Watch as Tyne and Wear Metro trains are treated with special spray that 'kills coronavirus'
Metro bosses are helping reassure passengers they are safe aboard services as carriages undergo enhanced cleaning with a special disinfectant to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, said it was using a new, longer-lasting cleaning agent that would provide anti-viral protection - ensuring that the network is safe for passengers travelling in the region.
The disinfectant – which is being applied in Metro carriages, including driver’s cabs and passenger saloons, using a special spray – kills germs and keeps critical surfaces and touchpoints cleaner for longer.
A new video reveals the inside of a Metro train being treated by the special spray, by staff wearing full protective clothing.
It is said to protect surfaces for up to 30 days.
Metro’s fleet of 90 trains is being treated in preparation for higher passenger numbers as more shops and schools start to re-open as lockdown measures are eased.
Metro Operations Director, Chris Carson, said: “This enhanced disinfectant gives greater confidence to our customers who need to use the service as lockdown measures start to lift.
“The new cleaning fluid is more effective and helps us to ensure that Metro meets a Covid-secure standard.
“We are expecting to see some uplift in passenger numbers as more shops start to re-open, allowing more people to return to work, and Metro is there for people who really do need to use it.
“We are making sure that our stations and trains are cleaned to the highest standard, and that there is clear information on how to socially distance as you travel.
“People are still advised to take Metro only where they need to, such as for work, if you cannot do so from home, and where you can’t walk, cycle or use a car. Customers should also follow Government advice and wear a face covering when travelling on public transport.”
Each Metro carriage is being treated with new disinfectant – called Zoono Z-71, a Microbe Shield Surface Sanitiser – at the Metro depot at South Gosforth in Newcastle.
It is part of a range of new measures introduced to ensure Metro trains are Covid-secure.