Train drivers are urging British rail companies to provide "decent" toilet facilities and breaks. This call comes a year after the UK's rail regulator instructed operators to enhance conditions for staff.
Aslef, the train drivers' union, has stated it has put the industry "on notice" because companies, including Network Rail, have not delivered adequate facilities for drivers across Britain's railways. In November 2024, Aslef's Dignity for Drivers report highlighted a lack of proper toilet facilities and time for drivers to access them during their working day.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) requested in July 2025 that passenger and freight companies provide appropriate facilities for staff on the rail network. The ORR's annual report, published this month, indicated that "progress has been uneven and industry momentum has slowed" regarding welfare provision.
Dave Calfe, Aslef general secretary, said: "We need action, not broken promises, to improve toilet facilities for drivers and to reduce the time drivers are expected to go without being able to take a toilet break." He added that "drivers are still paying with their health for industry inaction."