Leaf-busting spray to keep trains on track

Water will be sprayed onto train tracks in the latest attempt by rail operators to ease delays caused by leaves every autumn.

Northern, Britain's second largest train operator which runs nearly 2,000 daily services, is fitting a system to 16 passenger trains to tackle slippery rails by showering water onto them.

The Water-Trak technology will be used on trains operating between Leeds, Harrogate and York, as well as between Sheffield, Doncaster, Hull and Scarborough.

Leaves cause major disruption every autumn when they stick to damp rails and become compressed by train wheels. This creates a smooth, slippery layer similar to black ice on roads, reducing trains' grip.

Braking comparison with and without water addition (HydroFLEX) from Simon Barnard on Vimeo.

Speed restrictions are imposed in an attempt to reduce accidents, such as the crash between two trains outside a tunnel near Salisbury in October last year, which left 13 passengers and one driver requiring hospital treatment.

The South Western Railway train slipped on crushed leaves, causing it to slide past a stop signal and smash into the side of a Great Western Railway service.

Rail lines have traditionally been cleaned using railhead treatment trains (RHTT), which deploy high-pressure water jets followed by a gel containing sand and steel grain to boost adhesion.

But RHTTs are expensive to run so are mainly limited to busy inter-city lines, meaning some routes are left untreated.

Trains stop safely in heavy rain, and Water-Trak recreates these conditions by dispensing a small amount of water when slippery rails are detected.

This can improve braking performance at a lower cost than using RHTTs.

Trials of the technology have been conducted on two of Northern's Class 319 trains in passenger service since October last year.

Rob Cummings, Northern's seasonal improvement manager, said rolling out the system to more trains is "the next step in finding a solution to tricky autumn conditions".

"One of the biggest risks to our performance during October and November is leaves on the line, but by helping to develop new innovative technology we aim to deliver the very best service for our passengers," he said.

Water-Trak installation on Class 319368 from Simon Barnard on Vimeo.

John Cooke, the co-founder of Water-Trak, said: "Leaves on the line may seem like a bit of a joke, or an excuse for bad performance. But actually, it's a major issue for the rail industry.

"We are really excited to be working with Northern to show how Water-Trak can help to solve the age-old problem of leaves on the line."

The Telegraph revealed earlier this year that brand new "Lasertrains" are to be trialled in the UK this autumn.

The lasers, attached to the bottom of trains, will "vaporise" the oily film left by crushed leaves in a trial on stretches of east Lancashire railway.

Some 10 million trees line Britain's railway, dropping thousands of tonnes of leaves onto tracks every autumn.

The rail industry's annual bill for autumn-related issues has been estimated at £345 million.