Leaf-busting trains to clear more than 90,000 miles of Great Western railway this autumn
Devon branch lines will be treated by train for the first time
Four specialist "leaf-busting" trains will travel around 90,100 miles across the Great Western route this autumn to clear fallen leaves from the tracks.
That is enough to circle the world just over three and a half times, according to Network Rail.
The rail head treatment trains (RHTTs) will run from the start of October to mid-December.
They use high-pressure water jets to blast slippery leaf mulch from the rails and special treatment is then applied to improve grip.
Why leaves cause problems on the railway
Network Rail said damp leaves are crushed by passing trains and form a thin, slippery layer on the rails, like black ice on a road.
This reduces the grip between a train's wheels and the rail.
Drivers then need to brake earlier when approaching stations and signals, and accelerate more gently to avoid wheel spin.
Network Rail said these precautions keep trains moving safely but can add time to journeys and lead to delays.
A build-up of leaf mulch can also interfere with the train detection equipment used by the signalling system.
New routes added to the treatment plan
Additional routes have been included in the treatment plan for the first time this year.
These include the Okehampton and Barnstaple branch lines in Devon, which will be treated twice a week.
Previously, difficult-to-reach locations were treated manually by mobile operations managers, who applied sand to the rails by hand.
Other autumn preparations on the Great Western route
Network Rail said heavy rain, strong winds and cooler temperatures can also affect the railway and train operators spend months preparing to minimise disruption.
As well as the treatment trains, the preparations on the Great Western route include:
- Specialist weather forecasting, supported by meteorologists at MetDesk, to give an early indication of weather-related risks.
- Leaf-fall forecasts, which Great Western route's Control teams receive twice a day during autumn.
- These show rail-adhesion conditions, the percentage of leaves remaining on trees and the percentage of leaves on the ground.
- Network Rail said this helps it target resources where the risk of contamination is greatest.
- Vegetation management along the Barnstaple and Okehampton lines, to manage leaf-fall contamination and reduce the risk of trees and branches falling onto the railway during storms.
- Drainage improvements at locations previously vulnerable to flooding, including Roche on the Newquay line and Wivelscombe Tunnel between Saltash and St Germans.
- Drainage systems were cleared this summer in the Bristol area.
- The wider resilience programme at Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire also includes measures to reduce the risk of major flooding and disruption.
Flood monitoring technology
Network Rail said it is building on a successful trial of new monitoring technology designed to improve understanding of flood risks.
At one location in Devon, sensors have measured water movement at both the river surface and riverbed.
This helps engineers assess the risk of scour, where fast-flowing water can erode material around bridge foundations.
The data supports computer modelling that can indicate whether a bridge may have been affected following severe weather.
Network Rail said this can reduce the need for some manual inspections by divers and help lines reopen sooner.
Previously, divers could only inspect structures once river levels and water velocity had fallen to safe levels, which could extend the time the railway stayed closed.
Jo Grew, Route Strategy Director for Network Rail’s Great Western route and GWR, said: “Autumn brings a range of challenges for the railway, and we prepare year-round to reduce their impact and keep passengers moving safely.
“Our rail head treatment trains will be out in force until mid-December, clocking up more than 90,000 miles as they work to keep the rails free from leaf-fall contamination.
“This year we’ve expanded the coverage of the RHTTs and introduced a new timetable to help us direct resources to the areas that need them most. We’re also trialling a new treatment product in Gloucester, which leaves a water-resistant layer on the rail and could reduce how frequently treatments need to be applied.
“It’s all part of the huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to reduce the impact of autumn weather and keep passengers moving safely and reliably.”