Network Rail find no traces of Covid after testing swabs and air samples of four major railway stations and intercity train services.
Tests were conducted in January and then again in June at Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street, London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly station. Swabs were taken from areas receiving a lot of touch, such as escalator handles. Hour long samples also checked for any presence of the virus in the air. The same tests also took place on trains travelling between the railway stations.
Throughout the pandemic transport services have implemented extra cleaning to protect against spread of the virus via contaminated surfaces and the air.
On examining the test results, researchers at Imperial College London found no airborne coronavirus particles or contamination of any surface.
Similar tests carried out on London’s Tube trains, buses and stations earlier this year also detected no sign of the virus or new variants. However, researchers warn that this doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t any circulating.
Impact of Covid-19 measures
Senior researcher David Green says using filters and taking swabs provides a “way of quantifying the amount of virus circulating in these public environments”. It also shows “the effect of mitigation strategies like cleaning and wearing face coverings”.
Senior programme manager for Network Rail’s response to the pandemic, Rob Mole, gives his comments on the test results. He says they prove the “dedicated approach” from cleaning teams and train staff worked to keep passengers safe.
Network Rail employees will continue playing their part “by rigorously cleaning trains and stations”. They ask that passengers “do their bit” too by continuing to wear face coverings during journeys.
Even though nearly all legal restrictions on social contact lifted in England last month, some guidance remains in place. There is no longer a legal requirement for people to wear face coverings in situations including public transport. However, the government still advise people wear a face covering in crowded enclosed spaces, but leave it up to businesses to set their own rules. Transport for London state that people must still wear face coverings when travelling on the London transport network.
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