Transpennine Express create new cleaning jobs in Preston to help combat coronavirus

Overnight cleaning on a transpennine express train — Overnight cleaning onboard a Transpennine Express train

Transpennine Express have created new jobs across in Preston as part of a £1.7million investment to protect customers and colleagues.

Their goal is to make customers feel safe and secure when travelling by train.

Transpennine Express has achieved Britain’s ‘We’re Good To Go’ accreditation as a result of meeting government and industry COVID-19 guidelines.

A cleaning programme is already in place, but the additional uplift will see an additional 9,400 cleaning hours, which will allow a dedicated team of ‘Train Presentation Operatives’ at every TPE station and on each train when it reaches its destination.

Find the latest coronavirus statistics in your area below

The enhancement represents a 70 per cent increase on pre coronavirus cleaning.

In the North, 21 new positions are being created across Preston, Liverpool, Manchester and Stalybridge.

Along with the recruitment of extra staff, the enhanced programme will see a boost to overnight cleaning and extended cleaning hours at all TPE stations. Toilet attendants will also be introduced at larger stations.

With a robust cleaning programme in place as well as social distancing on trains and stations, customers should feel reassured travelling by train is safe.

See the latest jobs near you by entering your postcode below

Customer Experience Director for TransPennine Express, Kathryn O’Brien, said : “Since the start of the pandemic, our team has been working tremendously hard to keep people safe with increased cleaning in place onboard trains and at stations and a real focus on common touch-points like handrails, door buttons and ticket vending machines.

This added investment will allow us to enhance the level of cleaning we provide giving those travelling on our services extra peace of mind.”

Customers travelling by train are reminded to buy before they board, travel outside peak times where possible, respect social distancing and wear a face covering.