Embarrassing train ride - a personal experience report on the state of train toilets

Embarrassing train ride - a personal experience report on the state of train toilets

letter to the editor of Martin R.

Martin R., a 38-year-old commuter from Salzburg, has made an experience this summer that he will not forget so quickly-and that he wants to share with us. He is not concerned with blame, but about attention to a problem that affects many travelers: defective train toilets .

The trip that changed everything

On a hectic summer day, Martin was on his way home with the S-Bahn. An already felt urge to urinate immediately let him go to the train toilet at the start of the trip. But this was defective and inaccessible. Despite a friendly train attendant who could not change the situation, he found himself in an increasingly desperate situation. Between short stays at train stations without toilets and the pressure of an upcoming appointment, he had no way to defuse the situation.

"It was incredibly embarrassing and uncomfortable for me," says Martin. When his body ultimately left him no choice, the shame was great about the mishap in the fully occupied train. The subsequent footpath home in gossiping pants was an experience that he does not want to repeat.

a structural problem?

After this incident, Martin contacted ÖBB to describe his case. The rail's answer was friendly, the apology was sincere. He was told that the defective toilet was due to a lack of maintenance staff - a problem that occurs more often. Even on other trips, Martin repeatedly came across toilets that were out of service.

"I don't want to put the ÖBB in pillory," emphasizes Martin R. "It is all about showing a general problem: the lack of resources leads to passengers in unpleasant and degrading situations."

But this incident is not an isolated case. A similar picture in the ÖBB occurred only a few days ago. reported , all toilets of the fully occupied move to Klagenfurt were defective. After all, toilet breaks were taken, but this is not always the case, because in a further case there was no water, which is why the WCS remained closed in a regional train of the ÖBB from Attnang-Puchheim (Upper Austria) after Stainach-Indning, How the small newspaper explained .

A call for improvement

Martin is not the only person affected. During his travels, he observed other similar incidents in which passengers desperately searched for a solution with urgent needs. "It is saved at all corners and ends, and in the end the passengers are those who suffer from it."

With his history, Martin hopes that the topic will be discussed broader. The condition of train toilets may seem like a small problem, but it can have serious consequences for those affected - be it for the dignity, comfort or simply the travel experience.

A step to the solution

The railway companies, not only in Austria, are called to find solutions. Whether more staff for maintenance, more frequent controls or alternative emergency solutions - approaches are needed to prevent such situations in the future. Because nobody should be afraid of getting into such an unpleasant location on a train journey.

Martin has addressed an issue that is often ignored. We thank him for his courage and hope that his words lead to positive changes.