Renovating toilets in and around a busy railway station is very different from other building projects. A station never sleeps—passenger numbers and footfall remain high throughout the day, every day—and work must be carried out safely alongside a fully operational railway.
Projects like these don’t come together without detailed planning, strong communication, and a clear focus on safety—something we at LJT specialise in. While passengers may only notice the finished result—a clean, modern facility—the work behind the scenes is far more complex.
Here’s what it really takes…
One of the biggest challenges is working in a space that remains open to the public, whilst ensuring all necessary works are completed on time and within budget.
During station toilet refurbishments, our team ensures:
Often, work must be carefully scheduled around a station’s quieter periods, and that means early mornings, late evenings, or planned access windows. Planning these details properly is key to keeping both the project and the station running smoothly.
Working in and around a live rail environment comes with a myriad of additional safety requirements compared with typical construction sites. Projects, even those that take place in public toilets, must align with standards set by organisations such as Network Rail and are influenced by the wider regulatory framework overseen by the Office of Rail and Road. Getting this wrong can have serious consequences.
At LJT, we provide fully compliant, detailed and site-specific risk assessments, including COSHH assessments, to ensure these standards are always upheld, and all aspects of the regulatory framework are met. There is always strict access control at the station, along with regular safety briefings and inductions for all staff involved in a project, which ensures a smooth and safe experience for all stakeholders. All tools, materials and equipment are carefully managed.
Safety planning is embedded at every stage of our projects to ensure success – from pre-start meetings through to daily on-site coordination and toolbox talks. It underpins our RISQS accreditation and CIRAS membership. While protecting the public is paramount, the safety and well-being of our staff is equally essential.
As with many station projects, and particularly toilet renovations, logistics become one of the most challenging elements of the process. Unlike typical construction sites storage space is often extremely limited, and deliveries must be timed and coordinated to ensure minimum disruption whilst maintaining maximum safety standards. One of the main hurdles is access routes, which may involve lifts, subways, or narrow corridors and how you transport things often needs planning and thought before the project starts. Waste removal must be controlled and scheduled, particularly when removing old sanitary ware in a high footfall public environment.
The key to success? Planning, organising and communicating—from staggering deliveries to the removal of old fixtures and fittings at the right time, using the right tools — with precision and in cooperation with rail staff. When the planning is done properly, the work can progress efficiently while passengers continue to use the station uninterrupted.
Railway Stations have existed for a long time, in some cases since the late 18th Century. When refurbishing station toilet facilities, it is important to always expect the unexpected and remain flexible. It’s common to encounter unforeseen issues, for example, an outdated plumbing system from the 1930s. These toilets are often housed in historic buildings with uneven structures and are constructed with legacy materials that require careful handling. The conflict is often that, at the same time as maintaining these heritage features, all stations, regardless of when they were built, need facilities that meet today’s modern standards, including accessible and inclusive toilet spaces, durability in high traffic areas, whilst maintaining adequate lighting and ventilation.
Balancing these upgrades with the constraints of an existing station building requires experience and careful coordination, which we at LJT pride ourselves on. Part of our success with projects such as these is our knowledge of modern building techniques and our experience with heritage building projects, making us experts at blending and balancing the traditional and modern to create spaces suitable for all.
Refurbishment work in operational transport hubs is about more than construction. It’s about understanding how stations function daily and working collaboratively with station teams, rail operators, and safety managers to ensure that this functionality is never compromised.
At LJT Builders, our approach focuses on careful planning before work begins and clear communication with all stakeholders at every stage of a project. Impeccable on-site safety management is a must and delivering quality work while minimising disruption is our bread and butter. Staff training, with all our team holding PTS qualifications, ensures we can always operate safely in a live rail environment.
When everything comes together, the result is a toilet facility that passengers rely on every day—delivered safely, efficiently, and with minimal impact on the station around it.
At LJT, we make the process straightforward, collaborative, and transparent from start to finish.
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