Network Rail has published the results of swab and air sample testing at four major UK rail stations, which found no traces of Covid-19 to be present.
The testing by Imperial College London was carried out between January and June at London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly stations, as well as on several inter-city trains services.
Swabs were taken of regularly touched areas including escalator handrails, ticket machines and benches, and hour-long air samples were also taken on station concourses.
Similar tests were carried out on train routes between the above stations, including an Avanti West Coast service from London Euston to Birmingham, and a Northern service from Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street.
Network Rail said that the results “showed no Covid-19 contamination of any surface tested or airborne particles of the virus in station or on trains”.
The independent report also concluded that “enhanced cleaning methods across the rail industry and widespread wearing of face coverings by passengers are key reasons for the negative results”.
Network Rail said that enhanced cleaning procedures will remain in place, with hand sanitiser and face masks available at stations to stop the spread of Covid-19, and passengers are still expected to wear a face covering in stations and on trains “so everyone can travel in confidence”.
The public body also advised passengers to sanitise hand regularly, and to open a train window while travelling “if possible”.
The research also detailed the increase in passenger numbers passing through the stations on testing days in January and June this year, with the combined totals up 287 per cent.
In June the Office for Rail and Road published figures showing that rail passenger journeys in Great Britain had fallen to their lowest annual levels since 1872.
Commenting on the testing results Rob Mole, senior programme manager for Network Rail’s Covid response, said:
“Station cleaning teams and train staff have made it their mission to keep passengers safe during the pandemic and this is proof their dedicated approach works.
“We want all passengers to travel in confidence on the railway network and we will keep doing our part by rigorously cleaning trains and stations. We ask passengers to do their bit too by wearing face coverings while travelling out of respect for others so we can all stop the spread of Covid-19.”
