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| MAINTENANCE AND REFURBISHMENT
FlixTrain refurbishment project German start-up FlixMobility is a mobility provider, offering travel service FlixBus and more recently FlixTrain, which operates its own distinctive lime-green branded trains
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s FlixTrain continues to expand they have added to their fleet of refurbished vehicles. Forbo Flooring Systems has played a key part in the FlixTrain refurbishment project of 135 cars, providing floor covering solutions for saloons and vestibules areas. The refurbishment project will take place between March 2020 and May 2021. There can be few environments more challenging for floor coverings than inside busy saloon carriages and vestibules, where a hard wearing yet attractive textile floor covering is required, that also works well with the interior design scheme. It was highlighted by FlixTrain that it was important for the floor coverings to be hardwearing and able to withstand heavy foot traffic, wheelchairs, wheeled luggage and standardised cleaning methods.
Rail Professional
Two products were specified for the refurbishment project to meet FlixTrain’s requirements, the first being Coral Classic FR to be used in the vestibules. Coral Classic FR is the ultimate moisture absorbing entrance system meeting the European fire regulation EN45545-2 (HL2), preventing up to 95 per cent of dirt and moisture entering the saloon from passengers’ feet and luggage at point of entry. Coral Classic FR provides an effective entrance system to help reduce premature wear and tear to interior floor coverings, minimising cleaning and maintenance costs and protects passengers by reducing slip hazards. Coral Classic FR is available in a range of colourways, but Raven Black was selected to fit the interior design scheme and help hide dirt and soiling. Flotex FR Metro Anthracite was also
specified to be used in the saloons. This unique, textile, flocked floor covering combines the cleaning properties and durability of a resilient flooring with the comfort, slip resistant and acoustic properties normally associated with textile flooring. It also meets EN45545-2: HL2 standard. Flotex FR offered several unique advantages which were of importance to FlixTrain. Excellent acoustic properties up to 22dB along with Flotex FR’s impervious backing making it suitable for wet cleaning when required. Thomas Vetter, Procurement Manager for FlixTrain commented: ‘We hadn’t worked with Forbo before this project but were happy with the finished refurbishment and were very pleased with the great service Forbo were able to offer.’
