On 25 Jan, 10:12, Walter Briscoe wrote:
In message of Sat, 24 Jan 2009
23:06:49 in uk.transport.london, solar penguin
writes





Ian Jelf wrote:

In message , Walter Briscoe
writes

Ickenham FM toilets are locked 247 outside the gateline, but
available on customer request. Some parts of the network seem to
think vandalism/anti-social behaviour is a reason for permanent
service closure.

That seems to happen at Perivale.

On the other hand, at Harrow on the Hill and Alperton I've found very
helpful staff, even when loos were closed. * In fact, those two places
stick in my mind as where I've received "service with a smile" from LU
staff.

Oh add West Ruislip to that, too. * And North Ealing. * At various
times over the years staff have opened toilets there just for me/us.
The one at North Ealing actually let me into the ladies' loo, once!

The toilets at Bank are closed at weekends. *And they're run by the
council so TfL staff can't even open them for you.

The City of London is unlikely to be impressed by being described as
"the council".
My record says "outside gateline, by exit 3, 08.00-18.15 M-F,
10.00-16.00 S&S".
The map marks Bank with a dagger symbol for which the key says: "Toilet
not managed by London Underground. You may be charged for using the
facilities. Ask staff for information."

The toilets at Bank are free. It did - I can't say it does - have the
problem that the opening hours are only shown when open. Westminster's
Piccadilly Circus facilities have the same problem. The Monument
facilities - underground at the bottom of Gracechurch Street - are not
and should be daggered as the City runs them, too.

The toilets near Monument station (underground in the island at the
junction of Eastcheap, King William Street and Gracechurch Street) are
free, and open daytime 7 days a week (they close at an early 3pm Mon-
Fri and at 5pm Sat and Sun). I work nearby and they're clean and tidy
- but down a steep flight of steps.

There is a fancy-looking new disabled toilet (if you'll pardon the
expression) directly behind the Monument itself, close to the Fish
Street Hill exit of the station, which I think is RADAR keyholders
only, though I don't have such a key and so haven't been able to
investigate it.

Details of City of London Corporation toilets he
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corpo...ic_toilets.htm

They all seem to be open Sat and Sun daytime. They all seem to be free
(except for the automated "pods" which cost 20p)

PaulO

On 25 Jan, 10:12, Walter Briscoe wrote:
In message of Sat, 24 Jan 2009
23:06:49 in uk.transport.london, solar penguin
writes

(snip)

The toilets at Bank are closed at weekends. *And they're run by the
council so TfL staff can't even open them for you.

The City of London is unlikely to be impressed by being described as
"the council".

Ha ha, no indeed they wouldn't be! But that's sort-of what they are of
course (... I did say sort-of!).

[...]
I recommend a RADAR key for anyone p***ing (travelling) around London.
They can be bought by anyone and VAT free by anyone with a disability
for Customs purposes - wider than the Freedom Pass criteria. I bought
mine from http://www.radar.org.uk/radarwebsite/tabid/41/default.aspx.
I paid 3.50 + VAT as I did not realise my disability allowed exemption.
I would not recommend the toilet location book at a tenner as its
addresses do not include post codes. Service is slow. It is possible to
buy cheaper at EBay, etc. but why bother for such a small sum which, I
trust, contributes to extending the scheme.


I've come across this beforehand and pondered buying one myself.
However I have wondered whether it's a good idea letting anyone get
hold of such a key, disability or no-disability (FSVO 'disability', in
which I suppose I'd include diabetics for these purposes at least).
I'd think there might be a danger of the whole scheme being somewhat
undermined if lots of people without a disability (such as myself) get
hold of and use these keys to access the specially provided toilets.

[...]
My information on Stratford is obsolete since LO platforms moved.
[...]


Aha, but they haven't moved! I don't think this has actually been
mentioned yet either on here or on uk.railway - anyway the scheduled
move to the new platforms never took place over the Christmas/ New
Year period so NLL trains are still running in and out of the low-
level platforms.

See the following thread on the District Dave forums, particularly the
post from 'routemasterkeith' on this second page and then the posts
which follow on from it:
http://districtdave.proboards39.com/...ad=9707&page=2

Also see this entry on this blog belonging to 'mackenzieblu', which
has a bit more information about the Stratford situation as the author
managed to speak to Ian Brown of TfL London Rail at the opening of
Woolwich Arsenal DLR:
http://mackenzieblu.blogspot.com/200...h-arsenal.html

Regarding toilets at Stratford - until recently they were definitely
open and were situated within the fare-paid area on the concourse next
to the low-level NLL platforms, and for all I know they still are open
- though I can imagine that they might well get closed when work
starts on converting the low-level platforms and alignment over to DLR
operation (which is what you seem to suggest). There's an access
system which entails one having to pay 20p to open the main door to
the toilets (though I remember it not always being in use), but
obviously if someone's coming out or someone else is already paying to
get in then if you're quick you can get in without paying before the
door slams shut!


P.S. Perhaps I shall start a thread about the delayed move of the NLL
platforms at Stratford.