Bear in mind that those videos were taking on a Thursday night. Invariably this is 'student night' in Bath. The train wasn't as busy as I've seen it. But the state I found the same train working (2C38) again on the Friday was even worse. On Saturday I didn't take the train, actually got the Bus as where I was going was much closer to a Bus Stop than the Station. Also a few of the Taxi Drivers in Frome are off road due to defective vehicles or not wanting to go out of town at night, so getting a taxi the past week or two hasn't been easy.
I also thing broadgage brings up a few good points. I do think it's partly the fault of the
TOC▸ for not maintaining the toilets with water often enough or mainly by staff
not locking them out of use when such things occur. I have known some trains to be held at stations for a few moments because all the toilets are broken or out of water. It's particularly common on football trains as you'll often find the toilets get vandalised.
Also even if a passenger reports the state of the toilet to a member of staff, It's worrying about the amount of staff that don't do anything about it or as I said "What for it to become someone elses problem". I have reported issues to staff r.e. toilets to multiple TOC's and have found the amount who don't do anything about it is rather high. Take an example of when I reported a waterless toilet to Southeastern a few weeks ago. I ended up catching the same unit back about an hour or two later. It was very clear that the condition of the toilet had changed. For the worse. It certainly wasn't filled at Hastings as I was told it would be. I also fail to see how a toilet tank can completely empty and still be in a worse state in the distance of about 10 miles. Got a ^5 voucher out of Southeastern though after a written complaint
On one occasion during the 2008 Rugby world cup (Believe the match was Wales vs. New Zealand) I was coming back to Trowbridge from Cardiff Bay on a single 150 Unit. I asked the guard if he could check on the occupant of the toilet just after Bristol Temple Meads as they'd been in there a while and I was full't'bursting (Occupied since atleast we accidentally stopped at Pilning
). The guard actually told me it had been locked prior to departure from Cardiff Central because the pan had been filled with paper towels
I was somewhat biwildered when the guard offered me an empty beerglass and privacy of the walkway between the vestible between the drivers compartment. (Evidence suggests this wasn't a joke sadly) I declined and said I would alight at Bath Spa and use the toilet there and get the next train. It was decided by Guard and Driver that the train be held at Bath Spa for a train toilet break for the benefit of all pax. Bath Spa Station Staff also got control to update the
CIS▸ that no toilets were on the train
However I can say that if anythings
FGW▸ units are a state, perhaps take a ride on a GreaterAnglia train. That is an eyeopener. I often end up on the midnight-ish departs from Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria. On a Friday or Saturday that is a really bad train to catch. Try walking from First Class in Coach 1 to the toilet in Coach 3. You'll find youself stepping over: Abandoned Kebabs, Vomit, McDonalds/KFC/Burger King Foodstuffs, Newspapers, Split Drinks, More Puke, Sleepers (Who may have fallen on the floor) who have missed their station (As their alarms are going off and they're still asleep) etc. Get to the toilet and you'll wish why you'd bothered. One occasions it's usable. On others its not.
I have to take my hat of to the Southend Victoria Cleaners as they seem unsurprised at the state they find the trains in when it arrives and are often seen ready, gloved up and wielding a set of waste bags. I also notice they always tank the toilets when they arrive. I guess it's not as difficult for them to do though as they nearly always receive the same type of trains. Class 321's and on the morning peaks, 2x Class 315's which normally arrive the night before via an
ECS▸ movement from Shenfield to Southend Victoria (The latter has no toilets at all!)
