Network Rail to use Land Rover to combat age-old problem of leaves on the line
An innovative custom-made Land Rover is helping drive Network Rail’s efforts to keep leaves off the line during autumn.
At this time of year, falling leaves crushed under train wheels creates a slippery black layer on the rail.
This can cause delays and other dangers, by reducing the friction between wheels and tracks and creating a separation between them which can mean failures in the train detection equipment.
To combat this, Network Rail operates railhead treatment trains (RHTTs) that deliver 200 million litres of high-pressure water every autumn and apply a gritty paste to improve grip.
But RHTTs cannot access every part of the country-wide network.
The ‘Flon Rover’ covers up to 20 miles of track per night across Yorkshire and the North East in place of the RHTTs.
It deposits a solution called Interflon OTR, which breaks down the leaf matter and keeps the rail clear of contamination.
Over the course of autumn, the Land Rover will visit the likes of Goole and Howden in East Yorkshire, Knottingley in West Yorkshire, Strensall in North Yorkshire and Stocksfield, near Newcastle.
Developed in collaboration with Aquarius and based in York, the ‘Flon Rover’ is used both proactively – according to a seasonal treatment calendar – and reactively, in areas where the contamination keeps building up.
Rhiannon Jones, signalling maintenance engineer for Network Rail, said: “We’ve integrated the ‘Flon Rover’ into our seasonal maintenance routine and have been making as much use of it as possible.
“It’s made a real difference in reducing the number of failures relating to leaves causing problems on the line.
“It’s part of a huge team effort at this time of year, from inspection and treatment out here on the railway to performance analysis and weather forecasting. Every role contributes to keeping passengers safe and services running smoothly.”