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In need
Monday 07 July 2008
Travelling by train is a relaxed and environment-friendly way of getting about. You can leave the car at home and sit back with a newspaper or book and a cup of coffee. It is a way of travel much to be encouraged.
But beware. In future you will have to forego the cup of coffee, because Dutch Rail plans to drastically reduce the number of toilets on trains and railway stations.
The rail company says they are rarely used and the space saved would allow for more seating on overcrowded trains. Which is at least some consolation because you will be able to sit with legs tightly crossed rather than stand and fidget from foot to foot.
Of course, what Dutch Rail means is that toilets cost money to keep clean and in good working order.
People with bladder disorders will be the hardest hit, but most of us have been caught short at one time or another. And what happens if there is a delay during the journey?
If the advice given to one bladder patient is anything to go by, we will all be expected to carry a plastic bag just in case.
There have already been complaints from passenger groups about the lack of toilets and they are now asking transport minister Camiel Eurlings to take action. But he travels everywhere by car, which means he can always stop at a service station and relieve himself.
Readers' comments
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I have to disagree that travelling by train is relaxed and that you can enjoy a paper and coffee. I have never been on a train yet that was actually quiet enough for reading. There are these funny signs everywhere that say "stilte" which I think means "quiet" but they are quite a joke since there is always at least one person on the train with music blasting (headphones no longer seem capable of containing the level of volume that people use) or yelling into a mobile phone. Also, invariably, the person who was enjoying his coffee spilled it everywhere or perhaps just got bored and began vandalizing everything. And all of this is even if I can find a vacant seat. It has been a long time since I was actually able to sit down on the train.
I find myself travelling more and more frequently by car to avoid these problems. With BBC on the radio, a book-on-tape, or just nice music, I am far, far more relaxed sitting in traffic than I am standing on the grubby train, pressed up against an awfully smelly person, overhearing terrible dance-party music.
By Matt | July 18, 2008 6:02 PM