University of Sheffield developed-tech freezes leaves on railway lines in bid to reduce delays
The new tech sees dry ice pellets blasted onto the track in order to freeze fallen foliage
New technology developed at the University of Sheffield could finally provide an answer to the problem of fallen leaves causing delays on the railways.
Called 'cryogrip', the new tech sees dry ice pellets blasted onto the track in order to freeze foliage that has fallen, before the track is blown clear.
A special train is currently being trialled by Northern in the North East, with a view to it being rolled out across the country.
Rob Cummings, of Northern Trains, said: “Some people like to make jokes about wet leaves on the line."
"But when you have steel wheels running on a steel rail, any slippery substance that affects the grip is a big problem.
“There is a comprehensive plan in place to help our train crews deal with this, which includes forecasting, extensive mapping, railhead treatment trains and sanders.
“We are also keen to find out whether the cryogenic cleaning equipment is another effective tool which can be used on other parts of our network."
Roger Lewis, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: “Our track cleaning system could revolutionise how we clean the UK’s railways, cut delays for passengers and save the industry some of the millions it loses to leaves on the line every year.
"The testing with Northern is a vital step towards the system being used more widely on lines across the country.”