There’s nothing more infuriating than having to spend a penny – or nearer fifty of them – to use the facilities while waiting for a train in a crowded station.
But Network Rail’s outgoing chief executive has decided to leave passengers with a parting gift by scrapping charges for using the loo.
Passengers have been forced to pay between 30p and 50p for using the toilet in a number of the country’s main stations in recent years but as of next year toilets will be free to use in mainline rail terminals, The Times reported.
Passengers have been forced to pay between 30p and 50p for using the toilet in a number of the country’s main stations in recent years but as of next year toilets will be free to use in mainline rail terminals. Pictured: Victoria Station in London
Network Rail has earned £20.3million from passengers using toilets in stations between 2013/14 and 2016/17.
However chief executive, Mark Carne, says he has listened to passengers’ frustrations and now made the decision to scrap the fees after saying he wanted to treat them with ‘dignity and respect’.
The company made £4.8million from toilets last year, with over £900,000 coming from London Victoria station alone.
Mr Carne has made the decision to abolish the charges from next year when a new five-year funding settlement begins.
He told The Times: ‘As a customer organisation I think it is quite wrong to penalise people when they are in discomfort. Our job should be to make their life easier, not more difficult. We want to treat people with dignity and respect.’
Network Rail manages Britain’s 18 largest stations. Ten of these stations, including King’s Cross, Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly, are still charging customers.
Network Rail has earned £20.3million from passengers using toilets in stations between 2013/14 and 2016/17. Pictured: Paddington Station in London, another to charge for toilet use
Other stations that are still charging to use the facilities include Liverpool Street, Paddington and Waterloo in London; Edinburgh Waverley; Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street.
Network Rail also scrapped charges at Birmingham New Street three years ago and recently said that it had cancelled fees at Victoria, Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge stations.
Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: ‘It’s great news. There are obviously issues with maintenance, but many stations manage without charges.’