Train operator Northern has introduced a new cleaning product which will cut down on plastic waste and, according to the company, leave its train interiors clean enough to eat from.

Trains are cleaned at 42 locations on Northern’s network, including four main TrainCare Centres at Allerton in Merseyside, Newton Heath in Grater Manchester, Heaton in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear and at Neville Hill in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

After cleaning with the new product, which has been created by global innovator 2San, surfaces are left with a cleanliness score of less than 5.0 in an ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) test. That is an ‘Ultra-Clean’ rating which is the same as required food preparation and operating theatre environments.

ATP testing is used globally as an exact measurement of the cleanliness of a surface, and works by recording the energy molecule found in all living cells.

The use of ATP by Northern will also reduce its use of single-use plastics, as it has installed refill stations across its network, thereby reducing by 9,000 the number of bottles used each year.

Every year, Northern’s cleaning teams carry out 695,000 ‘carriage cleans’ and in the process use 32,759 microfibre cloths, 10,300 sponges, 1,724 litres of toilet cleaner, and 2,265 litres of floor and surface cleaners, as well as replenishing 26 million pieces of toilet tissue and 778 litres of hand soap.

Northern’s new ‘Clean Zero’ a chemical-free cleaner is created by modifying water through a seven-stage filtration process, and will now use across all 345 trains in its fleet.

Northern is reminding customers that in line with the rest of the National Rail network it is introducing a new rail timetable on 10 December, and customers can find up-to-date details about the revised timetable on the ‘Check My Timetable’ feature on the Northern website.

Richard Holt, head of train presentation, at Northern said: “Customers rightly expect only the highest standards of cleanliness on-board our trains and we are confident that with this new product we will be able to achieve this.

“Clean Zero is also a chemical-free cleaner, which is better for the environment, and we will be using refillable bottles across our network to cut down on single use plastic.”

Jason Tallamy, global brand director, at 2San said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Northern as they spearhead the way forwards with chemical free cleaning in the rail sector. Not only is Clean Zero sustainable and kind to our environment, but it also provides increased OH&S for cleaning operatives and delivers outstanding cleaning results.”