What cleaning is currently taking place on the Tube network and what checks are being made to monitor COVID transmission on the network?

Transport for London (TfL) has always had a robust cleaning regime in across the network. Throughout the pandemic, it has been using enhanced anti-viral fluid, the same product used in hospitals, in all public areas as well as in back-of-house areas that staff members use. Particular attention is being given to 'touch points' including all poles and handles on trains, as well as controls in drivers' cabs.

A long-lasting anti-viral disinfectant that protects for up to 30 days is also being used on the entire fleet of more than 600 Tube trains and at all London Underground stations. This disinfectant is applied every 21 days, either as a light mist spray from a backpack (for larger areas such as carriages or rooms) or as a directly applied liquid using a cloth.

TfL has also looked to technology to improve cleanliness further. TfL has, for example, installed more than 200 ultraviolet light sanitising devices on escalators across the Tube network, where the ultraviolet light sanitises the handrail continuously as the belt passes through the unit.

The effectiveness of TfL’s enhanced cleaning regime is being monitored through independent research undertaken each month on TfL’s behalf by researchers from Imperial College London. Since the sampling began in September 2020, it has consistently reported no trace of the virus. The TfL network is safe, but it is imperative that everyone follows the guidance regarding hand hygiene and face coverings, especially during the winter and with the emergence of the Omicron variant.