Are you planning to design, refurbishing or managing a railway station and looking to equip it with reliable, easy-to-maintain public toilets that serve the needs of both passengers and staff in the rail environment?
For those who are waiting to depart or arriving from a journey, for those accompanying others and moving with luggage, for those working on the platforms or technical areas: in any railway stations toilets facilities are essential. At SANO2 designing public toilets means first and foremost delivering a positive user experience, centred on the people.
For this reason, we offer different products, depending on location, user type, footfall levels and management objectives. As the division of Prefabbricati Santerno specialising in public toilet innovation, we develop our solutions starting from the real context and the way toilets facilities are experienced by their users.
A GUIDE TO DELIVERING PUBLIC TOILETS IN RAILWAY STATIONS
Why do public toilets in railway stations have such a strong impact on the perceived quality of the environment?
In railway stations restrooms provide people with a point of stability within a space defined by a constant movement. Commuters can rely on a quick and well-maintained service; travellers with luggage are offered a comfortable and accessible facility; families can manage every need with ease; fragile or disabled people do not feel excluded from an essential service.
For this reason, public toilets in railway stations must:
- Be designed to function effectively at the moment they are truly needed;
- Convey safety, hygiene and reliability;
- Help users immediately understand how to enter, use and exit the facility;
- Remain usable even in peak flows.
When all these conditions are met, toilets become a service that tangibly improves the overall quality of the railway hub.
Which is the added value of SANO2’s public toilets in railway stations?
Railway stations toilets are an essential service but they are also spaces highly exposed to daily challenges: high footfall, continuous usage, the need for rapid cleaning, as well as safety, accessibility and operational management requirements. It is in contexts like these that SANO2 solutions demonstrate their added value.
- Flexible access options
SANO2 toilet facilities can be configured according to the specific station requirements: free access, paid entry via coins or contactless cards, code-based access, or even dedicated payment systems such as Eurokey. This allows the service to be adapted to expected passenger flows and user profile, while always ensuring ease of use and security.
- Efficient management and maintenance
SANOCONNECT® system is included for S4 and S5 technologies: it enables remote monitoring, supporting predictive maintenance. Operators receive real-time notifications regarding consumables levels and can schedule interventions before any faults occurs. In a railway station this results in reduced downtimes and more efficient maintenance planning.
- Safety for users and managers
In automatic toilet units, presence detection systems prevent the cleaning cycle from starting and block access during use. Emergency buttons, internal alarms, automatic door opening after a set period and manual override systems in case of power failures are also included. All these features contribute to a safer and more reliable environment.
- Genuine accessibility
SANO2 develops solutions specifically designed for users with reduced mobility, with fittings that can be configured in line with current regulations and project requirements. Braille instructions, voice commands and easily reachable SOS buttons can also be added, ensuring a truly inclusive user experience.
- Improved perceived quality of the space
Certified materials, compliant safety devices, vandal-resistant systems and strict regulation conformity all help create a reassuring environment. In a place where time is limited and needs are immediate, the value of well-designed public toilet lies precisely in their safety and consistent availability.
Outdoor public toilets in railway stations: which SANO2 solution is the most suitable?
When railway stations require new outdoor public restrooms, the choice is not only about the model to install, but above all about the type of service to be offered to passengers and staff: constant cleanliness, quick turnaround between uses, resistance to heavy usage and continuity of service even during peak times. SANO2 offers three ranges of self-cleaning public toilets that, after each use, automatically activate the washing and drying cycle of the toilet bowl, the cleaning of the washbasin, and the washing of the floor.
S3 series is the smartest solution in the line-up, suitable for environments with low-to-medium footfall, where functional self-cleaning toilet that integrates well into the station design is required. The EASYTECH® stainless steel system, together with its high-pressure misting nozzles, guarantees an effective and well-calibrated cleaning cycle for less intensive use.
Series S4 represents a more evolved solution, ideal for stations with medium-to-high or variable passenger flows, where speed of cleaning cycles, user experience quality and management efficiency become key factors. In this case, the SLEDTECH® sliding system optimises washing and drying operations, alongside floor cleaning via high-pressure misting nozzles.
Series S5 is the highest-performing option, designed for high-footfall stations, where toilet facilities must maintain high standards of cleanliness and service continuity even at peak usage times. In addition to the SLEDTECH® sliding device, it incorporates a highly efficient washing manifold and the SCRUBBER® device, which dries the floor and mechanically removes any objects from the user area. For a railway station, installing a self-cleaning restroom means providing a forward-looking service that meets the real needs of everyday users.
Railway stations with indoor public toilets to be refurbished: what solutions does SANO2 offer?
When a station already has indoor spaces designated for restrooms, the project is not simply about refurbishing the existing area, but about transforming it in a service that truly meets the expectation of a railway environment. For this reason, in internal refurbishment project, choosing self-cleaning technology represents a strategic solution. SANO2 offers the TECH H and TECH N models with S4 or S5 technology, to be selected according to the station’s level of footfall, ensuring the right balance between performance and service continuity.
Series S4 provides an effective solution for upgrading indoor restrooms, delivering high standards of automatic cleaning and ease of management.
Series S5 is the most suitable choice for high-traffic environments, where facilities are subject to more intensive and continuous use, and where it becomes even more important to maintain order, perceived quality and service availability over time.
From the user’s perspective, the benefits include a toilet that ensures:
- Genuine privacy during use,
- Automatic cleaning after each use,
- A bright and well-ventilated environment,
- Controlled access and integrated safety systems,
- Furnishings designed to provide a comfortable and reassuring experience.
In terms of design, instead, the advantage lies in enhancing a pre-existing space to its full potential ‒ transforming it from a simple “refurbished” toilet into a truly innovative service, designed to support the real, long-term demands of the station.
Which SANO2 solution is the best suited for toilets dedicated to staff working on tracks or in technical railway areas?
In some railway contexts, the need does not concern passengers, but the personnel working along the tracks or in remote technical areas. In these cases, the priority is to provide a facility that is always available, close to the operational site and easy to manage even where utility connections are limited or even impossible. For these requirements, SANO2 offers the S0 range.
This is a no-connection solution, designed for environments lacking or with limited access to utilities, developed to offer autonomy, ease of maintenance, accessibility and durability. S0 models are outdoor toilets that are accessible, environmentally friendly, easy to maintain and equipped with anti-vandalism and fire-resistant equipments. For workers, the benefit is immediate: no need to travel far, no time waste, no reliance on improvised alternatives and access to a dignified facility directly at their place of work. In the railway sector this translates into improved day-to-day working conditions, while also strengthening the organisation and overall management of technical areas.
How to start a project for new public toilets in a railway station?
Every station has its own specific conditions. That is why any design process should begin with the context and real needs of the people who will use the facility. At SANO2 we support you in selecting the most suitable solution based on location, footfall, available infrastructures, access requirements and management objectives. Whether it is an off-grid installation, an indoor refurbishment or a standalone unit, the goal remains the same: to create facilities designed for people and built to last over time.
Fill in the form below or contact us to tell us about your project: together we will develop a tailored solution that fits your station and the people who use it every day.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about SANO2 public toilets
What kinds of facilities and types of toilets can you provide?
We understand that each context has specific needs and requires bespoke solutions. That is why our range includes:
- Public Toilets that can be integrated into existing premises, ensuring maximum adaptability to the available space.
- Freestanding outdoor structures
- Off-grid Public Toilets, when sewer, water and electricity are not available
Our solutions are designed to meet every requirement: whether you need several toilets in a single room or individual toilets, at SANO2 we have the ideal project for your space.
Once you have defined the structure, choose the most suitable type of toilet: off-grid, traditional or self-cleaning, at SANO2 you will find each of these solutions and all the support you need.
I do not have sewage, water or electricity network. Can you provide me with off-grid public toilets?
Absolutely! Our S0 range of off-grid toilets is designed for areas that are far from water, sewerage and electricity networks. SANO2’s Bathroom Zero allows you to install a prefabricated toilet, accessible to disabled users, more durable than a chemical toilet and more versatile than a traditional bathroom. Bathroom Zero has a waste water tank to compensate for the lack of a sewer connection, a water storage tank connected to a rainwater collection system, and two photovoltaic panels to generate the electricity needed to light the facility. Off-grid solutions are highly valued by users for their added value as eco-friendly and sustainable restrooms.
When it comes to materials, fittings and finishes, you are spoilt for choice! Visit the design page of our projects!
With what kind of access can I setup the toilets?
Toilets access systems depend on customers and area of installation requirements, which is why we offer several options.
Access can be free or paid, coin-operated or contactless with Nayax readers (you decide how much to set!).
Again, you can choose the access system equipping the facilities with QR code or tax code reader or a EuroKey.
Do you want to buy a public toilet privately or do you want to respond to a public tender with your toilet project?
Whether you want to buy a public toilet as a private individual or you need a project for a tender, perhaps as a construction company, architect or town hall technician, at SANO2 we design public toilets of all kinds, from off-grid ones to self-cleaning models.
As a global company, one of our main values is respect for the installation context, the regulations in each country, and, above all, respect for the customers’ needs.
Tell us about your project, SANO2 will come to you and find solutions for all your needs.
Do you build Accessible Toilets for disabled users? Can I choose how to equip them?
At SANO2 we design, build and install Accessible Toilet And Unisex Toilet. Accessibility is a core value for us and has always been a part of our offering. As an international company, when we design and build toilets for people with disabilities, we always meticulously comply with regulations in force: each country has its own dimensions, equipment, access and measures specifically designed for safe use by people with reduced mobility.
Our public toilets are fully customisable, you choose the layout. For example, we can include instructions in Braille or record voice commands in the toilet, we can install the hand shower next to the toilet or include SOS buttons easily accessible from the toilet bowl.
You can rely on our experience in this industry and our knowledge of public toilet regulations for disabled users.
Can I get a maintenance contract for my toilet? How do you manage public toilets?
Of course you can! We guarantee our self-cleaning toilets maintenance through our All In service, which is an integral part of our offer. In addition, we can offer a variety of maintenance packages on request, depending on your specific needs.
Our All In maintenance service includes:
- Routine maintenance: cleaning and replenishment of consumables, typically scheduled twice a month
- Predictive maintenance: thanks to our powerful remote control tool we can intervene before components failure, reducing the time the toilet is inefficient.
- Technical maintenance: carried out by specialised technicians, it involves checking all the automatisms, usually scheduled once a month.
- Telephone assistance service: active on working days, we provide assistance and intervene remotelyon the units, solving most of the problems.
Do you have a warranty for your products? For how many years?
Yes, all our toilets are covered by a warranty. By law, the warranty on manufacturing defects is one year, but at SANO2 we have decided to extend it to 2 years to give you greater peace of mind and security in your investment.