07:30 Bristol Temple Meads to Paddington Today Lack of Toilets

[whole diary]

[clevedonian]

All toilets were locked out of use on this service! I know it was cold and pipes probably froze, but is there anything FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could have done so this situation could be provided? are HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) kept inside overnight?

[inspector_blakey]

Not generally kept inside overnight: although they may go inside temporarily whilst they're cleaned at some depots in general they'll spend the night outside. Building enough sheds to keep the entire HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) fleet inside would be prohibitively expensive, not to mention come up against fierce opposition from every NIMBY protester going! More than 99% of the time stabling them outside is not a problem, but there will be occasions when it gets very cold that the water in the tilets may freeze. Not sure how that could be avoided - perhaps leaving them running overnight including the heating might be a solution but I can't imagine the depot's neighbours being too happy about that one.

BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) used to issue specific instructions to guards about provision of buckets of water in cold weather when on-board toilets had frozen up (for the purposes of flushing you understand, not for the passengers to go in!) but I doubt that is permissible in the current health and safety climate. Back in my old place of work the toilets were all shut one day because of a hot water failure, and the facilities manager told us that since we couldn't wash our hands properly without hot water health and safety regulations meant he could not permit us to use them. However, since there was only one of him and a large number of toilets we mostly ignored that directive...

[Ollie]

Frozen pipes at both St Phillips Marsh and Landore depots so trains couldn't be filled with water, they have been getting done when arriving at Paddington.

Some trains today have had extended stops to allow passengers to use toilets at stations.

[inspector_blakey]

Aah, that makes more sense, should have thought of that!

[JayMac]

Frozen popes at both St Phillips Marsh and Landore.....

Frozen popes??? The mind boggles.

[Ollie]

I of course meant pipes, my bad xD

But I am sure the pope is probably cold too!