On 20/07/2011 12:01, Tim Fenton wrote:

"Miles Bader" wrote in message
...

But avoid Spain and Portugal if you don't like metro-style and
tiolet-less trains being used on some very long journeys (1 or even 2
hour+).

Hmm? A 1-hour journey is not so unusual in a large metro area...

With metro-style timetables, on-board toilets really aren't necessary --
one can always disembark en-route and use a toilet in a station; the
next train should be along shortly.

I'm trying to think where in Spain or Portugal there are metro style
trains without toilets.

The modern-looking wide gangwayed EMUs which run out of Porto didn't
appear to have any (or so my friend who went looking for one reported).

Euskotren.

The Renfe Cercanias units - the older 44x and
the new artic sets - have them, and on the CP, heck, even the rebuilt
Allans have a toilet.

The only example of a long journey without toilet facilities I can
recall is the tram train from Alacant to Benidorm - made worse by the
connection on to Denia also having no toilet, and that the only
intermediate station with toilet facilities AFAIK is Benidorm, which is
no good if you're changing trains, as it's a sharp connection.

Unless, of course, the tram pulls out bang on time just as the DMU is
arriving ever so slightly late. Which was actually quite handy, as a
number of people headed for the facilities (which were just being
locked). Having said that, does anyone other than tourists use the line
throughout, or would normals get a coach (which I think the hotel said
is quicker) or just drive?

--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK