Business profile
Lifting the lid on train toilets W
hile research such as Passenger Focus’s National Rail Passenger Survey highlights ongoing user
concerns about value for money, other studies consistently find more than half of commuters are dissatisfied with the condition of on-train toilet facilities, with as many as 20 per cent branding them ‘very dirty’. As Southern Railway discovered when
plans were announced to scrap toilets on peak-time trains on the Portsmouth to Brighton line, even though commuters are not particularly happy with the overall cleanliness of toilet facilities, there is even greater concern if this service is not provided at all. TBM Rail Group has started to
develop a new system that would make
the cleaning and maintenance of onboard toilet systems, including all pipes, tanks and units, a much more speedy, sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solution for train operators and rolling stock operators. ‘Servicing train toilets has been a core
focus of our business,’ explained Andrew Hawker, managing director of TBM Rail Group: ‘Whereas initially the emphasis was very much on supplying spare parts and general maintenance, this has now evolved to overhauling the entire vacuum Controlled Emission Toilet (CET) system, including the storage tanks and all necessary pipe work.
‘The new device is a mobile, fully-
contained system that can be operated safely on-site at any train depot, cleaning the entire tank and train toilet pipework
Environmentally friendly Once activated, the system
automatically circulates Masterclean SC165AA, a cleaning fluid acid which has an aggressive reaction when heated. The fluid is pre-heated to 40oC, then dispersed around the entire pipework and tank at a velocity of 10,000 litres per hour. After approximately half an hour,
the fully-automated machine removes the acid and captures all the waste it has removed from the system in a secure
With passenger numbers continuing to rise, there is increasing concern about the overall cleanliness and quality of onboard facilities such as toilets. TBM Rail Group has the answer
to significantly improve water and systems flow, which dramatically reduces the risk of blockage or malfunction. The device is parked next to the stationary train, with a flush pipe connected to the main toilet pipework and an extraction pipe attached to the CET waste tank.’
May 2013 Page 91
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