Abellio Greater Anglia invests in additional on-train cleaners

Published on: Friday, 13 March 2015
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016

A team of on-board cleaners is targetingtrains as Abellio Greater Anglia continues its focus on creating a clean andpleasant travelling environment for customers.


The train operator has invested in 56additional cleaners, 40 of whom will focus on ensuring that litter is removedfrom trains and that the on-board toilet facilities are clean.



Initially they will board trains at Cambridge,Chingford, Clacton, Colchester, Harwich, Hertford, Ilford, Ipswich, LondonLiverpool Street, Norwich, Shenfield and Southend seven days a week, at varioustimes during the day and night.


In addition, 10 temporary staff will focuson de-icing train doors during cold mornings to prevent cancellations and willassist with general on train cleaning as the weather improves.


The mobile cleaners will be easilyidentifiable by their high-visibility tabards which display ‘Train Presentation’on the back.


An £30,000 investment in new cleaningequipment means that the cleaning team will be able to target the trains with rechargeablehand-held and back-pack vacuum cleaners to remove crumbs and debris from seatsand floors.


In addition to the on train cleaning, fouradditional temporary staff in Ilford Depot’s exterior train cleaning team arehelping to improve the appearance of Abellio Greater Anglia’s fleet of ElectricMultiple Unit (EMU) trains, cleaning them by hand, carrying out additionalscreen and window cleaning and replacing damaged seat covers.


The Class 315, 317, 321, 360 and 379electric trains operate on Greater Anglia’s routes from London Liverpool Streetto Braintree, Cambridge, Chingford, Clacton-on-Sea, Enfield Town, HarwichHertford East, Ipswich, Stansted Airport, Southend Victoria andWalton-on-the-Naze.


An additional two employees based atNorwich’s Crown Point Depot will focus on cleaning the doors and vestibule onthe InterCity fleet.


Further initiatives that have been madepossible through the investment in additional cleaning staff include:


  • Increasing overnight vacuuming
  • Steam cleaning of coach and vestibulecarpets and matting at Orient Way, Clacton and Cambridge depots. (As the weather improves, steam cleaningequipment will be used on all sets)


Abellio Greater Anglia’s Customer ServiceDirector, Andrew Goodrum, said, “Creating a clean and pleasant travellingenvironment is a key franchise commitment and this additional investment demonstratesour determination to make a real difference for our customers. Our new cleanerswill provide an extra focus on trains, giving attention where required forimproved passenger comfort.”