Roll-out for leafbusting technology

NORTHERN is fitting new technology to a number of its trains to help combat leaves on the line this autumn.

The system called WaterTrak, which was featured in development in our January 2022 issue (page 14), is based on the principle that a wet rail has more adhesion than a damp rail – so when low adhesion is detected, water is sprayed onto the rail head to simulate rainy day conditions. The system reduces the reliance on railhead treatment trains (RHTTs), which are expensive to operate and can only cover routes once every few days.

Northern is fitting the new technology to 16 trains that will operate on routes from Leeds to York via Harrogate, plus Sheffield to Scarborough via Doncaster and Hull, which are some of those most affected by poor railhead conditions in autumn.