Dettol installs 800 hand-sanitiser units across Tube in 'six-figure deal' with Transport for London

More than 800 Dettol hand-sanitiser units have been installed across the Tube to help keep passengers safe from coronavirus.

The deal left Mayor Sadiq Khan rubbing his hands in more than one sense – a linked advertising deal has boosted Transport for London’s depleted coffers by a “six figure sum”.

The Mayor, who has been travelling widely by Tube, was pictured using the gel at London Bridge station as he headed home to south London last night.

Sanitiser was already provided across the network but the deal will allow Dettol to use its own brand gel – which it is supplying free of charge - for an unlimited period.

It comes as morning rush hour Tube and bus passenger numbers continue to grow, with Wednesday being the busiest day since lockdown.

By 10am, there were 315,000 trips on the Tube and 690,000 on buses - up about 11 per cent on the same day in the previous week.

However overall numbers are still well down on “normal” levels as efforts continue to attract workers back to central London.

The Dettol deal aims to boost passenger confidence about the safety of the Tube, which is subject to an intensive cleaning regime, focusing on “touch points” such as poles, doors and ticket machines.

But the posters sparked a mix of reactions on social media – with some suggesting Dettol was taking advantage of a health crisis, while others asked whether its own staff were being encouraged to return to the office.

There was also debate about whether the tone of the adverts – which include a list of things that employees can expect to experience back in the office, including "seeing your second family" and "proper bants" – was serious or tongue-in-cheek.

An advertising campaign highlights the importance of using hand sanitiser to help protect others across the transport network. Face masks have been required since June 15.

The dispensers will feature new branding encouraging passengers to use them and “help protect the little things we love” like getting out and about, back to work or seeing friends and family.

Dettol says the gel has been proven to kill bacteria and viruses, including coronavirus. It has 62 per cent ethanol (alcohol) as the germ disinfection active ingredient, which is in line with Public Health England and WHO recommendations, and “kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses”.

TfL is also trialling continuous ultra-violet cleaning of escalator handrails and trains are also cleaned with a long-lasting anti-viral spray which also helps to protect customers.

A further 210 hand sanitiser units dispensing another brand are available at bus stations, tram stops and other locations across the TfL network.

Mr Khan said: “I’m really pleased that TfL and Dettol have teamed up to provide hand sanitiser to Tube passengers across the network. It is vital that we all play our part in making public transport as safe as possible by using hand sanitiser points, wearing a face covering unless you are exempt, and travelling off-peak to enable better social distancing.”

Andy Lord, managing director of London Underground said: “We want everyone using our services to be confident when travelling with us. It is great that we can work with Dettol to provide their hand sanitiser to our customers and promote the importance of keeping your hands clean.

“This partnership is testament to the many efforts made by our staff and passengers during the pandemic to help keep everyone sanitised. By working together, we can help get London moving again.”

Susan Egstrand, regional general manager at Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Dettol, said: “We know that good hygiene is one of the foundations of good health. Maintaining the healthy hygiene habits we acquired over lockdown long-term will aid the return to a more ‘normal’ life and allow us to get London back on the move once again.

“Using hand sanitiser while riding the Tube may seem simple but these small habits really are huge acts of care and protection in helping stop the spread of germs causing illness.”

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