Tight squeeze in train loos
May 27th 2009 According to The Daily Telegraph, poorly designed, cramped lavatories are the biggest source of train passenger discontent, alongside a lack of luggage space on long-distance trains.
A study, carried out last September by consumer watchdog, Passenger Focus, investigated passengers' experience of nine existing long distance rail operators.
Passengers surveyed agreed that train lavatories were mostly clean and well maintained, but they were unhappy about their design. Over half felt that they were too small, and nearly two-thirds of respondents complained about the washing and drying facilities. There were also complaints about the lack of instructions on how to lock the door, and also complaints about poor signage to the lavatories. In some cases a poor design meant floors were wet. Only 35% of participants were satisfied with the baby changing facilities.
Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive, said the findings should be taken into account when the designs are put together for the new fleet of long distance carriages. "Trains currently running on these lines are at least 30 years old. Modern trains with better performance and passenger capacity are urgently needed.
"It is passengers who will be buying tickets to travel on these trains for the next 30 or 40 years, so it is only right that they're given a say on how trains for the 21st century should be designed."
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