Delayed by leaves on the line? Solution could be sand

THERE’S no surer sign of autumn than endless train delays caused by leaves on the line.

But this year, experts believe they may have found a solution – spraying the tracks with sand.

Leaves stick to damp rails, and passing trains compress them into a slippery layer known as leaf mulch that reduces grip.

The answer, experts say, is metal boxes mounted under trains that release ultra-fine grains of sand on to the tracks, helping the wheels stick.

While similar systems have been used before, the latest version is able to adjust the amount of sand depending on how fast the train is going and how slippery the rails are.

Three train operators, including West Midlands, are trialling the new system this autumn. But tests already carried out by the rail safety watchdog found the sand reduced skidding past red lights by 98 per cent.

Neil Ovenden, chairman of the Rail Delivery Group which represents train operators, told the Sunday Telegraph the plans represented the ‘single biggest step forward in adhesion management in the last 20 years’.

If the trials are successful the system could be rolled out network-wide by next autumn.