Railtrack plc

Railtrack blasts leaves on the line
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date 16 October 1996
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

To every thing there is a season ... a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted says the Bible. And, in railway terms, autumn is traditionally the time for leaves on the line.

For years, leaves have been the butt of railway jokes, but they do cause severe track adhesion problems for trains. This affects their ability to accelerate and decelerate and in some cases, stop safely. They also interfere with the operation of track circuits, causing problems for signallers.

This year Railtrack has invested nearly £250,000 to trial a new system, which has been successfully used in France and Sweden to blast the leaves from the track.

A new high pressure water cannon has been fitted to a track repair machine to trial the system in southern England. It dislodges leaf mulch from the rails with a 1,000 bar water jet. Depending on its success, the new system could replace the sandite trains which are currently being used to reduce the risk nationwide.

At other vulnerable locations a longer term lineside vegetation management programme has been designed to keep the trackside clear of the broad-leafed trees that can cause problems. Working with qualified tree surgeons, selective thinning and felling of overhead branches has taken place outside the main nesting season to prepare for the autumn downfall.

Leaflets and posters have appeared at local rail stations to keep travellers informed of the new iniatives and the problems leaf fall can cause.

Find out more about Railtrack's responses to the problem of leaves on the line.

Railhub Archive ::: 1996-10-16 RTK-001