Northern developing app to check when its trains were last cleaned

Northern is developing an app that will provide up-to-the-minute details on when every train on its network was last cleaned.

The app is part of a new plan-led approach to the basic cleaning of carriages that takes place while trains are waiting at stations during passenger service.

It will make it easier for Northern's team of over 500 train presentation operatives to identify which trains are most in need of attention, as it is based on real-time data instead of tackling them on a ‘first come, first served' basis.

Northern has been recognised for its app and its work on its new approach by being nominated for a Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) ‘Award for Excellence'.

The awards celebrate industry best practice in logistics and transport and recognise the brightest talent and most pioneering organisations across the UK.

An expert judging panel selected this year's finalists from companies across the transport and logistics profession, with Northern being nominated in the Operations Management category alongside online fashion company Boohoo and supply chain specialist Wincanton. The awards ceremony at which the winners will be announced will take place in London on Thursday, 28th September.

Last year, Northern released a video that highlights the enormous task faced by its 500 train presentation operatives to keep its 345 trains clean and tidy. Northern carries out train cleaning duties at 42 locations, including its five main TrainCare Centres at Allerton on Merseyside, Newton Heath in Greater Manchester, Heaton in Tyne & Wear, Neville Hill in West Yorkshire, and Hull Botanic Gardens in East Yorkshire.

Each year, Northern's team carries out 695,000 ‘carriage cleans', using 32,759 microfibre cloths, 10,300 sponges, 1,724 litres of toilet cleaner and 2,265 litres of floor and surface cleaners, and replenishes 26 million pieces of toilet tissue and 778 litres of hand soap.

Richard Holt, head of train presentation at Northern, said: “The technology we're developing will give my team a level of insight parents can only dream of when it comes to their children's untidy bedrooms – knowing exactly ‘to the minute' when a space was last cleaned.

“It will enable them to ensure the right trains receive the right attention at the right time – which is essential when the time available to complete a ‘basic clean' can be very limited.

“With over 2,500 services a day departing from stations across 3,000km of track, the cleaning task facing my team is massive.

“This new approach was the brainchild of one of our graduate trainees, Sebastian Chromiak, who deserves the credit for taking this challenge and finding a data-driven solution.”

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, our customers' expectations in terms of train cleanliness has, quite rightly, increased significantly. My team has worked incredibly hard to maintain those new high standards and to be nominated for a CILT Award for Excellence is a testament to their efforts.”