When train operating company, South Western Railway, took over the franchise, they made a key pledge to deep-clean every train across the network.
In the first 100 days of the franchise, they have been delivering this pledge. This has involved 15,188 hours of elbow grease across the six train depots.
Now South Western Railway has said it is committed to deep-cleaning trains every 30 days. This is on top of the routine daily tidy.
- Over 65,000 seats are deep cleaned each month
- Over 1000 packs of tissues are used each week
- 100,000 ml of soap is used each month
- Since November, more than 15,000 cleaning cloths used
An interior refurbishment programme of SWR's fleet of Class 444 and 450 Desiro trains is now underway, with the first expected to enter service in March
What did the officials say?
Charlie Hatcher, South Western Railway's Head of Train Presentation, said “The goal of the initial 100 day clean was to achieve a baseline level of cleanliness and to then build on this in the immediate months ahead which we have now started to do. Our team swept and vacuumed seat upholstery, mopped train floors, removed graffiti and chewing gum and scrubbed clean thousands of windows, panels, grilles, ledges, luggage racks, litter bins, tables, and toilets.
“We're determined not to rest on our laurels as we'll be making sure our trains are as clean and pleasant an environment for passengers as possible. That's why we've committed to deep-cleaning our trains every 30 days – seven times more regularly than previously. I'm confident that our passengers will begin to see the difference very soon, if they haven't done so already.”
- Visit the South Western Railway website
For more information
