Cancelled by ‘threat’ of leaves

LEAVES on the line are already a familiar hazard for rail users.

But it has emerged that even the threat of falling leaves is enough to spark train cancellations.

A newspaper has claimed that on Thursday morning, amid concerns frosty conditions would increase leaf-fall, two evening services to Glasgow and Edinburgh were axed.

ScotRail has admitted scrapping some services when it believes that conditions may leave rails slippery. Compacted leaves on the line can create a mulch that affects the braking efficiency of trains, raising safety concerns. It has been reported that around 15 services are cancelled daily as a result.

ScotRail Alliance, a collaboration between the operator and Network Rail, said the policy affects only 0.6 per cent of its daily services, adding: ‘These were changed to protect the overall timetable as a result of forecast weather conditions.’