In December 2017, Network Rail agreed to install free sanitary products
TWO OF Scotland’s biggest train stations have still not offered free sanitary products to its passengers, four months after they agreed to do so.
A series of tweets from @EndPeriodPoverty – a twitter account that is part of Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon’s campaign to end period poverty – showed that both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central train stations have not put in a machine in the female toilets that will allow access to free sanitary products.
Last December, Network Rail, who own both train stations, agreed that they are willing to install machines after it was found that Edinburgh Waverley were charging £3 for a pack of four tampons. At Glasgow Central, they were not offering sanitary products.
Network Rail have reiterated that they are still committed to installing free sanitary products at both train station, but are still looking into the logistics of how it will be managed and what kind of budget is required to run the service.
Network Rail’s spokesperson told CommonSpace: “We are currently reviewing the provision of sanitary products at both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central and plan to introduce machines offering free products at the stations.”
Network Rail is also looking at proposals to install free public water fountains and to remove toilet charges at both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central.
Lennon, who is bringing forward legislation to end period poverty, said: “Network Rail’s commitment to creating menstruation-friendly bathrooms in Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley is pioneering and complements other actions being taken across Scotland to end period poverty and promote menstrual justice.
“Access to free sanitary products will bring peace of mind to commuters and promote health and safety in the workplace.
“It’s a really positive step, as is the announcement to end toilet charges, a measure I called for during a parliamentary debate on incontinence. I look forward to seeing these measures rolled out and commend Network Rail for its approach.”
In recent months, many organisations across Scotland have managed to provide free sanitary products such as Glasgow Airport, South Lanarkshire College and City of Glasgow College.
Lennon’s Scottish Parliament bill would place a legal duty on Scottish ministers to ensure that there is free sanitary product in Scotland, and has received cross-party support from thhe SNP’s Gillian Martin, Scottish Lib Dem’s Alex Cole-Hamilton and Scottish Greens Alison Johnstone.
“We are currently reviewing the provision of sanitary products at both Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central and plan to introduce machines offering free products at the stations.” Network rail
In August, the Scottish Government will bring in free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities after a six-month project in Aberdeen that provides free sanitary products to women and girls on low incomes.
The Scottish Government Communities secretary, Angela Constance, said that the Scottish Government are looking at what is the best way “to provide products in a manner and in a way that respects the privacy and the dignity of women.”
Picture courtesy of 小草
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