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

As 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.

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.’

Coral FR The market leading textile entrance flooring brand for over 50 years, offering more choice than ever before with attractive and sustainable clean-off systems in styles and constructions to suit all rail applications.

Benefits include: • Stops up to 95 per cent of dirt and moisture • Excellent dirt storage/soil hiding • Available with Pro-Fit backing for quicker installation • Reaction to fire EN45545-2: HL2/ HL3 (depending on design) • Cut to size/shape option

Flotex FR There are two collections within the Flotex FR product range: Flotex Colour FR and Flotex Vision FR. Flotex Colour FR consists of four semi-plain type designs (Metro, Penang, Calgary and Canyon) that are rotary printed. Together they form a rhapsody of colour across a broad spectrum, to work with most interior design schemes. Flotex Vision FR is digitally printed with high definition quality allowing for large pattern repeats and vivid lifelike colours. This provides a new dimension for Flotex FR and provides ultimate design flexibility for rail environments.

Benefits include: • Bespoke design service • Lightweight at approximately 1225g/m2 • Excellent acoustic properties up to 22dB • Impervious backing making it suitable for wet cleaning • Improved indoor air quality (independently proven by Allergy UK) • Reaction to fire EN45545-2: HL2 • Cut to size/shape option

Tel: +44 (0)1773 744121 Email: transport@forbo.com Visit: forbo-flooring.com/rail