A charity for older people has called on ScotRail to reverse an unpopular decision to increase the cost of using the toilet at its stations.
Earlier this week it emerged that the rail operator had backtracked on plans to make the facilities free, and had instead decided to raise the cost of using them from 30p to 50p at Aberdeen, Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow Queen Street stations.
The chief executive of Age Scotland, Brian Sloan, yesterday said research his charity had performed showed a range of advantages to making toilet use free in public places.
He pointed out that Network Rail has done away with similar charges at its stations in Edinburgh and Glasgow as he urged ScotRail to reconsider the price increase.
Mr Sloan said: “This is a significant let down to older people and those with medical conditions who are very likely to use these toilets when travelling.
“Despite receiving millions of pounds of taxpayer subsidy and ticket prices at sky-high rates, news that Scotrail is not prepared to match an identical commitment by Network Rail to make public toilets in Waverley and Glasgow Central free to use is thoroughly disappointing.
“After speaking to hundreds of older people about their transport needs last year, we found that well over a third said they’d use public transport more if access to toilets was easier.
“Charging people and forcing them to look for the right change is yet another barrier to travel and has a substantial impact on the public health challenge of loneliness and isolation – which already impacts on the lives of hundreds of thousands of older people in Scotland.”
He added: “Scotrail is using the excuse that free toilets in stations would lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour. The response to that must be to improve security, not put up barriers for the vast majority who simply want to use the toilet on their journey.
“Scotrail should review this decision and give something back.”
A ScotRail spokesman argued that a detailed investigation was carried out before it was deemed that making its toilets free at the stations in question was “not viable”.
He said: “The vast majority of toilet facilities provided by ScotRail are free and open to all – this includes every toilet on board our trains, and the accessible toilets at stations.
“After carrying out full safety assessments, gaining feedback from industry partners and assessing the long-term costs, it was established that removing charges at four stations was not a viable option.”