Viewliner toilet in roomette - How can you stand it?

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I wouldn't call myself a germ freak, but this one really really disgusts me.

The Viewliner roomette toilet, and the area around it, are far far far more cleaner, than what I have experienced in "common use" rest rooms like those in coach. If you want to experience something disgusting, try using a coach restroom towards the end of a 48 hour trip.

Plus, while enroute, how clean the toilet remains, is totally up to you. If you keep it clean, it will remain clean for your next usage.

 

[JoanieBlon]

And how clean do you think the "Public" toilet will be? How often will those be cleaned?

I've used the toilets in coach. The condition left by other passengers is a disgrace. I'd much rather have the toilet in the roomette and keep it clean myself, than to share the toilet with strangers that may not be respectful of others.

AMEN! My husband ALWAYS take a bedroom on trips, so we don't have to deal with other people's messes. The men are particularly bad about cleaning up after themselves. <_< I fully understand the problems they encounter with the train rolling along at 70+ miles per hour, BUT, that being said, PLEASE be considerate of the next user and clean up after yourselves!!! hboy: :angry2:
Last year we took Business Class from NYC to Niagara Falls, Canada because the trip was a "day trip." Our coach had TWO public restrooms ~ one for handicapped access ~ and both of them were absolutely DISGUSTING within one hour of leaving the station. I cannot believe that people are so inconsiderate as to not clean up after themselves.... :angry2:

We have three upcoming train trips this year and have booked bedroom accomodations for all of them. NO PUBLIC TOILETS for us. (Except on short day trips) hboy:

 

[TraneMan]

I just this minute got on the LSL and my only comment is that I am positive the toilet makes the bed more narrow....

I was wondering if the room size or bed/seat size is like vs the Superline with out the toilet.

 

[AlanB]

I just this minute got on the LSL and my only comment is that I am positive the toilet makes the bed more narrow....

I was wondering if the room size or bed/seat size is like vs the Superline with out the toilet.

The beds at the toilet end are tapered to allow room for the toilet, but otherwise the rest of the lower bed is the same size as in a Superliner. In the Superliner, the upper bunk is actually 2 inches smaller than the Viewliner's upper bunk. And that taper is nice and is something that should be incorporated into new Superliners, as it makes it much easier to climb into the uppger bunk. It also makes getting dressed/undressed a bit easier too!

 

[rrdude]

And how clean do you think the "Public" toilet will be? How often will those be cleaned?

I've used the toilets in coach. The condition left by other passengers is a disgrace. I'd much rather have the toilet in the roomette and keep it clean myself, than to share the toilet with strangers that may not be respectful of others.

I'm not sure the other poster is saying the public toilets are clean, it's just that you don't spend the whole time time on the train sitting in the public toilets either.
I'm no germ freak, far from it. I like to camp, and when you do that you get dirty, share spoons, eat off less-than-clean plates/cup, and lots of other gross stuff. But sitting in a chair, directly next to a commode where males stand and pee........Hey I don't care if the train is dead-stopped. Men urinating from a standing position "spray". It's a simple fact, one can't not do it. And that spay hits the cloth covered chair, and dries, and there is stays. Yuck with a capital Y. Most men will not admit it........

Gross as it sounds, the manufacturer's of toilets and associated bathroom stuff actually do studies about this stuff, what materials clean the best, what materials are less likely to smell, etc., etc.,

If I'm ever stuck in a Viewliner Roomette, I don't care WHAT DIRECTION the train is going, you aren't gonna find my butt on the seat closest the commode, nor will I use it the entire trip.

Sure we can "advise" male travelers to sit while peeing, but that doesn't help the 10,000 people who were in the roomette B4 U.

 

[chandj]

And how clean do you think the "Public" toilet will be? How often will those be cleaned?

I've used the toilets in coach. The condition left by other passengers is a disgrace. I'd much rather have the toilet in the roomette and keep it clean myself, than to share the toilet with strangers that may not be respectful of others.

I'm not sure the other poster is saying the public toilets are clean, it's just that you don't spend the whole time time on the train sitting in the public toilets either.
I'm no germ freak, far from it. I like to camp, and when you do that you get dirty, share spoons, eat off less-than-clean plates/cup, and lots of other gross stuff. But sitting in a chair, directly next to a commode where males stand and pee........Hey I don't care if the train is dead-stopped. Men urinating from a standing position "spray". It's a simple fact, one can't not do it. And that spay hits the cloth covered chair, and dries, and there is stays. Yuck with a capital Y. Most men will not admit it........

Gross as it sounds, the manufacturer's of toilets and associated bathroom stuff actually do studies about this stuff, what materials clean the best, what materials are less likely to smell, etc., etc.,

If I'm ever stuck in a Viewliner Roomette, I don't care WHAT DIRECTION the train is going, you aren't gonna find my butt on the seat closest the commode, nor will I use it the entire trip.

Sure we can "advise" male travelers to sit while peeing, but that doesn't help the 10,000 people who were in the roomette B4 U.

rrdude, you said it so well, and you made me laugh out loud! Now that I know about the toilet in the Viewliner Roomette, I will make it a point to try to avoid the situation.

 

[CNW]

I never even think about the toilet. I also wonder what is all the fuss about cleaning up after yourself. To me that means having the decency to flush and to dispose of your paper towel or in the event there is excess water around the sink possibly wiping it off! Much as you would in your own home. I don't bring my comet cleanser. I did once see a possible germaphobic person with a small bucket of cleaning supplies who looked ridiculous walking around the train If it hadn' been for this thread I would never have even realized there was an issue! I ride sleeper but at times still ride coach into Chicago a short day distance, I love to travel and this is so minor for me.

 

[Kathryn]

*** NOTE THAT THE LAST REPLY WAS 2 1/2 YEARS AGO, BUT THE THREAD IS STILL RELEVANT ***'

Why would they remove them? As a single mom, I like being able to stay in the room with my child and not walk all the way down the hall and cram into a little bathroom with him. Plus, in the middle of the night? Very convenient to have it right there. Not a germaphobe? Yes, you are. Lysol wipes - 2 bucks. Stop being silly.

 

[the_traveler]

For a single mother and child, I see your point. But how about a 40 year old man traveling with his 60 year old mother? :huh:

 

[PRR 60]

Let's see. There's a sink but no toilet. Male solo traveler. It's 3am. Hmm.

Given that scenario, as a future user of that room concerned about sanitary issues from prior occupants and the occasional less than ideal cleaning by Amtrak, I might prefer a toilet.

 

[pennyk]

Let's see. There's a sink but no toilet. Male solo traveler. It's 3am. Hmm.

Given that scenario, as a future user of that room concerned about sanitary issues from prior occupants and the occasional less than ideal cleaning by Amtrak, I might prefer a toilet.

Agree. Unless there is a way to request "women only" rooms. :lol:

 

[penfrydd]

Gentlemen, you can solve all the concerns which the ladies (and some of you) express, by simply always sitting on the toilet and not standing. As for germs...there certainly is a segment of humanity which gets creeped out by just about anything, but I can assure you, after sharing an outhouse with hundreds of guys in the army, I'm still here, and relatively healthy.

Germs are good for you! That's one of the problems we seem to be developing, as a species: not enough exposure to mild pathogens.

 

[jacorbett70]

Germs are good for you! That's one of the problems we seem to be developing, as a species: not enough exposure to mild pathogens.

That is the main explanation of traveler's diarrhea not affecting the locals who are used to a lower level of sanitation in their area.

 

[Nathanael]

I'm fine with the in-room toilet. (Frankly, public toilets are much grosser.) But apparently enough people have a problem with it that the new Viewliner order will have public toilets instead, and Amtrak decided to retrofit the old Viewliners to have a public toilet as well. So hopefully this sort of question will stop being asked in two to four years.

 

[buddy559]

The Viewliner II's will NOT have toilets in the roomettes; as the Viewliner I's are renovated, the toilets will be removed from the roomettes.

I have seen photos of the new design, it looks to me as if there is still a toilet. The sink looks like it is molded into the top step, rather than the flip down sink there is now, and the toilet is there under the bottom step. It a little more stealth than the current ones, but it is there.

 

[pennyk]

The Viewliner II's will NOT have toilets in the roomettes; as the Viewliner I's are renovated, the toilets will be removed from the roomettes.

I have seen photos of the new design, it looks to me as if there is still a toilet. The sink looks like it is molded into the top step, rather than the flip down sink there is now, and the toilet is there under the bottom step. It a little more stealth than the current ones, but it is there.

I will leave this for Alan to answer since he is one of our resident experts. I seen drawings and it certainly looks like no toilets to me. I hope you are correct, but I think you may not be.

 

[PRR 60]

The appearance is the same, but there is no toilet under the cover in the new cars. Vacuum toilets are expensive to buy and maintain, so my guess is that is more the decision driver than any sanitary issues. Right now, each Viewliner has 15 toilets. The new cars will have five.

 

[NE933]

Let's see. There's a sink but no toilet. Male solo traveler. It's 3am. Hmm.

Given that scenario, as a future user of that room concerned about sanitary issues from prior occupants and the occasional less than ideal cleaning by Amtrak, I might prefer a toilet.

it's better to go 'hmm' about such a decision, at home rather than in an Amtrak sleeper room. At home such a male can aim right for the drain, whereas in a roomette you will have to allow the sink to collect um, whatever you're pouring into it...., then, fold it to drain. When I wash my face after getting up in the morning I want the sink to be as pure as possible. And besides, unless you're tall and our creator was real good to you at birth, I don't think such a feat will be possible....

lol...

 

[NE933]

I see that the Viewliner II news has birthed lots of branch topics, including male / female responsibility for restroom unpleasantness. Yes, it's true that some guys have a aiming problem, which is exaserbated by the fact the point of exit of fluids from the male body have more distance to travel before reaching the toilet, than a femaile who would be sitting. If the guy has a curve at play in this, that might worsen things but then maybe not, he probably learned to compensate by standing at an angle. Anyway, femailes, as well as males, can and do wet toilet seats. Have seen it happen to the ladies in my family, as well as friends,. The reason is that liquids are hard to control once released. Add that to the human (or really any animal species) condition of dripping after done, and there's your wet toilet. And if you consumed alot of beverages in the last couple of hours, we got a cannon going off, don't we. Now throw in the rocking motion of a moving train, and whether a man or a woman can be challenged. We hope that everyone knows themselves well enough to check around and then clean up with some paper towels, so the next person won't ever know, like it never even happened.

 

[AlanB]

The appearance is the same, but there is no toilet under the cover in the new cars. Vacuum toilets are expensive to buy and maintain, so my guess is that is more the decision driver than any sanitary issues. Right now, each Viewliner has 15 toilets. The new cars will have five.

I think that in addition to the above, Amtrak was also considering the freeze-up issue too. No toilets equals less plumbing to worry about freezing up during switching operations or other power loss situations.

Granted, the new cars are also supposed to have an undercarriage that the current cars don't to help hold in residual heat and provide additional time for switching without worrying about freeze-ups. But still, fewer pipes mean fewer potential freeze-ups.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Let's see. There's a sink but no toilet. Male solo traveler. It's 3am. Hmm.

Given that scenario, as a future user of that room concerned about sanitary issues from prior occupants and the occasional less than ideal cleaning by Amtrak, I might prefer a toilet.

I don't think such a feat will be possible....

Unfortunately I don't think you give "good ol' fashioned American ingenuity" enough credit. :help: :help:

There is a reason the most expensive rooms on Amtrak - bedrooms - have their own 'facilities' and I, for one, am gonna hate to see 'the thrones' gone from the Viewliner, er Amtrak America hboy: roomettes.

BTW, for all of you longing for the nostolgia of the new Phase IIIa 'decal scheme,' the heritage roomettes HAD in room toilets.

Mr. Boardman says the new cars will be much more comfortable. Maybe. :huh: But think he will ever sit his butt on the toilet in one of the 'communal cans' in which it seems like the previous user didn't have "good aim?" :blink: THAT ain't a comfortable feeling, IMHO!

 

[buddy559]

The appearance is the same, but there is no toilet under the cover in the new cars. Vacuum toilets are expensive to buy and maintain, so my guess is that is more the decision driver than any sanitary issues. Right now, each Viewliner has 15 toilets. The new cars will have five.

Well at least they are providing a sink/urinal for the men, the seat cover façade will make a nice step. :giggle:

 

[MARC Rider]

I'm fine with the in-room toilet. (Frankly, public toilets are much grosser.) But apparently enough people have a problem with it that the new Viewliner order will have public toilets instead, and Amtrak decided to retrofit the old Viewliners to have a public toilet as well. So hopefully this sort of question will stop being asked in two to four years.

I've traveled on both the Viewliner roomettes (with a toilet) and the Superliner roomettes (without a toilet), and each are fine for me, at least as a single traveler. Now, if I were sharing a room with someone, I think I'd prefer to have the facilities down the hall. I've never had a problem with the cleanliness of the communal toilets in the Superliner sleepers, and even once when I rode coach on the Silver Star, I was pretty impressed at how well the cleanliness of the toilet in coach was maintained on an overnight trip in which the train was packed to capacity. (That doesn't always happen in coach, but I think that with proper management, if a communal toilet for 66 passengers can be kept clean, it should be possible to keep a toilet serving 10-15 roomettes clean, too.)

 

[the_traveler]

Germs are good for you! That's one of the problems we seem to be developing, as a species: not enough exposure to mild pathogens.

That is the main explanation of traveler's diarrhea not affecting the locals who are used to a lower level of sanitation in their area.

I do not have diarrhea!

 

[oldtimer]

Germs are good for you! That's one of the problems we seem to be developing, as a species: not enough exposure to mild pathogens.

That is the main explanation of traveler's diarrhea not affecting the locals who are used to a lower level of sanitation in their area.

I do not have diarrhea!

You may not have diarrhea but, sometimes I think that some posters have diarrhea of the keyboard and constipation of the brain! :help: :giggle: :giggle: