AMSTERDAM The Dutch national railway has an unusual solution for passengers who need the bathroom on a train line designed without them: plastic bags.
The rail operator underlined that the bags, introduced Friday, are for use in emergencies only, when a train has stopped and passengers cant be evacuated. The idea has been met with incredulity by politicians and the general public already unhappy with the short-haul Sprinter trains bathroomless design.
NS spokesman Eric Trinthamer confirmed Friday that the pee-bag plan is not a joke. The bags are kept out of sight in the conductors booth.
The bags have a cup-shaped plastic top and contain a highly absorbent material that turns urine into a gel-like mixture. After use the bags can be sealed and thrown in the trash.