Train line scraps plans to make toilets free - raising prices to 50p instead

Dutch-owned train company ScotRail has said it's axed plans to make access to toilets free at four of its stations.

The company, which previous said it would follow in the footsteps of free facilities at Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street stations last December, has scrapped the plans.

It comes more than two years after charges were removed at London's Victoria and Charring Cross stations.

ScotRail was considering scrapping charges for using the toilets at Aberdeen, Glasgow Queen Street, Fort William and Inverness stations.

But it's now said that making the toilets free is "not a viable option" over heightened anti-social behaviour fears.

Stations at Birmingham New Street, Bristol Temple Meads, London Cannon Street, London Bridge, Reading, London St Pancras also have free access to the facilities (PA)

In fact, last month it increased the price of using the toilet in these four stations from 30p to 50p, citing rising costs for staff and cleaning supplies. 

A ScotRail spokesperson 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."