PPE Vending Machines Coming to Grand Central Terminal Later This Month
PPE Vending Machines Now at 22 Stations
MTA Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi today announced an expansion to its in-system personal protective equipment (PPE) vending machines to 10 new stations. Customers will be available to purchase KN95 masks, bottled hand sanitizer and gloves at 10 additional stations along the Harlem and Hudson Lines. Free masks are still being distributed at key stations by Metro-North station ambassadors, and on trains for any rider that needs. In addition, there are hand sanitizer dispensers at Metro-North stations.
In July Metro-North launched its initial rollout of vending machines, deploying them at 12, high-traffic stations on the Harlem and Hudson Lines. With today’s expansion 22 Metro-North stations have PPE vending machines. Grand Central Terminal, the iconic hub of the railroad, is expected to have vending machines later this month as well as Goldens Bridge on the Harlem Line. Beacon on the Hudson Line is expected to be completed by Jan. 2021, increasing the number of total stations with PPE vending machines to 25.
“Our message to customers is simple: we will do everything we can to keep you safe,” Rinaldi said. “We are cleaning our trains and stations like never before, distributing free masks to those who need one, and innovating our TrainTime app to offer new features to assist our customers with social distancing. Adding PPE vending machines at more stations is one more way to ensure that everyone who rides Metro-North is wearing a mask.”
Metro-North Railroad continues with its most aggressive cleaning regimen in the agency’s history by daily disinfecting and cleaning trains cars at least once a day and stations at least twice daily. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Metro-North stations have been cleaned more than 50,500 times and trains cars more than 124,000 times. Metro-North has installed touchless hand sanitizer dispensers at stations for customers and employees to access. Masks are also stored on all trains in the event a person boards without one.
PPE vending machines can now be found at the following additional stations:
- Bedford Hills
- Botanical Garden
- Chappaqua
- Cortlandt
- Crestwood
- Fleetwood
- Katonah
- Peekskill
- Riverdale
- Scarborough
The vending machines are stocked by Canteen, a division of the Compass Group USA and were built by Vengo, a manufacturer of retail vending machines. The products range from single use hand sanitizer for $0.75 to premium KN95 masks for $7.99.
Metro-North Railroad is working with Canteen to identify additional locations to add more vending machines at stations in the near future.
Wearing masks or face coverings are required on all trains and at stations, regardless of social distancing.