PASSENGER trains and railway stations are being left in a “disgraceful” state by cleaning contractors, according to a damning RMT report.

Cleaners working for such companies have dismissed inspections as “superficial” and 80 per cent said that they had been forced by heavy workloads to cut corners in their jobs, a survey by the rail union found. 

The union argued that this was happening because profits, not passengers, were the main priority of train operators and cleaning contractors.

Rail privatisation saw services such as cleaning outsourced by operators to contractors clamouring for a share of rail-industry profits, which are boosted by subsidies from the taxpayer.

RMT said that, under Department for Transport (DfT) regulations, train companies must maintain a high standard of cleanliness on trains and at stations.

However, “alarming” deficiencies exist in outsourced cleaning services, with six in 10 franchises failing to meet annual cleaning targets in the last two years, the union said.

RMT said that the outsourcing system “prioritises private profit for shareholders” over keeping the railways in good order.

It added that the DfT had also lowered the standards demanded of train companies to help them meet targets.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “The current state of cleanliness on our railways is a complete disgrace.

“Despite contractual obligations, many train operators are failing to uphold basic cleanliness standards, putting passenger satisfaction and safety at risk.

“The exploitation of contracted-out cleaners and the degradation of cleanliness standards is not something that should be tolerated.”

He called for cleaning services to be brought in house and for operators to be held responsible for standards.

The union has long campaigned for rail renationalisation.