A gin distillery has turned into a hand sanitiser producer to help keep railway staff safe and so keep freight and passenger trains moving across the West Midlands and Chilterns.

Network Rail’s signallers are using the sanitiser, made by Worcester-based Piston Gin, as part of their daily cleaning and social distancing routines.

Signallers work shifts, seven days a week, and share their workspaces with others every day, meaning it is essential for them to keep their equipment and hands clean.

With sanitiser in higher demand than ever, Network Rail’s Central route heard about the distillery’s new product and arranged to buy 300 bottles.

The sanitiser is being used at the main signalling centre in Birmingham, where signallers are working two metres apart, and in standalone signal boxes across the route.

What did the officials say?

Martin Colmey, head of operations for Network Rail’s Central route, said:

“Reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus among out staff is vital to keeping the railway open and trains, with key workers and essential food and medical supplies, moving around the West Midlands and Chiltern main line.

“We have had to think outside the box during this unusual time and supporting a small business like this while keeping our staff safe made perfect sense.”

Grace Stringer, from Piston Gin, said:

“We have the ability to help people during this crisis, so we have changed our production line from gin to hand sanitiser. We have also had fun learning a new skill! Knowing we are helping key workers stay safe is an added bonus and we are grateful to have been able to help and supply Network Rail.”

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