NETWORK Rail is utilising a converted road-rail Land Rover to keep leaves off the line.
At this time of year, falling leaves are crushed under train wheels – creating a slippery black layer on the rail. This significantly reduces the friction between wheels and track, and also creates a separation between them which can mean failures in the train detection equipment – both causes of delays and other dangers.
To address this, Network Rail operates 67 railhead treatment trains (RHTTs) nationally, delivering 200 million litres of high-pressure water every autumn and applying a gritty paste called sandite to improve grip.
However, the organisation said that RHTTs cannot access the whole network which is why the converted Land Rover Defender is being deployed. The vehicle will deposit Interflon OTR, a solution that breaks down leaf matter and keeps the rail clear of contamination.
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.”
