An innovative Aquarius road-rail Land Rover is helping drive Network Rail’s efforts to keep leaves off the line during autumn.
At this time of year, falling leaves are crushed under train wheels, creating a slippery black layer on the rail.
This significantly reduces the friction between wheels and track, and also creates a separation between them which can mean failures in the train detection equipment – both infamous causes of delays and other dangers.
To address this, Network Rail operates 67 railhead treatment trains (RHTTs) nationally, delivering 200 million litres of high-pressure water every autumn and applying a gritty paste called sandite to improve grip.
But RHTTs cannot access the whole network, which is where the converted Land Rover Defender comes in.
At other times of the year, the vehicle is part of Network Rail’s North & East route’s regular maintenance fleet, moving staff up and down the railway safely during shifts. But come autumn, it becomes the ‘Flon Rover’ – depositing a solution called Interflon OTR, which breaks down the leaf matter and keeps the rail clear of contamination.
It covers up to 20 miles of track per night across the Yorkshire and the North East. Over the course of autumn, will visit the likes of Goole, Howden, Saltmarshe in East Yorkshire; Knottingley, West Yorkshire; Stocksfield in the North East; and Strensall, North Yorkshire – to name a few. The solution is sprayed from nozzles at the rear of the vehicle, controlled from a pump at the front.
Developed in collaboration with Aquarius and based in York, the ‘Flon Rover’ is used both proactively – according to a seasonal treatment calendar – and reactively, in areas where the contamination keeps building up.
Rhiannon Jones, signalling maintenance engineer for Network Rail, said: “We’ve integrated the ‘Flon Rover’ into our seasonal maintenance routine and have been making as much use of it as possible. It’s made a real difference in reducing the number of failures relating to leaves causing problems on the line.
“It’s part of a huge team effort at this time of year, from inspection and treatment out here on the railway to performance analysis and weather forecasting. Every role contributes to keeping passengers safe and services running smoothly.”
Image credit: Network Rail