The cleaning fairies of CFL trains
Respect is as easy as 1-2-3. As part of the National Day of Respect in Public Transport on 3 May, the CFL present how the notion of respect coincides with the quality of service offered to customers. This is a constant effort, carried out behind the scenes.
Every morning, your train arrives at the station clean and ready for departure. It might seem like magic worked overnight to give it the shine you deserve as a CFL customer.
But there’s no magic involved. Working closely with their external service provider, who is permanently present at various railway sites, the CFL plan and carry out train cleaning at least once a day.
‘Most of the operations take place at night. Most of the rolling stock is cleaned as it passes through the Storage and Maintenance Centre (CRM) and the Troisvierges, Ettelbruck and Pétange stations. In the event of a construction site, we also clean trains parked in other stations at night,’ explains Mike, Rolling Stock Cleaning Manager at the CFL Operations Centre. ‘Our external partner has teams dedicated specifically to the CFL, with some 80 employees dedicated to the daily cleaning of trains’.
Emptying the rubbish bins, cleaning toilets, sweeping the floor, removing any items from the seats… the review is meticulous. ‘The toilets are systematically emptied and clean water added to most of the vehicles returning to the CRM to ensure that our customers have the best possible comfort during their journey.’
When the sun rises, operations don’t stop. ‘During the day, we also have teams on duty at Luxembourg and Pétange stations to clean trains when they are parked between journeys. If the accompanying staff report a deterioration in the cleanliness of a train, we can take immediate action with a mobile team that can be mobilised as soon as the train in question arrives at Luxembourg or Pétange station’.
Good to know No more individual rubbish bins on board the CFL's new Coradia trains. These new-generation trains are equipped with mini waste sorting stations at the entrance. This is a concrete gesture in favour of the environment, and offers customers more seating space by relocating the bins near the entrance and exit doors.
A wide range of operations and state-of-the-art equipment
Adapting the schedule to construction sites, removing graffiti, descaling pipses… the range of operations linked to train cleaning covers the entire use and operation of the machines, which are also handled in the CFL cleaning hall within the CRM.
‘We list several types of cleaning depending on the running and use of the trains, from daily cleaning to a major quarterly thorough cleaning’, explains Mike.
Concerned about their environmental impact, the CFL has, via their service provider, a station for dosing and mixing concentrated cleaning products with water. Thanks to this tool, the right dosage and the precise quantity are prepared on site, with a consequent reduction in waste. With a 20-litre can of concentrated product, it’s possible to work for a quarter with 95% biodegradable products.
When you take the train, think of those who have finished their shift a short time before so that you can enjoy a comfortable journey… in complete cleanliness.
