Sleeper train’s cleaners sacked over dirty sheets
Passengers complained of ‘filthy’ service
SLEEPER train bosses have stripped a cleaning company of its contract after passengers complained of ‘filthy’ cabins.
New Caledonian Sleeper trains, which travel between Scotland and London, were introduced in April at a cost of £150million.
The cabins have double beds and en suite bathrooms.
But some passengers complained that the bed sheets were not being changed between journeys.
Now Serco, which operates the Caledonian Sleeper service, has removed the contract from cleaning company Leadec.
It will be replaced by Servest, although both companies work on behalf of train maintenance firm Alstom.
Regular passenger Fergus McCallum said he found berths in a ‘disgusting’ state on two journeys within days of each other. He described cabins as ‘filthy, bins not emptied, hair on the toilet bowl, toilet roll pieces on the floor, used ear plugs on the bed, children’s sweet wrappers and jewellery, and, as every time, hair on the pillows and beds’.
Mr McCallum, from Pitlochry, Perthshire, added: ‘I think it’s good Serco is facing up to the situation and is taking robust steps to manage the problem. I spoke to the customer experience manager last week and he genuinely seemed to listen.
‘I told him my honest opinion, as someone who uses the service every week, that for the last few months they have been simply straightening the bedclothes and not changing them.
‘I told him I travel with a sleeping bag so I don’t have to touch the sheets. He seemed genuinely shocked and I believe he intended to fix this situation.’
A spokesman for Serco said: ‘Standards we set for room presentation were not met.’
An Alstom spokesman said: ‘We recognise there have been some issues recently and as part of our ongoing efforts to improve services I can confirm we are looking at options for better cleaning of these trains.’
A Leadec spokesman said: ‘The Caledonian Sleeper contract was due to expire as part of the normal, periodic competitive retendering process.
‘We are, of course, disappointed, but we remain a committed and active service provider to the transport sector.’
Ryan Flaherty, Serco managing director of the Caledonian Sleeper, said: ‘Bringing our new trains into service has been very complex and challenging, and we have been working closely with all our partners to resolve the issues we have faced.’