Explosive investigation reveals failure in Covid cleaning of Queensland Rail trains

Queensland Rail’s newest trains were not Covid cleaned adequately or at all during the ongoing pandemic, according to an explosive investigation.

Queensland Rail’s newest trains were not Covid cleaned adequately or at all during the ongoing pandemic, according to an explosive investigation that found employees did not even know how to use the specialist cleaning machines.

But the cleaning contractor says the report’s findings are “absurd” and the “flawed” investigation report contains “outlandish claims”.

Vision from a Queensland Rail video telling customers how they are cleaning trains during the Covid-19 pandemic

An independent health and safety report outlines how work crews contracted to clean NGR services sat on their phones, pretended to use fogging machines without turning them on, or didn‘t board trains they were meant to be cleaning in March this year.

Limited evidence meant the investigation, sparked when damning CCTV was uncovered by QR employees, couldn‘t determine how widespread the dodgy cleaning was and how far it stretched back to when fogging was made mandatory in March 2020.

But the report questioned whether adequate Covid cleaning was ever done properly.

It found “all cleaners advised that they have not received any instruction or training on the use of the fogging machines”, that depots appeared to have ”a fraction” of disinfectant solution required, and security personnel had not observed the ”regular and routine flow of deliveries” of the amount of cleaning agent necessary to properly clean NGR trains.

A New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) train.

It wasn’t apparent whether workers didn’t do the work upon instruction, a lack of understanding or because of inadequate supply, it said.

While there was no conclusive proof management at ICS – who was contracted to clean through arrangements between Transport and Main Roads, Qtectic and Alstom to manage the NGR fleet – knew Covid cleaning was not being done, the investigator believed they must have.

However, he said it appeared Qtectic and Alstom, and therefore TMR, were unaware.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Zak Simmonds

An ICS spokesman said the shoddy work was undertaken by a few individuals who had been sacked and the investigator never requested documents that proved chemicals had been ordered and training was adequate.

“These personnel are not reflective of the entire body of over 60 cleaning personnel,” he said, adding improved procedures were now in place.

But Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he was “absolutely appalled” by the report.

“It found training of cleaning staff employed by the subcontractor was inadequate, and that they were not given enough disinfectant by the company to do their job properly,” he said.

“Thankfully, we haven’t seen any transmission of COVID-19 on public transport services in Queensland, but commuters deserve better.”

TMR has stopped paying for cleaning since the problems were identified and the main NGR contractor has engaged security to supervise and audit cleans.

“My department receives daily updates on the cleaning, including an evidence sheet for each train with photographs,” Mr Bailey said.

“These additional measures for COVID-19 cleaning on NGR trains will continue for as long as they are required.”