Metrolink, Southern California’s passenger rail service, today announced it has completed the installation of two hand sanitizing stations on each of its 215 train cars – more than doubling the number previously available and delivering another important milestone in the Agency’s improvement efforts to keep riders healthy and safe aboard its trains.
Prior to COVID-19, Metrolink had sanitizer stations on every train – but not every car. In Metrolink’s recent COVID-19 Customer Survey hand sanitizers on all train cars replaced Wi-Fi as the top customer-requested amenity. Now, hand sanitizing stations are available near each door of every train car, so passengers can use them when entering and exiting at either end of its train cars.
“As our region continues the process of returning to work, Metrolink riders can have confidence that safety remains our foundational value,” said Metrolink Board Chair Brian Humphrey. “We have been hard at work since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that our service – which is essential to so many – remains a safe way for people to travel across Southern California. The installation of hand sanitizers is an important milestone to accomplish that.”
The installation of hand sanitizers is one of many steps Metrolink is taking to ensure the health and safety of its riders as the region continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the COVID-19 Customer Survey, Metrolink riders identified measures to help maintain social distancing and cleanliness on board trains as the two most important improvements they want to see on Metrolink trains.
On July 2, Metrolink launched "How Full Is My Train?" an online social-distancing tool that allows riders to check recent ridership levels of a train they plan to ride and confirm they will have the ability to maintain the recommended six-foot distance from fellow riders. Metrolink constantly monitors boardings with the goal of keeping ridership at or below 30 percent of the available seats per train to ensure plenty of room for social distancing.
In May, Metrolink announced enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures that include daily deep cleaning and electrostatic spraying of hospital-grade disinfectants on its trains. Metrolink also added cleaning staff — the “Clean Care Crew” — who are dedicated to touchpoint cleaning of trains, including wiping down seats, arm and headrests, rails, grab bars, tables, trash cans and rest rooms throughout the day.
Additionally, Metrolink requires riders and employees to wear a face mask while riding on trains. Metrolink also reminds riders to follow guidelines set by health officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – including regular hand-washing with soap and water. For more information on how Metrolink is working to keep riders and employees safe, please visit metrolinktrains.com/safety.
“We know we are in unprecedented times, and our riders are looking to us to reassure them that they are safe riding our system,” said Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We want our riders and the community to know that we are not only listening – but are also taking action – as we build smarter, better essential Metrolink service for the region.”
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