Train drivers are calling on British rail companies to provide “decent” toilet facilities and breaks, a year after the UK’s rail regulator told operators to improve conditions for staff.

Aslef, the train drivers’ union, said it has put the industry “on notice” after companies including Network Rail failed to deliver decent facilities for drivers on Britain’s railways.

In November 2024, Aslef’s Dignity for Drivers report found a lack of adequate toilet facilities and time to access them for drivers during the working day.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) called for passenger and freight companies to provide proper facilities for staff on the rail network as a “matter of human dignity, health, safety and respect to our people” in July 2025.

According to Aslef, the welfare charter drawn up by the Rail Safety and Standards Board has not been delivered across the network.

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.

“The health and wellbeing of our members is not a price we are prepared to pay for the inaction of the industry. That’s why we are calling them out publicly and telling them – in no uncertain terms – that it is time for them to deliver, to do what they promised. And, if they don’t, there will be consequences.”

The ORR’s annual report published this month said that “progress has been uneven and industry momentum has slowed” with key barriers around “coordination, shared access to facilities, and consistent delivery”.

It said: “We will continue to assess welfare provision through inspections and engagement, while encouraging wider adoption of the Charter. Sustained focus is needed to translate commitment into practical improvements and ensure workers have consistent access to appropriate facilities.”

Calfe added: “20 months after we exposed this scandal, and a year after the train companies promised to do the right thing, drivers are still paying with their health for industry inaction.

“We are putting the rail industry on notice that we have had enough of their excuses. The industry and the government cannot continue failing the workforce on the most basic level, and we need action now.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Train operators are legally required to provide suitable toilet facilities for their staff, and we expect them to meet these obligations.

“We strongly encourage industry to work together to ensure access to these facilities, and these kinds of welfare issues will be considered as we move towards Great British Railways.”

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