Why does ScotRail inconvenience us with a 50p charge? - Susan Dalgety

An aside – why do I feel compelled to buy a snack when taking a train , but would never dream of getting one for a bus journey of similar duration?

Last week, as I reached Queen Street, I realised I needed the loo. It is very common for women to suffer what the medics describe as ‘urine urgency’ - a sudden, strong need to pee that is hard to stop, leaving little time to find a loo before disaster strikes.

“No problem,” I thought, “I can go to the toilets in the station,” forgetting in my panic that the publicly owned Queen Street station charges 50p to access their ‘public” toilets.

As I stood cross legged behind the barrier, I begged a (male) staff member to let me through. “I am about to pee myself” I wailed, all dignity lost.

“You should have gone on the train, hen” he replied. “If I let you through, I will have to let everyone else in too.” I turned, defeated, and ran to the nearest café for relief.

But why does ScotRail, which runs the station, charge 50p for access to an essential public service, while Network Rail, which manages Glasgow Central and our own Waverley station offer free facilities?

Did ScotRail, now owned by us, carry out an Equality Impact Assessment on how its pricing policy would affect women? After all, the evidence on the importance of free public toilets for women and children is well documented.

Of course, men shouldn’t have to pay either, but women’s need is greater: menstruation, pregnancy and menopause all affect our bladders and women often have young children in tow.

A friend messaged me a hack which means if I am ever caught short in Queen Street again, I won’t be embarrassed, but we shouldn’t have to cheat the system to have a pee.

Surely, the public toilets in a transport hub owned by the public should be open to the public.