Stronger cleaning material being used on Edinburgh's trams to combat spread of coronavirus

Edinburgh Trams is also urging passengers to clearly present their tickets to staff on board so they can validate tickets without touching them. Smartcards can also be validated by hovering it over the keypad of the ticket inspector’s handheld device.

The details were released in a statement released on Tuesday by Edinburgh Trams, who say they will continue to operate as long as it’s deemed safe to do so.

The statement said customer and colleague safety is their “number one priority” and they have taken some additional measures to help delay the spread of coronavirus.

Specifically, they will be using a stronger grade cleaning material throughout the trams with particular attention paid to frequently touched points such as poles and doors.

This method has also been rolled out to ticket vending machines, validator points and equipment used on board.

The statement added: “We are supporting our staff with regular updates when guidance changes and have encouraged good hygiene by providing anti-bacterial products within the depot and out on the route.

“We want to help support our colleagues’ mental health as well as their physical health during this difficult time. Edinburgh Trams has built a mental health community run by trained in house colleagues who are available for confidential chats should people feel overwhelmed by the situation at any time. The Everyone Together Ambassadors can be identified by the pink badge they wear.”

Lea Harrison, managing director of Edinburgh Trams, said: “We want to take this opportunity to thank customers for their continued support and to thank our colleagues who are all working incredibly hard to ensure that we continue to provide a service to the public that will keep essential services running.”