Taking the p*ss. Driver told he can’t use station staff lavatory, leading to questions as to whether the ‘railway family’ is now history.

A GBRf driver had to dash from the cab of his locomotive to relieve himself, after a member of Great Northern station staff at Alexandra Palace told him that he wasn't welcome to use the staff lavatory – there being no passenger facilities available. The driver was waiting at the station for his freight to arrive, so he could relieve the incoming driver. In response to the unexpected refusal, the driver commented “Three hours with my legs crossed, I guess!”

By the time he reached Holmes Junction, near Sheffield, the driver could stand it no longer and “jumped out the door like a flash” when he was held at a red signal. The incident prompted much discussion, with many staff calling into question the existence of the ‘railway family’ One driver said “Give them one last chance to redeem themselves, otherwise it (the train) gets shut down and left on the platform”, while others suggested it may have been agency staff who were not familiar with the protocols.

After the driver posted his experience on X, Great Northern got in contact with him to discuss the matter.

‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Train’ books one and two – All the rail secrets that the public were never meant to hear!

https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-train-to-london

https://www.chimewhistle.co.uk/shop/p/afunnythinghappenedonthetraintothemidlands