Cleaning regime of the TFL underground, buses and South East trains
Request ID: FOI-1214-2223 Date published: 12 September 2022
You asked
I would like to put in a foi request. The Mayor of London office’s gave me this email.
What is the actual cleaning regime of the TFL underground, buses and South East trains.
How often are the carriages deep cleaned internally. Are the seats cleaned? If so, how often and what materials or disinfectants are used.
Do you have any records of bacterial levels over a one year period?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1214-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15th August 2022 asking for information about the cleaning regime on London buses, the London Underground and South Eastern Trains
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked: “What is the actual cleaning regime of the TFL underground, buses and South East trains. How often are the carriages deep cleaned internally. Are the seats cleaned? If so, how often and what materials or disinfectants are used. Do you have any records of bacterial levels over a one year period?”. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. However, please note that South Eastern Trains is part of the National Rail network and TfL has no involvement in its operation. You can contact South Eastern directly via its website here: https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/help-and-contact
London buses (which are operated by private companies under contract with TfL) are cleaned daily. Two antiviral agents ae used - ‘Guardicide’ and ‘Zoono’. Guardicide is used daily, with particular attention paid to the drivers’ cab and touchpoints, including all poles and handles touched by customers travelling on the network. Zoono is applied to seats and side panels once every 21-28 days and remains effective for 30 days.
On the London Underground, train cleaning is conducted under the following regimes:
Pre-service checks (PSC) carried out daily (immediate and obvious cleaning, e.g. spillages)
Mini cleans carried out every 3 days (pre-service check plus touch-point cleaning - e.g. grab poles)
Deep cleans carried out every 21 days (full interior/exterior clean)
External Train Wash - approx. every 3 days (using external train wash facility)
Saloon seats are vacuumed as part of the Deep Clean regime, and shampoo cleaning is conducted when required after spillages. Spillages, soiled, or immediately obvious saloon seat issues are picked up daily as part of additional casualty cleaning.
The disinfectants used on the London Underground are ‘Guardicide’ and ‘Guardicide fresh’.
Finally, note that TfL does not undertake routine testing for bacteria levels on any of our services and we therefore do not hold records of bacterial levels over a one year period on either buses or the London Underground.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
