East Midlands Railway (EMR) has started its refreshment project which will include the use of a new special anti-bacterial cleaning product on its Intercity trains.
The project will see work undertaken at the Derby Etches Park depot where 5,300 seats will be either freshened up or replaced with new back covers, seat cushions, headrests and armrests with a number of seat covers seeing deep cleaning carried out by a specialist company.
The project has already seen toilets refurbished across its 27 EMR Class 222 Meridian trains and provides a number of improvements which will enhance customer experience such as newly painted walls, new vinyl applied to door panes, damaged fixtures replaced, as well as Call for Aid units alongside the respray of mirror surrounds.
Sinks have also undergone a polish and buff and baby changing facilities have also been improved.
Part of the project sees East Midlands Railway as the first rail operator in the UK to make use of a brand new cleaning product, which makes surfaces easier to keep clean working constantly to cut the growth of bacteria.
Cotech Biosafe's product features a special technology called Microban antimicrobial protection and will see an application to toilet surfaces to increase hygiene and offer peace of mind to customers. The product offers the longest-lasting coating of any kind available on the market with protection lasting between 7 to 10 years without the need for monthly reapplications, unlike similar products. The special product is just part of the regular cleaning programme which is already carried out onboard EMR trains.
Neil Bamford, Fleet Director at East Midlands Railway, said:
“As we await the introduction of our new Aurora fleet, we want to ensure our current Intercity trains offers customers a clean and inviting interior.
“Following an audit, we have identified a number of seats that fall below our standards, and we are working hard to replace them.
“Likewise, we wanted to refresh the toilets and make sure we are using the latest products available on the market to maintain cleanliness.”
They could start by cleaning the outside of their trains occasionally. They are always filthy
Train travel is increasingly becoming suitable only for the wealthier members of society, as the cost of fares surges beyond the reach of those on average incomes. This needs urgent attention before any other matter.
All very interesting but whatever happened to the long promised refurbishment of the electric Class 360s currently running from Corby to London St Pancras? As far as I can see not a single refurbished unit has hit the rails?
Sorry EMR but before you make the already comfortable long distance fleet even more comfortable, how about carrying out the promised refurbishment of the Class 360s first!
You’ll probably censor it again but I’ll say it anyway.
The trains on the Nottingham to Skegness route knot fit for purpose .
Hi Max,
All the comments are checked prior to posting (It should have said after you wrote your comment ‘awaiting approval’) – sometimes this takes a few hours, depending on the day/time. We havent removed any today, so all your comments should now be live.
Thanks
Alan
Great to see that the trains are having some refreshment, as a passenger on their Norwich to Liverpool train, look forward to the day when passengers can get some onboard refreshment.
It’s about time they did something about the cattle trucks on the Nottingham to Skegness route, the trains on that route are not fit for purpose.