21.07.20
Govia Thameslink Railway continues with 30-day virus killer in stations
Thameslink, Great Northern and Southern are treating their stations to the latest round of decontamination, which uses a special product that kills viruses for up to 30 days.
Since May, parent company Govia Thameslink Railway has been using the virucide on board its trains and stations to supplement its already-enhanced cleaning regime.
The 30-day treatment is repeated every 21 days and the most recent wave of cleaning is taking place at stations including St Albans and Brighton, Flitwick, Harlington, Worthing, Hassocks, Oxted and Plumpton.
High-pressure dry steam and microfibre units are first used to thoroughly clean before electrostatic wands and backpack misting devices coat surfaces with the product, forming a molecular bond.
The new treatment is part of a series of measures to keep passengers as safe as possible that include 100 extra cleaning staff at work: 40,000 extra labour hours in three months to enhance the cleanliness of our stations, trains and staff areas.
All 2,700 carriages across Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express are sanitised overnight using specially-procured short-term anti-viral sprays, with a focus on passenger touchpoints and 21,600 touchpoint cleans in three months (7,200 a month) on stations and in staff areas.
Steve Lammin, GTR Engineering Director, said: “Our travel safer pledge means we are taking extra steps to protect people from the coronavirus by boosting cleaning with this 30-day virucide, providing touch-free hand sanitisers, and running as many trains as possible.
“I would remind passengers to avoid the busy times of the day, wash or sanitise your hands before and after each journey, wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, and if possible, buy your ticket in advance or pay by contactless.”
Images: Govia Thameslink Railway