Watch: Team of ‘festive’ Edinburgh Waverley station cleaners keeping us safe throughout the pandemic

With passenger numbers expected to rise throughout the festive period, TransPennine Express has invested £1.7 million into an enhanced cleaning programme with a team of six ‘sanitisation elves’ and a Mrs Claus working across Edinburgh Waverley station to keep trains safe and clean.

The team of 6 sanitisation cleaners across Edinburgh Waverley train station have been washing, wiping, scrubbing and sanitising every train area under the watch of Mrs Claus to ensure the safety of Edinburgh customers.

The elf clean up comes as TPE recently announced an investment of £1.7 million into an enhanced cleaning programme.

The Edinburgh elves are part of a group of 20 teams of sanitation busters across TransPennine Express, located throughout the North who have collectively spent more than two years cleaning the trains in just 6 months during the pandemic to ensure hygiene standards are maintained.

Extreme measures are in place to clamp down on hygiene across the trains (photo: TPE).

The festive cleaners have been working across the 100 plus carriages that operate throughout the North with a rigorous quality control process carried out by Mrs Claus, also known as Emma Teale, Customer Experience Manager at TPE.

Ms Teale, has been spot checking carriages before customers board for their journey to make sure high hygiene standards are adhered to.

She said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our team of sanitation saviours in Edinburgh. We can’t thank them enough for the job they have been doing to help keep our passengers safe during this year.

“We’re thrilled that we can further support the team with a £1.7M investment that will ensure the creation of local jobs in Edinburgh.“

A member of the sanitisation team out of their elf costume and hard at work cleaning the trains for customer safety across Edinburgh (photo: TPE).

Alex Klimowicz, a sanitation buster said: “Keeping our customers safe is our number one priority and it’s been rewarding to know that we’re helping to achieve that.”

Those planning on using the train over the festive period, especially while restrictions are lifted between 23 and 27 December, are strongly advised to book ahead online, check before and allow extra time to travel as services are set to be busier than they have been in recent times.

Unless exempt, face coverings must be worn at all times on the train and at the station.

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