Driver urgent "issues"

Expanding on the link provided....

Obviously I can only speak for LU, though I'd imagine other operators will most likely have similar procedures; as alluded to earlier, we call it a PNR (Physical Needs Relief).

Drivers are generally fit and healthy, and will usually be capable of making it to an appropriate location before booking on, during a scheduled meal relief or after booking off.

LU provides toilets at all booking on/off points, terminal stations and at selected platforms along any given line for use by drivers. If a driver is in dire need, they can do one of three things:

1) Use a platform level toilet
2) Request a 'quick PNR' at any station
3) Request to relieved from the train at a pick up point

Option 1 will usually have no effect on the service as the driver can use a platform level toilet whilst being held to time in a platform (ie, Mansion House WB on the District/Circle), or they'll use one at a terminus during the booked stand time.

Option 2 is for when a driver knows they will cause an impact on the service and very much depends on the location. If it's a station with a toilet at platform level, the delay can be minimal - or it could be a terminus where the train has arrived at or after the booked departure time. The request is normally always granted but at least if the controller is aware they can manage the train service around the delay.

Option 3 is often abused as it means a spare driver is put on the train and thus a driver will either get out of some work or they'll go home/start a meal relief early.

As for mainline express trains, if it's that urgent I'd imagine the train would make an unscheduled stop at a convenient location to allow the PNR.

Its not uncommon to see a driver using the train loo at Blackfriars as there is an lay down time here.

I can confirm that main line trains (certainly freights) ar not unknown in making unsceduled 'relief' stops, usually at a location where the line or train speed is such that it won't a), hold up any other trains up or b), show up on the timings. If ever I got a 'please explain' for such a delay my response would be simple. Green signal over full bladder? I elected for reasons of personal comfort that the signal was the one that could wait! Let's face it, when you've got to go.......

B36 in Particular. ;D

I do know that, on the national network, you never get as many green signals as when you're breaking your neck.....

Hmm, where to begin..in the good old days on the Underground the driver would often just open the front door at a tunnel station and releive himself, there were no women train crew in those days!

There's one tale of a certain Acton Town driver who had to relieve himself on some newspaper in the cab; he sais he threw it out going through the tunnel, and it blew back in. His comment was "I've heard of getting your own back.."

Sundays on the Circle were fun fo a District crew, especially if they had an R stock. the crew might ask for a PNR at Baker Street, which would stop the job for a while as Met crews weren't trained on R stock.

On BR, the early diesel fleet and the AC electric locos has a very basic facility either in the nose section on locos built that way or in the engine room, which was basically a funnel with a tube going down to the track. Most locos were double manned then. On the Deltics, using the funnel was impossible when under power as the traction motor blowers shared the same space and created quite a suction, so the urine went anywhere except where it was meant to go!

On BR multiple unit stock, the main line stuff has toilets which means the driver could use the on-board facility at a station stop, but of course could not flush the toilet as it was in a station and the sign says do not flush the toilet while the trian is at a station.

As a secondman I worked with some senior drivers at Rugby who were beginning to have bladder problems. Some would take a bottle or plastic bag with them if they were single-manned and use that.

Should that be the Kennington Loo?