No Covid traces found on surfaces or in the air at major train stations including London Euston in relief for commuters

NO traces of Covid have been found on surfaces or in the air at major train stations.

Network Rail carried out analysis at four busy stations in January and June: London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly.

Escalator handles, ticket machines and benches were swabbed by researchers and air samples were taken to check if there were Covid particles floating about.

Trains running between stations were also tested by researches from Imperial College London.

The team found no traces of Covid on any of the surfaces they tested, and the air was free of any virus particles.

Network Rail senior programme manager Rob Mole said: “Station cleaning teams and train staff have made it their mission to keep passengers safe during the pandemic and this is proof their dedicated approach works.

“We want all passengers to travel in confidence on the railway network and we will keep doing our part by rigorously cleaning trains and stations.”

Brits are no longer legally required to continue to wear face masks but train travellers have been asked to keep using them.

David Green, senior research fellow at Imperial College London, said: “In the same way that a swab is used to take a Covid-19 test in the nose and throat and sent to the lab, we use a filter to collect any virus particles in the air and swabs to collect viruses on surfaces.

“This approach provides a way of quantifying the amount of virus circulating in these public environments and the effect of mitigation strategies like cleaning and wearing face coverings.”

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It is still compulsory to wear masks on Transport for London services after mayor Sadiq Khan said he didn’t want passengers put “at risk”.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also stated that masks are required on the city’s Metrolink tram service to protect passengers and staff.

Uber has also said its ‘No Mask, No Ride’ policy remains in place.

Passengers travelling with British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair will need to wear face coverings, as well as on the Eurostar.