LITHGOW Council has joined the increasing chorus of criticism directed at the condition of toilets on the City Rail trains on the Blue Mountains Line.
Last month the Lithgow Mercury reported concerns by Lithgow residents who regularly use the rail service, including some obliged to travel by train for medical treatment.
The criticism related to the fact the toilets were often out of service and those which could be used were in a most unhygienic state.
In short, they were dirty and poorly maintained.
At the latest meeting of council the Deputy Mayor, Howard Fisher, raised the train toilets issue as a matter of urgency.
He said the unclean nature of the toilets was reason enough for concern but the fact many were
Protest over poor toilets kept locked for the duration of the journey between Lithgow and Sydney was even more serious.
“This was supposed to be improved but it has not taken place,” he said.
“There has been no improvement.”
Cr Fisher said an elderly resident who contacted him had told of having to go through five compartments to find a usable toilet.
“On a three hour trip to Sydney it’s inconceivable that the toilets don’t work,” he said.
“It was never like this in days gone by.”
He said that hopefully the State Member Paul Toole would take the complaints to the minister.
Mayor Neville Castle said the issue represented a significant health problem.
He said it was of particular concern for people travelling to and from Sydney for medical appointments.
Cr Grahame Dan-aher said it was a serious situation where people could not rely on public transport to get them to hospital.
“This is a deplorable situation to say the least,’ he said.
Cr Joe McGinnes said there were also no toilets on Countrylink buses.
He called for representations for comfort stops at specified railway stations to be included in Countrylink bus timetables.