How the CFL makes its trains shine

To ensure the daily well-being of tens of thousands of passengers throughout the rail network, the CFL ensures that their rolling stock is clean. Whether Kiss, TER2N, Dosto or Z2, trains and railcars are regularly cleaned inside and out.

Specialist staff take care of the cleanliness of the trains on a daily basis to accommodate CFL passengers. The cleaning work is carried out day and night in Ettelbrück, Petange, Ulflingen, Trier, Koblenz or Düsseldorf, in Luxembourg and abroad. Especially in Luxembourg city trains are thoroughly cleaned from the inside. The toilets are cleaned and drained. From floors and curtains to seats and fold-out trays to ventilation grilles, every train’s interior is vacuumed and soaped. Such thorough cleaning work takes an average of eight hours.

Mobile service staff can be deployed

Speed and flexibility are the watchwords of the various professionals who are dispatched to specific stops and stations when required. Mobile teams work on entire sections of the line, from Wiltz to Diekirch, from Rodange to Petange, up to Volmerange-les-Mines, and walk the trains in search of more or less visible dirt. Plastic packages, glasses, cartons, food leftovers, the waste is collected and the bins are emptied. The interior of a train is cleaned at least once a day. Inspections are usually carried out early in the morning or later in the evening, i.e. before and after rush hours.

A call to common sense

Among the wastes that most often fill the bin, or if not found between two seats, are plastic bottles, newspapers and magasines. In order to ensure the cleanliness of trains and the well-being of passengers, the CFL reminds passengers that there are large enough rubbish bins at platforms, stations and stops.

The XL wash-station

The CFL also ensures that the outside of the rolling stock remains clean. For this purpose, the rolling stock is thoroughly cleaned on average every 2 weeks in the CFL cleaning hall. The principle of this wash-station, which works 7 days a week, is similar to that of a huge car wash. With a length of more than 200 meters and 8 wash portals, this wash-station has enough space to wash two complete railcars at the same time.

Washing with recycled water

Thanks to an installation, whose operation is similar to that of a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, the water supplied to the washing station is recycled water. After the vehicle has been cleaned, the waste water is disposed of without chemical additives and treated for reuse by means of a biological circulation process. From the application of the cleaner to rinsing, all washing processes are carried out with recycled water. Among other things, the water is treated by an oil separator and a filter press. Thanks to this circulation process, the need for fresh water is greatly reduced. Only the losses due to evaporation and towing water have to be compensated with fresh water.

Environmentally friendly and safe

All cleaning agents used in washing CFL trains are neutral and biodegradable. The handling of these non-irritating products is risk-free for the employees.