GTR Rolls Out 30-Day Coronavirus Killer to Shield Passengers and Staff
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is stepping up its defence against COVID-19 with a powerful new viruscide that sticks to surfaces and wipes out the Coronavirus for up to 30 days. This revolutionary treatment is now coating every train, station, and staff area across Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern, and the Gatwick" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Gatwick Express.
Long-Lasting Virus Killer Joins GTR’s Hardcore Cleaning Regime
The new product supercharges GTR’s already tough cleaning efforts. While stations and staff areas continue to get regular short-term viruscide treatments, all 2,700 train carriages are scrubbed and sanitised every single night.
This 30-day virus-killing shield is applied every 21 days, targeting even the hardest-to-reach spots, giving passengers and colleagues an extra layer of protection during these challenging times.
No-Touch Sanitisers and Tech Boost Safety
GTR isn’t stopping there. It’s rolling out 1,000 no-touch hand sanitiser stations across stations to help everyone keep hands spotless. Plus, a new app lets staff instantly check when each carriage was last sprayed with the long-lasting viruscide.
State-of-the-Art Cleaning Gear in Action
On stations and staff areas, electrostatic wands and ‘Storm’ virus-killer backpacks—familiar tools from NHS Nightingale Hospitals—zap germs fast over large areas. On trains, meticulous manual cleaning with microfibre cloths ensures the viruscide is thoroughly applied after deep cleaning and degreasing.
Steve Lammin, GTR Engineering Director, said: “We’ve done all we can to shield our passengers and staff, with enhanced cleaning focused on high-touch areas and antiviral agents. Now, this new product kills Coronavirus for up to 30 days. Applied network-wide on a 21-day cycle, it’s another vital step to keep everyone safe who’s working so hard for this country.”
Extra Cleaning Staff and More Frequent Disinfection
- GTR employs 100+ extra cleaning staff focusing on high-touch points like ticket machines, grab poles, and door buttons.
- Use of improved antiviral products with microfibre cloths prevents virus spreading into the air.
- Sophisticated cleaning methods include high-pressure dry steam, microfibre units, and bleach fogging for confirmed cases.
- All 2,700 carriages sterilised nightly with short-term antivirals, focusing on passenger touchpoints.
- Stations and depots see repeated antiviral sprays throughout the day; April saw 22,000 trains cleaned at terminus stations alone.
- Driver cabs get intensive cleaning daily, with 6,000 cabs sanitised in depots during April.
- Overnight deep cleans at main depots now feature the new 30-day viruscide, allowing more focus on out-of-reach areas.
GTR continues to learn from other train operators and improve its cleaning routines to safeguard the millions who rely on its services.
