Special 'treatment' trains out 24 hours a day to sweep Autumn leaves off track in Milton Keynes

Network Rail’s ‘leaf-busting’ trains started today (Thursday) and will continue until December.

They will wash leaf debris from a total of 30,000 miles of track on Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight railway lines.

The total miles to be treated along the West Coast South route, which runs from Euston to Crewe, will be equivalent to going 1.2 times around the equator.

After the tracks have been cleared, the machines then apply rails with a glue-like coating to help passenger and freight train wheels grip the tracks.

Regarded as the railway’s equivalent of black ice on the roads, leaves on the line can create issues when they stick to damp rails and are compressed by moving trains into a thin, black layer which can affect train braking and acceleration.

The build-up of leaf mulch can also make it harder for signallers to detect a train’s location, causing delays.

James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “Leaves on the line are a big problem for the railway. It disrupts services and inconveniences passengers and every year, Network Rail and train operators work together to battle against the elements to get passengers and freight to their destinations.

“Even more work has gone into getting prepared for autumn this year because of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, including how we operate the trains themselves. We are ready to keep people and goods moving along the West Coast main line, running a safe and reliable service for our customers.”

Last year Network Rail spent £3.6 million on its West Coast South and Central routes during its autumn efforts to keep passengers moving.

This year, 19 track gel applicators have been positioned across the West Coast South route. They spray a special sand-like gel onto the rails to help provide extra grip for train wheels.

Specialist teams will be positioned to check that the autumn treatment programme is working effectively and provide additional support where necessary.

Gus Dunster, executive director operations and safety at Avanti West Coast, said: “Network Rail’s efforts during autumn are vital in making sure our trains run to time. This part of year is always challenging for rail operators and leaves on the line can have a massive impact on punctuality, which is why this work is so important.”

Lawrence Bowman, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway, said: “Keeping trains moving on the West Coast main line, as well as on our local branch lines, is vitally important for our passengers. During autumn, leaves can be a challenge across the rail network and so we are continuing to support Network Rail in their work to enable a reliable train service to continue to run.”