 

[Warrior2852]

Marylebone's got one that costs 25p to use now, suffice to say that's created quite the grumpy discourse on Twitter.

x.com

x.com

Fill up your reusable bottles from Marylebone Station’s new water fountain for 25p

 

[Russel]

I don't have much of an issue with them charging 25p, if it's going towards the cleaning and maintenance of it...

Too many are installed and then just left, look at Eustons, that's out of use more than it's in use.

 

[Man of Kent]

Leicester has two - one in each platform's waiting room. However, the location was unknown to the staff in the ticket office, who denied that there was such a facility on the station.

 

[jon0844]

I don't have much of an issue with them charging 25p, if it's going towards the cleaning and maintenance of it...

Too many are installed and then just left, look at Eustons, that's out of use more than it's in use.

25p seems a bit much though, and begins to make it normalised so everyone will do it. I see on the X discussions that Chiltern admits it makes a profit from it.

I don't really like the system at King's Cross but at least if you stop and read things carefully, you'll see that plain water is free - and it's a charge for the fancier options.

Of course they should be cleaned, just like any water dispenser present in offices and other locations all over the world, most of which are free at the point of use.

 

[CyrusWuff]

The one at Marylebone has been supplied by ape2o, who've also installed them at Basingstoke, Bournemouth, Hampton Court, Kingston, Oxford, Putney, Richmond, Twickenham, Vauxhall and Wimbledon.

In the case of Marylebone, the Refill app suggests AMT Coffee and Starbucks offer free refills and I believe Greggs may do so as well, though it's not listed.

Though equally, a charge of 25p for up to a litre of chilled still or sparkling water is significantly cheaper than anywhere else within the station.

 

[Lucy1501]

There is now a water refill point at Durham Station which isn't in the full list - might be worth adding. Its free and near the platform 1 toilets.

 

[LUYMun]

@CyrusWuff @Lucy1501 Thank you for mentioning these stations, I’ve added them to the list on #79.

 

[dk1]

I know there were several complaints via X as usual to lack of working refill stations on my patch. Was down to sourcing a new supplier/maintainer for them. More trouble than it’s worth if you ask me and bet the operators regret introducing the darn things now.

 

[LUYMun]

I wonder why ap2o’s water refill machines don’t have a cash option. I’m not a Luddite by any means but paying 25p with a debit card seems insignificantly low to pay with one. It would help getting rid of some loose change too.

 

[SynthD]

In the case of Marylebone, the Refill app suggests AMT Coffee and Starbucks offer free refills and I believe Greggs may do so as well, though it's not listed.

Greggs, which might be the nearest shop to the paid refill, has a self service tap left of the entrance.

 

[skyhigh]

I wonder why ap2o’s water refill machines don’t have a cash option. I’m not a Luddite by any means but paying 25p with a debit card seems insignificantly low to pay with one. It would help getting rid of some loose change too.

Because then you have all the cost and hassle of emptying the cash and filling it with change. It's far cheaper to only take card.