Train drivers in the United Kingdom are considering strike action in response to persistent issues with access to toilet facilities, a problem that unions say remains unresolved a year after regulatory intervention. The train drivers' union Aslef has warned the rail industry that unless adequate welfare provisions are addressed, including accessible toilets and reduced maximum driving times without breaks, industrial action may follow.
A 2024 survey conducted by Aslef highlighted widespread difficulties among drivers, many of whom are unable to access working toilets during shifts. The union’s report detailed instances of drivers resorting to urinating in bottles or defecating in cabs, citing the issue as a serious health and safety concern. Drivers reportedly limit fluid intake to avoid the need for breaks, which can result in dehydration and associated risks to both staff and passengers.
The concerns gained regulatory attention after Richard Hines, HM Chief Inspector of Railways at the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), issued a letter to train operators in late July 2025. Hines emphasized that “reliable welfare facilities are a basic requirement in any civilised society” and described the current lack of adequate toilets or time for breaks as “a matter of human dignity, health, safety and respect.”
Aslef’s general secretary, Dave Calfe, criticized the rail industry for failing to deliver on previous commitments. The union believes progress stalled despite operators signing a welfare charter last year developed under the rail safety board’s guidance. The charter mandates “safe, clean, accessible and dignified” toilet facilities and limits the maximum continuous driving time without a toilet break to four hours, to be implemented within 12 months. However, the ORR’s 2025 annual report noted that while initial support for the charter was strong, implementation has been inconsistent and progress has slowed.
Female drivers have been identified as disproportionately affected by the shortage of facilities, with the issue described as a barrier to recruiting more women into the rail workforce. Health experts have linked extended intervals without toilet breaks to conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, bladder problems, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Unions representing other transport workers have voiced similar concerns. Wayne King, Unite’s national officer for passenger transport, stated that inadequate toilet access affects bus drivers as well, with many resorting to using bottles and other makeshift solutions. He highlighted the particular difficulties faced by women, including during menstruation and menopause, and raised concerns about drivers not properly hydrating during hot weather due to lack of facilities, posing broader safety risks.
Strike action on the railways has been limited since the resolution of pay disputes in 2024, but ballots for industrial action are underway among LNER and Avanti drivers. RMT union members at East Midlands Railway plan to strike on August 1 over issues related to new trains. The Department for Transport has been contacted for comment on the matter.