South Western Railway (SWR) are trialling a new air-purifying totem at Salisbury station as it looks to improve its passenger well-being. The technology, dubbed the "Pluvo Column," will stand on platform four, and will be fitted with advanced filtration technology to combat the invisible enemy of air pollution.
The Pluvo column sucks in polluted air in and then exhales clean, breathable air for passengers waiting for their trains. However, another innovation has been added with the installation of Hello Lamp Post. The column will be fitted with Hello Lamp Post’s interactive chat feature, where passengers will be able to talk to SWR’s mascot and learn about the technology.
We're proud to be the first train operator to trial a Pluvo air-purifying totem at one of its stations.
— SWR Help (@SW_Help) January 19, 2024
Here, Dan Piner @SW_Help's Senior Innovation & Strategy Manager tells you a little about it. pic.twitter.com/o2yqQlF6YX
SWR have plans, if the trail is successful to roll it out further on its network, which stretches across much of the south west and Wessex. The scheme is part of a wider push by SWR to be a greener, more sustainable railway which has seen them install over 4,000 cycle spaces and are championing sustainable tourism through bike and scooter hire schemes.
It was also the first train operating company to publish its roadmap to Net Zero, which has been recognised by the Science Based Targets Initiative, a leading global climate body.
Jessica Van Staden, South Western Railway’s senior sustainability manager said: “This partnership with Pluvo is very important to us as we investigate and trial new ways of improving our customers’ journeys. The results of the Pluvo Column trial at Salisbury could have far reaching effects on how we improve air quality in our stations as well as in other public spaces.
“We would like to encourage customers at the station to use the Column’s chat feature to give us their opinion on the trial and whether they would like to see it extended to other SWR stations”.
Matteo Maccario, CEO of Pluvo, echoes the sentiment: “We’re delighted to be working with SWR to improve the air quality at one of the South West’s busiest stations. Air Pollution is the single biggest environmental threat to global health and the Pluvo Column is a solution which can help create healthier and safer spaces for us all.”
Image: Southwestern Railway
