Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is using a powerful new virucide on trains, stations and staff areas that kills the coronavirus for up to 30 days.
The virucide is being used on all the Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express train fleet, along with the stations and staff stations – boosting an already robust cleaning regime which sees all 2,700 of GTR’s train carriages sanitised every night.
The Government has advised the public to only travel using public transport if it is necessary, with the virucide expected to offer another level of protection to commuters and staff.
GTR has also ordered 1,000 no-touch hand sanitisers for staff and passengers which are being distributed to railway stations across the UK.
Engineering Director Steve Lammin said: “Since the outbreak of this pandemic we have been doing all we can to protect our passengers and staff by ensuring our trains, and stations have enhanced cleaning regimes, and a switch in focus to high-touch areas and the increased use of anti-viral agents.
“We are now using a product that will kill coronavirus for up to 30 days and we are applying this to surfaces across our network on a 21-day cycle. We want to do everything possible to work with passengers and staff to keep them safe and this will further protect everyone who is working so hard for this country.”
Electrostatic ‘wands’ have been used around stations and staff areas and GTR is deploying virus-killer backpacks which were used in NHS Nightingale Hospitals, as they cover large areas quickly.
On trains, the new product needs to be applied traditionally with a microfibre cloth. In all locations, it is applied only after the entire surface area has been thoroughly cleaned and degreased.
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