A new method of tackling autumn’s most notorious rail problem – leaves on the line – will be tested on Northern services this year.
From October, a train fitted with Cryogrip cryogenic cleaning equipment will run between Bishop Auckland and North Road (Darlington), operating in gaps between scheduled services. Although not carrying passengers, the train will trial whether the technology can improve adhesion by removing compressed leaf mulch from the railhead.
Developed by the University of Sheffield, the system works by firing pellets of dry ice at supersonic speed. The leaves are frozen instantly and then blasted away as the pellets sublimate back into gas, leaving the railhead clear.
The concept was first proven on the Wensleydale Railway, but this marks its debut on a line used for daily passenger operations. If successful, the system could eventually be fitted to in-service passenger units.
Northern’s seasonal performance improvement manager Rob Cummings said leaves were no laughing matter:
“When you have steel wheels running on steel rail, any slippery substance is a big problem. We already use a mix of forecasting, mapping, railhead treatment trains and on-train sanders, but we are keen to see if cryogenic cleaning can be another effective tool.”
Professor Roger Lewis of the University of Sheffield added that widespread adoption could “revolutionise” track cleaning, cutting delays and saving the industry millions.
Each autumn, thousands of tonnes of leaves fall onto the railway. When compressed by wheels in wet conditions, they create a slippery, Teflon-like layer that makes braking and acceleration difficult. Drivers are forced to brake earlier and pull away more gently, often lengthening journey times.
Currently, Network Rail’s railhead treatment trains run six days a week, using high-pressure water jets and a sand/steel gel mix to restore grip. Northern also issues daily route guidance and forecasts to its drivers, with known hotspots such as the Horsforth–Harrogate line receiving extra attention.
Operating more than 2,650 trains a day to over 500 stations, Northern says the trial reflects its commitment to exploring new technology that could help crews manage seasonal challenges more effectively.
