Researchers at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Mechanical Engineering have developed new technology which is able to clear leaves from train lines without needing the use of specialised treatment trains.
First developed in 2015 and in trials with Northern Rail since 2020, this advance uses dry ice pellets and air at high pressure to clear the leaves from the line. This technique has been shown to be more effective than current methods which use water and a sand-based gel. Using recaptured carbon dioxide, including from brewing beer, means that the new technology is also environmentally friendly in comparison with the current methods.
With the possibility of fitting this to passenger trains, they would be the first passenger trains in the world to clean the lines as they run. As leaves fall onto the tracks, along with damp autumn conditions, trains are forced to brake earlier, reducing the speeds they can run at and causing delays to timetables, as well as leading to signalling problems. For UK commuters, this is one of the biggest complaints and a source of great frustration, as well causing high costs to the rail industry.
There is hope that this technology can be rolled out across rail networks over the next few years, meaning that lines can be cleaned more regularly than currently, leaving this problem behind for UK commuters.
