Are there trains without WC in the Netherlands?

Are there trains without WC in the Netherlands?

2/13/2013 4:34:16 PM

Yes, there are such a trains. The one and only model which doesn’t have toilets is NS Sprinter Lighttrain

enter image description here

They are replacing original Sprinters, which do have toilets.
enter image description here

These are commuter trains, thus generally not intended for long distance travel. They do have some quite long routes (eg. Lelystad—The Hague), however for that kind of distances there usually is much faster InterCity as alternative.

As for “urinal bags”, it’s the answer given by Dutch Railways on how they are going to deal with issue if a passenger would need to go. However I’m under impression it’s just legal trick to work around any rules, which would require train to have a toilet, rather than actual practical solution. News on the subject:

Dutch Railways (NS) is to introduce plastic bags on stop trains for
people desperate to go to the toilet, the Telegraaf reports.

Passengers on sprinter trains that stop at all stations will be able
to ask the conductor for a bag and use the empty driver’s cabin. The
bags will be easy to close and of bio-degradable plastic.

The NS points out the bags are only available to people who are
desperate and cannot wait until the next station, says the Telegraaf.

Travellers and staff have already complained about the lack of
facilities on sprinter trains, but transport minister Melanie Schultz
van Haegen says they will not be fitted with toilets because it is too
expensive.

Passengers’ association Rovers says it is pleased with the move but it
is only an emergency measure. ‘In the end, all sprinters must have
toilets,’ said a spokesman.

2/13/2013 4:00:34 PM

It’s true. But it’s not so much the short distance trains as the slow trains (which you typically would take for short distances).

I haven’t seen these ‘peebags’ myself, but apparently, there at least was a plan to introduce them (in Dutch):

http://www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2011/10/NS-Treinen-zonder-wc-krijgen-plaszakken-ELSEVIER318700W/

However, it also appears that this news dates from information leaked (haha) to the press (in Dutch):

http://www.treinreiziger.nl/actueel/binnenland/ns-directeur_niet_blij_met_uitgelekt_plaszakplan-143890

So, in the end, it appears though there are certainly trains without toilets in the Netherlands, in the future, these slow trains will be equipped again with toilets (in Dutch):

http://www.treinreiziger.nl/actueel/binnenland/sprinters_krijgen_in_de_toekomst_toch_een_toilet-144644

I don’t think there’s an easy way to determine which trains have toilets, except that the rule of thumb is that ‘stoptreinen’ (frequently stopping trains), ‘sprinters’ (contrary to what the name might imply, short distance, regularly stopping trains) and ‘some regional trains’ no longer have toilets (from http://www.treinenmettoiletten.nl/veelgestelde-vragen.html, in Dutch).

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

Search Posts

Latest posts

Popular posts