Cleaners to be stationed on trains to ‘give passengers confidence’
CLEANERS with disinfectant and hand sanitiser could be permanently stationed on board trains to keep commuters safe during the coronavirus crisis, industry sources have suggested.
One transport insider suggested that they could be deployed to “clean touch points” such as buttons and rails to “give passengers the confidence to travel again”. The source said: “Having a human presence on board to clean touch points would provide an extra layer of support. Importantly, it could also help to build trust among the public and help people feel safe to get on the train and go back to work.”
However, there are concerns over welfare, so “securing adequate PPE” for any on-board staff would be a top priority, and carriages would still need to be deep-cleaned separately.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union backed the proposal, saying it would “endorse” any plan which increased the number of cleaners on trains.
A RMT spokesman said: “We would welcome any increase in resources for cleaning trains and stations. The RMT believes the crisis has shone a light on the importance of cleaners on the railways. The transport sector is underresourced when it comes to cleaners, so there may be logistical concerns.”
The suggestion comes as train operators moved to curb passengers from travelling without a reservation to allow for social distancing to be enforced.
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) will introduce the measure when services are ramped up tomorrow. A spokesman said: “The safety of our staff and customers is always our top priority.
“To support social distancing for customers who do need to travel with us at this time, all LNER services will be reservation-only from Monday.”
Avanti West Coast, which operates intercity journeys on the West Coast Main Line, warned its customers that anyone without a reservation may not be able to travel on their choice of train.
Phil Whittingham, managing director, said: “We’re appealing to our customers to help us and other passengers by only travelling with a reservation.
“If customers do turn up without a reservation, we can’t guarantee they’ll be able to take the train they want.”
New guidelines have revealed train seats could be removed to stop passengers sitting next to each other.
Other suggestions include one-way systems, with passengers advised to use contactless payments and wear face masks.