Wabtec Corp. launched an air-filtration innovation, called BlueFilter®, to provide a clean, healthy environment for passengers on metro and trains. The TÜV-tested filter continuously provides fresh and clean air onboard metro and railcars by removing more than 90% of contaminants per air cycle.

BlueFilter’s design removes contaminants that are .01 to 1,000 micrometers in size. That includes allergens, bacteria, various dusts and viruses. By comparison, today’s standard filters typically only remove particles that are between 10 to 1,000 micrometers in size, which only includes contaminants such as pollen, most dusts, and some bacteria.

The BlueFilter has been tested by two independent labs, including TÜV North Group. Additionally, Wabtec partnered with transit operators to field test the product. The testing demonstrated that BlueFilter provides transit operators a healthy, safe environment for their fleets without impacting the HVAC performance. It is an air quality breakthrough for the rail industry as riders return to commuter trains.