Railways
For glass in platform shelters, bridges, waiting areas and rolling stock, ClearShield Eco-Glass® is the ideal solution for...
cleaner glass that stays looking new for longer
easier removal of most graffiti
making passengers feel safer
reducing passenger complaints
Glass Renovation
Metal oxides, such as dust from rails and brake pads, as well as usual atmospheric pollution will badly stain and discolour glass. Cleaning the dirt build-up is very difficult, if not impossible. Not only does dirty glass affect visibility, it also creates an unclean and unsafe image. The ClearShield Eco-System® can renovate glass to an ‘as-new’ appearance.
ClearShield® Protection
ClearShield Eco-Glass® resists staining and discolouration, keeping all glass looking like new for longer. This results in increased passenger comfort and satisfaction as well as reduced maintenance requirements.
Railway Case Studies
Luton Parkway Station
Luton, UK
Glass at Luton Parkway station not only had to contend with the usual dirty residue from diesel trains, but also unburnt hydrocarbons from aviation fuel generated by aircraft taking off and landing at nearby Luton Airport. The glass had not been cleaned since the station opened in 1999 so there was a significant amount of dirt build-up. Thameslink Rail, the company that runs the station, had to find a long-lasting solution. Thameslink contacted Ritec to provide the answer.
Ritec’s on-site team subsequently treated most of the glass at the station, including the entrance façade and platform shelters.
The Head of Retail for Thameslink Rail said: “The glazing was difficult to keep clean – regular window cleaning was not effective and was costly. We needed something that kept glass cleaner longer and, if needed, made the cleaning easier to do. ClearShield® was the ideal solution and I would recommend it to anyone.”
< Before renovation and protection (top) and after
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station
Hokkaido, Japan
This station has been rebuilt and very extensively enlarged to serve from March 2016 as the northern terminal of the new Hokkaido Shinkansen (‘bullet train’) line. All the external glass surfaces (1,800m²) of this station have been protected with the ClearShield Eco-System®, applied in the factory.
Previously, Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) specified photocatalytic coatings ('self-cleaning' glass) for glass windows and curtain walling of many new stations. However, the company was becoming increasingly aware that photocatalytic coatings were not performing as well as expected, particularly under wet and / or salty conditions, like those close to the sea. In fact, this type of coating has never been used for glass in marine vessels or shower enclosures, and also not recommended for buildings near the sea. Because Japan consists of large and small islands and many railway stations are located on the coast, an alternative technology had to be found.
On the other hand, ClearShield® works in all conditions and environments. It was originally specified to protect glass in a number of stations, including Numanohata (350m²) and Ainosato-Kyoikudai (small area) in 2007, then Shiroishi (1,300m²) in 2010 with excellent results. These successful experiences have led to JR Hokkaido specifying ClearShield® for this prestigious shinkansen station.