Train delays caused by leaves on the line can provoke some traditional British gallows humour amongst passengers, but leaves represent a serious threat to the railway here, and across the globe.
When trains pass over leaves, the heat and weight of the trains bake them into a thin, slippery layer on the rail, similar to black ice on the roads. This mulch can also interfere with signalling systems, forming a barrier between the train wheels and the electrical parts of the track that help us to pin-point where trains are.
With more than 13 million trees on and next to the railway in Britain, tackling leaf-fall requires a massive operation. Network Rail’s dedicated leaf-fall teams work around the clock to clear tracks, with specialised leaf-fall forecasting and- the stars of the show- a fleet of multi-purpose vehicles – will treat 1.12 million miles of track- the distance around the world approximately 40 times between September and December.
So to offer some light re-leaf this autumn, Network Rail has teamed up with railway historian and tv presenter Tim Dunn to offer you the chance to anoint one of the unsung heroes of the British autumn with a befitting name.
Whether it’s paying tribute to a revered person (Leafer Sutherland) or if you’ve just got an unbe-leaf-able pun, get your nominations in before Friday 20 September to be in with a chance to see one of Network Rail’s leaf-busters adorned with your chosen name.
A judging panel featuring railway writer, historian, and presenter Tim Dunn will shortlist entries with the final handful going to a public vote to decide the winning name. The final name and ‘unveiling’ will be held at one of our autumn treatment depots in late October.
Tim said: “I’m delighted to get behind this campaign, which highlights how Network Rail’s leaf-busters help reduce delays and keep passengers moving during the autumn period. This is a terrific opportunity for the public to name one of these high-tech marvellous machines, so get those suggestions in now. I’m confident you can do better than my entry: ‘Trainy McTrainFace.”
Lisa Angus, Network Rail’s industry weather response director, commented: “The scale of the operation involved in keeping passengers moving through the Autumn is monumental and this year will be our biggest yet, with more miles being covered by our leaf-busters and more technology being used than ever before.
“Our leaf-busting trains are the unsung heroes of the British autumn and we’re excited to hear the creative naming nominations for one of the vehicles which will travel the length and breadth of the country this year to keep the railway running safely and reliably.”
- Send your name nominations to [email protected] or using #NameTheLeafbuster on X by Friday 20th September
Image credit: Network Rail
