Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how frequently Northern Rail (a) trains and (b) stations were deep cleaned (i) before and (ii) during the covid-19 outbreak.

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Northern Trains Limited had a comprehensive daily cleaning regime which included a deep clean of its trains every 72 days. Since the outbreak began, this regime has continued but increased with the use of anti-viral sanitiser and the additional cleaning of panels, carpets and toilet areas to ensure a safe environment for its staff and passengers.

NTL has followed Rail Delivery Group guidelines on the cleaning of stations and has carried out a robust cleaning schedule since the outbreak which, alongside its usual regime, includes regularly sanitising 'touch' points. The station cleaning visits varies between one and five visits per week where they are covered by mobile cleaning teams and between five to seven days a week attendance on those covered by station based cleaners.