The rail firm cleaning loos using green ‘chemical-free' product ... that's just water
A train company has been criticised for cleaning its tables and lavatories with a green 'chemical-free' product that is just distilled water.
Northern Rail has been using the Clean Zero substance on all of its 345 trains since late 2023 as part of a net zero drive.
Managers at the government-owned rail firm boasted that their trains' interiors were 'clean enough to eat from' after using the product, with publicity photos even showing a member of rail staff rolling out dough inside a carriage to demonstrate the cleanliness.
But concerns have been raised that Clean Zero, made by Lancashire-based 2San, is 'just water' and contains no disinfectant or soap-type ingredients.
Ian Blenkharn, an expert on hygiene and infection prevention who runs the consultancy Blenkharn Environmental, said water alone was not enough to kill harmful germs.
'I don't think it's a very good idea,' he told The Telegraph, after he was shown product safety documents that reveal the chemical composition of Clean Zero.
'As far as I've seen, it's just water... It looks rubbish. I can't help but think it's an April Fool's joke.
'It's not feasible to say 'wash it down with magic water, that's all you need to do'.'
2San's website says of Clean Zero: 'There is no eco-friendlier product than one that is made only of water, which will not only disrupt the cleaning industry but eliminate pollution and the detrimental impact some cleaning products can have on our health.'
Northern Rail introduced Clean Zero in November 2023 as part of a drive to replace chemical cleaning products with environmentally friendly alternatives.
A spokesman for Northern did not deny that Clean Zero is water, saying: 'Customers rightly expect the highest standards of cleanliness on board our trains.'
Jason Tallamy, the managing director of 2San, agreed to send The Telegraph copies of independent testing that proved how effective Clean Zero was.
He said in a statement: 'This award-winning product was the subject of independent testing by a leading UKAS [United Kingdom Accreditation Service] accredited testing laboratory.
'Those tests have confirmed that the product, when used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for use, does result in measurable reduction in bacterial and fungal numbers.
'We have received no complaints from our customers about the effectiveness of the product.'
In response to Mr Blenkharn's comments, Mr Tallamy said: 'As far as we are aware, Mr Blenkharn has not conducted any tests on the product, which has been the subject of independent verification.
'If Mr Blenkharn has conducted tests, we would be delighted to see the results and put them to the UKAS accredited testing laboratory that has previously tested the product.'
Reacting to the revelation, Gareth Bacon, the shadow transport secretary, accused Northern of creating a 'serious public health risk'.
He said: 'It is unacceptable that Northern Rail is reportedly using distilled water to clean toilets, tables, and grab poles, and still claim the tables on their trains are 'clean enough to eat off'. This is misleading and a serious public health risk.
'With the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) and the Health and Safety Executive apparently pointing their fingers at each other, the Government need to get a grip on this. They should step up to protect passengers and uphold basic safety standards.'
Clean Zero does not appear to be currently available to the public, but an Amazon review suggested that a 500ml bottle was priced at £7.50 in 2024. A similarly-sized bottle of bleach can be bought for around £1, while cleaning sprays cost around £3.
Despite the obvious public health implications of replacing disinfectant and soap with plain water, regulatory agencies are refusing to intervene.
The Health & Safety Executive declined to comment and said it was a case for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
The ORR declined to comment, saying its remit focuses on operational matters such as timetabling and the frequency of litter-picking at stations and on trains.
The Department for Transport also declined to comment, referring The Telegraph's enquiries to Northern.
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