{"id":587804,"date":"2026-10-29T21:33:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T10:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=205484"},"modified":"2026-10-29T21:33:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T10:33:00","slug":"leaf-busting-trains-to-clear-more-than-90000-miles-of-railway-this-autumn-enough-to-circle-the-world-three-and-a-half-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=587804","title":{"rendered":"Leaf-busting trains to clear more than 90,000 miles of railway this autumn \u2013 enough to circle the world three-and-a-half times"},"content":{"rendered":"

As temperatures drop, the evenings draw in and millions of leaves fall across the Great Western route, Network Rail\u2019s specialist \u2018leaf-busting\u2019 trains are hard at work tackling one of the railway\u2019s biggest seasonal challenges.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leaves on the line might sound harmless, but they can cause serious problems for the railway. When damp leaves fall onto the tracks and are crushed by passing trains, they form a thin, slippery layer on the rails, much like black ice on a road. This reduces the grip between a train\u2019s wheels and the rail, meaning drivers need to brake earlier when approaching stations and signals and accelerate more gently to avoid wheel spin. These precautions keep trains moving safely, but can add time to journeys and lead to delays. A build-up of leaf mulch can also interfere with train detection equipment used by the signalling system.<\/p>\n

This is where the four leaf-busting trains on the Great Western route, known as rail head treatment trains (RHTTs), come in. They use high-pressure water jets to blast slippery leaf mulch from the rails before applying a special treatment to improve grip, helping passengers get to where they need to be safely and reliably.<\/p>\n

These trains will operate from the start of October through to mid-December, clocking up around 90,100 miles in total \u2013 enough to circle the world just over three and a half times.<\/p>\n

This year, additional routes have been incorporated into the treatment plan for the first time, including the Okehampton and Barnstaple branch lines in Devon, which will be treated twice a week. Previously, difficult-to-reach locations were treated manually by mobile operations managers who applied sand to the rails by hand.<\/p>\n

Heavy rain, strong winds and cooler temperatures can also affect the railway, so Network Rail and train operators spend months preparing to minimise disruption and keep passengers moving safely and reliably throughout autumn.<\/p>\n

In addition to the rail head treatment trains, Great Western route has been preparing for the challenges of autumn in other ways, including:<\/p>\n