20 Jan 2012: SEQ: Need for greater reliability of toilets on Interurban trains

[ozbob]

Media Release 20 January 2012

SEQ: Need for greater reliability of toilets on Interurban trains

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web-based community support group for rail and public transport, and an advocate for public transport passengers, wants Queensland Rail to guarantee functional toilets on all suburban passenger trains operating long-distance routes to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Robert Dow, a spokesperson for Rail Back On Track, said:

"Without putting a fine point on it, Queensland Rail (QR) deserves to be queried on the number of trains it operates over long distance routes to the Gold and Sunshine coasts with blocked toilets, or no toilets at all.

"And the rail operator needs to spend more than a penny to fix the problem.

"While QR says it has sufficient trains fitted with toilets to operate all long-haul services to the coasts, the problem arises when toilet-equipped trains suffer a mechanical problem, and have to replaced at short notice, or toilets become full and have to be locked until the train is next serviced at the Mayne yards.  The flush toilets retain waste on board.

"Additional trains have been put into service on the Sunshine Coast and more are expected to run to the Gold Coast once the latest timetable review finishes, yet only four service points exist at Mayne for the waste to be transferred to the sewers.  More are needed, or new sewage service points need to be installed elsewhere on the system, for example at Robina, Nambour and Ipswich.

"That will cost money, obviously.

"RAIL Back On Track members have reported an increasing number of IMU series trains with toilets out of action, while the problem on the Sunshine Coast Line is exacerbated by ageing ICE train units with a toilet in each carriage.  If an ICE set breaks down due to a mechanical fault, it must be replaced with the next available train to maintain the timetable.  Invariably, that can be a train without a toilet.

"It can be a distressing time for people who board a train thinking a toilet will be available – and even knowing one is on board – only to discover it is blocked or locked until serviced.

"We had the incident last year where the mother of a three-year-old boy was told he had no choice but to foul his pants because the train QR sent on a three-hour journey to Gympie North had no toilet (1).  Our members report unscheduled stops on express trains so that distressed passengers can use loos at station platforms.  Even these facilities can be locked during the day.

"The Gold Coast trains link to Brisbane Airport and many international tourists get on board expecting there to be an operational toilet.  Some have to get off at an intermediate stop just to relieve themselves, then wait for the next train.  It's worse for passengers north of Nambour as there are so few trains on that run.

"We accept QR's assertions that there are sufficient toilet-equipped trains in its fleet.  It just needs to step up its maintenance, or provide extra discharge and service points, to ensure the scheduling works.

"Otherwise we are all up the proverbial 'creek without a paddle', and unable to 'spend a penny' ..."

Reference:

1. Anguish and agony of trains without loos  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7049.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

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