Coronavirus: Transport for London reveals plan to disinfect Tube and bus network

Anti-viral fluid will be used in stations and trains, while poles on buses will be wiped with "strong disinfectant" every day.

By Isobel Frodsham, news reporter

Image: Enhanced cleaning measures were introduced on Friday

Transport for London has unveiled its plans to tackle cleanliness on the London Underground as the number of cases of coronavirus in the UK increases.

The operator said it was now using "additional substances" that kill viruses and bacteria on contact in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.

This includes using anti-viral fluid - currently used in hospitals - to clean stations and trains.

Image: Key interchanges will be cleaned more regularly than usual, including during the day

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"Enhanced disinfectant" will be used in depots and drivers' cabs, while poles and doors on buses will be wiped with "strong disinfectant" every day.

Key interchanges will be cleaned more regularly than usual, including during the day.

A new cleaning agent which can provide anti-viral protection for up to 30 days is also being tested by TfL. Should it be successful at tackling COVID-19, it will be rolled out across the network in two weeks.

Prior to the new measures, buses were swept at the end of service and the "frequently touched points", such as poles and doors, were cleaned every four or five days, or every day if they were dirty, according to a spokesman for TfL.

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Tube train seats were dry cleaned every five months, in addition to daily cleaning such as the frequent touch points being wiped down.

Cab drivers are generally tasked with cleaning their own cars, he added.

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Around five million journeys are made each day on the Underground and six million journeys on the capital's buses.

There are 19,000 bus stops and 270 tube stations in London.

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Image: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during a visit to London Bridge station to see the enhanced cleaning procedures Transport for London (TfL) have introduced across the network

London mayor Sadiq Khan met TfL workers on Tuesday to see the cleaning in action.

He said: "Along with trialling new longer lasting cleaning fluid, [the measures] will help reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. I want to reassure Londoners and visitors that the advice from experts is to continue with our daily lives as normal, including using public transport."

TfL began rolling out enhanced anti-viral fluid at Tube trains and stations on Friday last week.

Public Health England has stated that there are currently no specific concerns about using public transport.

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Lilli Matson, director of health, safety and the environment at TfL, said: "London's public transport system is one of the cleanest in the world. If people are unwell, they are advised not to travel so as not to pass on illness to others.

"We want to give Londoners and our staff peace of mind that their safety is our priority, which is why we have enhanced our already rigorous cleaning regime.

"A lot of our cleaning goes on when stations are closed or trains are out of service, so to provide additional reassurance teams will be cleaning areas that are frequently touched throughout the day, in addition to the enhanced cleaning regime that all bus garages will be carrying out."

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