Leaves on line is real safety issue

Rail boss explains why autumn is tough time on railways

- CHRIS SLATER

ITS almost become a byword for the alleged inefficiency of British infrastructure and our supposed inability to deal with changes in the weather: "Leaves on the line."

But it is not, in fact, an urban myth or a lame excuse for delayed trains. It is a real problem that places great strain on the nation's railway network at this time of year.

There are millions of trees next to railway lines across the country, and every autumn thousands of leaves fall onto the tracks, with wet weather meaning they can then stick to them.

This can then cause what is known as low railhead adhesion, or slippery rail, where objects such as leaves on the line reduce the traction between the wheel and the rail. As a result, trains can wheelslip when accelerating or slide when braking.

"Leaves on the line is a serious safety and performance issue for the railway," said the man tasked with tackling the issue for our region's biggest train operator.

Northern's seasonal performance improvement manager Rob Cummings added: "You have a steel wheel on a steel rail and anything that causes low adhesion can be a big problem."