Railway Carriage Cleaning in France.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 12, 1 October 1906, Page 350

Railway Carriage Cleaning in France.

In England cleanliness is supposed to be next to Godliness, and the railways keep an army of carriage cleaners constantly engaged upon removing the dust from the exterior and interior of railway coaches. The French Minister of Public Works has recently addressed a special circular to die managers of French railways, entitled, " Hygiene, Cleanliness, and Disinfection of the Carriages and Railway Buildings." The Minister reminds the managers of the various regulations that have been issued to them on the subject from time to time, and adds significantly that by the decree of March, 1901, the Minister is empowered to prescribe the measures that he may think necessary with respect to public safety and hygiene. The circular, particularly m respect to railway carriages, requires that .—. — (1) The interior surfaces of the compartments of passenger carriages, excepting the seats, backs, and elbow-rests, shall be covered with material that can be washed easily, and the furnished parts should be movable if possible. (2) The cleansing of the washable parts of passenger carriages should be rigorously carried out, whilst the cushions and furniture shall be cleaned m such manner as shall remove the dust. (3) The disinfection of passenger carriages must take place periodically — at least once a month, and without fail immediately after contamination. (4) Passenger carriages must be disinfected according to regulations already issued. (5) Disinfection, or at least cleaning, after each journey must be effected under the following conditions • — (a) when the carriages have served to carry invalids or pilgrims ; (b) in the case of carriages that habitually run to sanatoria and watering-places (seaside or otherwise) if frequented by consumptives, and immediately after a case of epidemic disease has been officially announced by the Minister of the Interior. (6) All passenger carnages should be heated according to the season and suitably ventilated without inconvenience to the passengers. (7) A notice forbidding spitting shall be shown in all carriages and places frequented by the public or employees. (8) The provision of suitable spittoons in all stations and waiting-rooms is insisted upon, as well as in passenger carriages when there is convenient accommodation for them. A long series of similar regulations is added for application to railway buildings, offices, etc.

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