Two rail operators have announced the trial of a powerful sanitising treatment that is said to kill 99.99% of viruses and bacteria on surfaces for extended periods of time.
GWR, which runs services from Paddington to the South West of England, and South Western Railway, which operates from Waterloo, described the trial as the latest addition in their already enhanced cleaning regimes to make travel on their networks as safe as possible for customers and staff.
The special treatment is sprayed inside train carriages overnight building to a fog which coats all surfaces and is said to be proven to fight against Covid-19 for up to 28 days.
The trial coincides with the further easing of lockdown restrictions and the introduction of mandatory face coverings, from Monday (15 June).
GWR interim managing director Matthew Golton said: ‘For those who need to travel, we are doing everything we can to carry as many people, safely, as we can. This new trial is just one example of that, helping those who do need to travel to do so with confidence.
‘But please do help us by planning ahead, travelling, where possible, at quieter times, and wear a face covering to keep yourself and our staff safe.’
The firms added that to minimise risks customers are also asked to wash their hands prior to and after their journey, with hand-sanitiser available at stations.
To help those who do need to travel avoid contact, food and drink will not be sold on board.
GTR, which runs Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern trains, has also used a virucide on its trains and stations (pictured below).
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