Weird News - Chicago commuter trains cut back restrooms

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Chicago commuter trains cut back restrooms

CHICAGO (UPI) -- Operators of the Chicago area's Metra commuter trains have announced they are reducing the number of bathrooms on the trains to make room for more seats.

Metra officials said they decided to scale back on restrooms from appearing in about 60 percent of passenger cars to about 50 percent after experiencing a third consecutive year of record ridership and failing to find money in the budget to buy more passenger cars, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The officials said every alternating passenger car should have a lavatory after the changes are implemented so those needing to use the facilities won't have to walk any further than "a car length" to empty their bladders and bowels.

"Frankly, I have the feeling the customer will hardly notice the difference," Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano told the Tribune. "What they are going to notice, though, is they they'll eventually have a heck of a lot more seats."

Officials estimated the added seats will generate $7.5 million in fares each year and save about $2 million annually in maintenance and cleaning costs for the nixed lavatories, the Tribune said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 08/29/2008

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