Dry ice to be used to clear rail leaves in trial

The new technology blasts dry ice on to train tracks to clear them of leaves

A trial that blasts dry ice on to train tracks to clear them of leaves is taking place this autumn.

A Northern train will run between Bishop Auckland and North Road station in Darlington to help clear the line by freezing the leaves using dry ice pellets, which then turn back into a gas.

Fallen wet leaves can cause trains to slide, Northern said, leading to delays as drivers pull away from stations more slowly and brake earlier to avoid any issues.

Currently drivers rely on forecasting and mapping, with Network Rail using railhead treatment trains to clear mulch off the tracks and apply a gel, containing a mix of sand and steel grains.

The new cryogenic technology, developed by engineers at the University of Sheffield, blasts dry ice pellets in a "stream of air at supersonic speed".

Roger Lewis, a professor of mechanical engineering at the university, said the system could "revolutionise" how railways were cleaned.

"[It could] cut delays for passengers and save the industry some of the millions it loses to leaves on the line every year," he said.

The train running on the North East railway line will not be carrying passengers and is scheduled to operate between ordinary services.

Rob Cummings, Northern's seasonal performance improvement manager, said: "Some people like to make jokes about wet leaves on the line, but when you have steel wheels running on a steel rail, any slippery substance that affects the grip is a big problem."

Northern said if the trial was successful, the technology could be used on trains carrying passengers.