Key facts
- Train drivers in Britain are considering strike action due to a lack of adequate toilet facilities and breaks.
- The union Aslef reported that drivers are resorting to urinating in bottles or defecating in cabs due to the issue.
- A welfare charter signed last summer by operators has seen uneven progress, according to the rail safety board.
- The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has previously stated the situation is unacceptable and a matter of human dignity.
- Health conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and bladder issues are linked to the lack of toilet breaks.
- Unite union is also campaigning for improved toilet access for bus and lorry drivers.
Train drivers across Great Britain are contemplating strike action due to persistent issues with inadequate toilet facilities and insufficient breaks, according to the drivers' union Aslef. The union has put the rail industry on notice, stating that basic welfare needs remain unaddressed a year after the rail regulator urged operators to provide more facilities and breaks.
Aslef's 2024 survey revealed widespread problems, with many drivers unable to access working toilets and some resorting to using bottles or defecating in their cabs. The union highlighted this as a significant health and safety concern, leading drivers to dehydrate by limiting fluid intake to avoid needing a toilet break, thereby endangering passengers and staff.
A breakthrough was reportedly secured last summer when operators agreed to a charter developed by the rail safety board. Richard Hines, HM chief inspector of railways at the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), wrote to train operators on July 29, 2025, emphasizing that reliable welfare facilities are a basic requirement and the current situation is unacceptable. Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef, stressed the need for action rather than broken promises to improve facilities and reduce the time drivers are expected to go without a break, stating that the health and wellbeing of members is not negotiable.
The union also pointed out that female drivers are disproportionately affected, and the lack of facilities deters efforts to recruit more women into driving roles. The welfare charter mandates safe, clean, accessible, and dignified toilets, with a maximum of four hours driving time without a toilet opportunity. However, the ORR's latest annual report noted that progress has been uneven and industry momentum has slowed, with key barriers persisting.
Conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, bladder issues, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer are believed to be linked to the lack of toilet breaks. Calfe reiterated that drivers are still suffering health consequences due to industry inaction, urging the government and industry to address the issue immediately.
Meanwhile, the Unite union is also campaigning for better toilet facilities for bus and lorry drivers, citing similar problems of inadequate access, drivers using bottles, and negative impacts on women, particularly during menstruation and menopause. Unite also noted that drivers are not hydrating properly in hot weather due to the lack of facilities, posing a safety risk. A Department for Transport spokesperson confirmed that train operators are legally required to provide suitable toilet facilities and expects them to meet these obligations.