HVAC solutions for rail: Keeping passenger safety on track

Heading in the right direction

Rail operating companies must be breathing a collective sigh of relief as passenger numbers recover from the depths of the Covid pandemic. During 2020 and 2021 in particular, a general fear of large crowds in enclosed spaces caused many people to switch from trains to cars – if they travelled at all.

Now, an average surge in rail traffic of over 12% has been recorded across Europe, with Slovenia alone enjoying a 45% rise in passenger numbers. At the same time, new investments in rail are leading to a “renaissance in sleeper trains” and high-speed rail lines across the continent in response to carbon reduction targets.

Yet despite this good news, recent progress can be quickly compromised by a resurgence of the pandemic emergency as we enter the winter months. It’s also worth stating that the harsh realities of localized outbreaks and a return to isolation and/or social distancing will not be going away in the short term. All of which puts the pressure on train operators to offer the safest and most comfortable travelling experience possible.

Travelling in style

There is a clear and direct link between passenger comfort and the provision of HVAC – heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This is technology that’s responsible for creating the ideal travelling environment, irrespective of local, outside conditions.

But it can also be seen as a negative, flowing the air breathed by all those contained inside the train throughout different carriages – including the particulates of harmful viruses.

Building and maintaining the trust of passengers therefore demands:

• A constant source of fresh air supply
• Filters able to capture and remove particulates such as SARS-CoV-2 virus
• HVAC units able to combine effective ventilation with precise temperature control

Where comfort meets safety

With Thermo King’s Rail HVAC solutions, passengers and employees can breathe easy on every journey. Based on 30+ years of industry experience, this is a highly customizable technology that begins and ends with human comfort:

• Precise temperature controls
• Humidity monitoring
• Enabling the constant flow of fresh air

Beyond comfort however exists safety, and our solutions also contain the latest innovations to decrease the potential for airborne transmission of viruses. For example, in the area of air sanitation, Thermo King’s Rail HVAC solutions utilize PEPA-F (Pathogen Eliminating Particulate Air Filter), which has the ability to:

• Capture and block both large and finer particles travelling in the air
• Extend this filtering to cover water, dust, and aerosol
• Eliminate SARS-CoV-2 virus via a second layer of zinc wires

Explore Thermo King’s HVAC solutions for train, tram, and metro

Combining specific capabilities designed for passenger safety and comfort, while also offering unprecedented reliability and service support, Thermo King is helping rail operators prepare for an uncertain future. Available for new rail cars as well as for retrofitting an existing fleet, our goal is to equip every client with the very latest technology available in air sanitation and environmental control. See our solutions page for more information.

Explore the technology.