• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Flushing toilet at station

boiledbeans2

boiledbeans2

Member
Joined
15 Oct 2020
Messages
515
Location
UK
A year ago, I was on a Class 166, and on approaching the terminus, there was an automated announcement of "Please do not flush the toilet at the station" (or similar).

I thought it was probably an old announcement, as it was on a GWR Class 166 still in FGW livery.

Just a few days ago, I was on a GWR Class 158 and on approaching the terminus, it made a similar annoucement. The GWR Class 158 was refurbished (with the new LCD panels displaying the announcements). So it couldn't be an old announcement.

Are they serious when they say not to flush the toilet at the station? Haven't all mainline trains been fitted with CET (Controlled Emission Toilet) so they don't unload onto the tracks?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

L

Liverpool 507

Member
Joined
17 Jan 2018
Messages
567
Location
Merseyside
boiledbeans2 said:
A year ago, I was on a Class 166, and on approaching the terminus, there was an automated announcement of "Please do not flush the toilet at the station" (or similar).

I thought it was probably an old announcement, as it was on a GWR Class 166 still in FGW livery.

Just a few days ago, I was on a GWR Class 158 and on approaching the terminus, it made a similar annoucement. The GWR Class 158 was refurbished (with the new LCD panels displaying the announcements). So it couldn't be an old announcement.

Are they serious when they say not to flush the toilet at the station? Haven't all mainline trains been fitted with CET (Controlled Emission Toilet) so they don't unload onto the tracks?
Click to expand...
Yes that's correct. Only some charter stock and heritage stock have toilets without tanks. Until around a few years ago, GWR 158s deposited waste straight on to the tracks. Not sure whether 165/166s have had them from new or if they have been retrofitted.
 
boiledbeans2

boiledbeans2

Member
Joined
15 Oct 2020
Messages
515
Location
UK
I assume the announcement is something left over from the old days, and can be ignored. I managed to take a photo of the message shown on the refurbished Class 158 displays, see attachment.

Please do not flush the train toilets, within the station
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • 158 toilet 1.JPG
    158 toilet 1.JPG
    118.4 KB · Views: 213
  • 158 toilet 2.JPG
    158 toilet 2.JPG
    108.9 KB · Views: 214
R

rg177

Established Member
Associate Staff
International Transport
Joined
22 Dec 2013
Messages
3,730
Location
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Of course the superb design of that PIS means that it looks as if you're being commanded to flush the toilets as many times as you can at stations...
 
Spartacus

Spartacus

Established Member
Joined
25 Aug 2009
Messages
2,936
Pre CETs did anyone else 'aim' for level crossings, or was it just me?! ;) :lol:
 
S

Steve4031

Member
Joined
2 Feb 2017
Messages
76
I have always had a dislike for Naperville, IL, in the United States. I had a terrible experience there as a student teacher. The cooperating teacher said I would never make it as a teacher and made my time there miserable. This is the first stop on the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief routes going west out of Chicago. For years, even though the trains had holding tanks, I made it a practice to leave a deposit as we passed through Naperville.
 
J

jon0844

Veteran Member
Joined
1 Feb 2009
Messages
28,069
Location
UK
rg177 said:
Of course the superb design of that PIS means that it looks as if you're being commanded to flush the toilets as many times as you can at stations...
Click to expand...

Those screens really are pathetic. Either scroll the text or rather than just allow auto text formatting, set out specific text to fit each page to stop comedy errors like this.
 
sansyy

sansyy

Member
Joined
11 Dec 2023
Messages
175
Location
Chester
rg177 said:
Of course the superb design of that PIS means that it looks as if you're being commanded to flush the toilets as many times as you can at stations...
Click to expand...
By far one of the worst PIS i've had to ride with. The text and background are already eye straining enough and the lack of scrolling and functionality they offer is just laughable. I'd rather no PIS than one of these so at least a complaint would be meaningful...
 
T

thelongestroad

Member
Joined
4 Dec 2011
Messages
508
Location
God Knows
I'm not sure if/why OP is being coy with the "terminus", but for context this was played at Portsmouth Harbour to avoid people flushing the contents of their bowels into the Solent. Portsmouth Harbour is built on a pier. Obviously its obsolete now because all GWR stock has CET.
 
Sun Chariot

Sun Chariot

Established Member
Joined
16 Mar 2009
Messages
1,398
Location
2 miles and 50 years away from the Longmoor Milita
thelongestroad said:
... at Portsmouth Harbour to avoid people flushing the contents of their bowels into the Solent. Portsmouth Harbour is built on a pier.
Click to expand...
The irony of this: plenty more of the stuff gets "dumped", by Southern Water, into the water near Langstone Harbour, just round the corner from Portsmouth. We don't even let our dog in the coastal water now.
 
B

BigB

Member
Joined
20 Dec 2018
Messages
268
Location
Scotland
12LDA28C said:
The vast majority of charter stock (if not all) has CET fitted these days, I believe it's a requirement mandated by the ORR, in a similar fashion to CDL.
Click to expand...
It was Network Rail who mandated CET for all stock, and thus they paid for fitment to all the heritage stock.
The ORR mandated CDL (see many, many threads) but as they are not the owner/operator of the tracks, they are not liable for the costs.
 
boiledbeans2

boiledbeans2

Member
Joined
15 Oct 2020
Messages
515
Location
UK
thelongestroad said:
I'm not sure if/why OP is being coy with the "terminus", but for context this was played at Portsmouth Harbour to avoid people flushing the contents of their bowels into the Solent. Portsmouth Harbour is built on a pier. Obviously its obsolete now because all GWR stock has CET.
Click to expand...

Yes, I heard them at Portsmouth Harbour. I didn't identify the terminus in my first post as I wasn't sure if it was played at other terminus as well, so I was just being general.

But wouldn't it make sense for the announcement to be played at all terminus (or all stations), not just Portsmouth Harbour? Or is it unacceptable to unload into the Solent, but acceptable to unload at a regular terminus (before CETs were fitted of course).
 
Trackman

Trackman

Established Member
Joined
28 Feb 2013
Messages
2,991
Location
Lewisham
So if it's a fast train and doesn't stop at a station, do they give warning? Like don't flush in the next 3 seconds ;)
 
12LDA28C

12LDA28C

Established Member
Joined
14 Oct 2022
Messages
3,272
Location
The back of beyond
BigB said:
It was Network Rail who mandated CET for all stock, and thus they paid for fitment to all the heritage stock.
Click to expand...

Ah yes indeed. Seems reasonable as it was their staff who had to deal with the fallout (pun intended) from toilets flushing directly onto the tracks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top