I don't use the toilet on the train very often. But I looked today and it just opened up directly onto the tracks. Is this normal?

On older trains, yes. It’s why the rule is generally not to use the toilet when the train is at a station.

It must have been a very old train. I haven’t seen that for over 15 years ...

sounds a bit crap

Yup always take an umbrella when walking close to train tracks

Had to google, apparently there is a budget of 300 millions to modernise the system

I think the old blue-and-white coaches used on some Regio routes still have them.

google for: plumpsklo eisenbahn
All will be revealed

I remember those days when toilet paper could be seen scattered around the railroad tracks. People just considered it normal and knew it would decompose quickly.

Why such trains are still exist in Switzerland? Dumping human wastes along train tracks are not considered as environmental hazard I reckon but how about pollution and risks to the rail track maintainers?

Poo isn't an environmental hazard

Those trains are being phased out. In fact, it's quite rare to see those specific carriages nowadays. No need for drama or outrage.

"are being phased out"... which time frame are we talking about here? 1 year or 10 years? Mind you we are in Switzerland This is as funny as a local Swiss once explained that "you are not supposed to use such toilets anyway"...Then why not simply remove those antique toilets? Kinda mind twisted logic.

And the year 2020 is almost over for god sake

It's a matter of money, isn't it. Sorry for not meeting your deadline.


Edit: One thing you gotta admit though is that those latrines were rarely out of order.

Long time don’t take one of the old trains, but, yes, the toilets of some of them are opened directly onto the tracks. I thought it was strange the first time I saw one of them.

Actually it is, and funnily (or not) the awareness of dangers of human (and animal) faeces is so slowly coming into modern societies.
Huge cholera outbreaks in 19th centuries were driving force for modernisation of western cities and have shaped the urbanisation. The outbreaks are still happening around the word.
Others are salmonellae, faecal coliforms, tapeworm eggs, famous E. Coli......
So yes, a small pile of shit in the woods is not going to hurt anyone, but a traces of it in drinking water can be finally huge pain in the ass
Even before corona, washing your hands was one the best thing someone can do for her or his own health.

This is exactly the point which I could not comprehend why those toilets are still being in use. Obviously the Swiss authority doesn't think it as an environmental hazard nor it could pose any health risks to the workers and the residents yet it is disgusting just to imagine that human wastes could be dumped all along the track.



Some say lack of budget. Seriously?? I need some hard liquor to knock me out to buy this argument.

Right here next to the autobahn at Alchenflüh goes the train through some sort of tunnel.

Why, one wonders. Hint: Right next to the tunnel is the location of the Emmi dairy and its cheese warehouse. They were also not so fond about feces fling around from the trains. It went all the way to the federal court BGE 122 II 103.

I saw the same open toilet on a commuter train from Basel to Zurich airport. It was like being in the UK in the 70’s.

Frick is what I imagine life in the UK was like in the 1950s.

Hello fellow Fricker!

Alas, the trains here are on time!

Tom