Throughout the month of October Network Rail is currently testing space lasers and plasma jets to try to clear leaves off the tracks. This comprehensive testing uses multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) on the East Lancashire Railway heritage lines.

Network Rail’s engineers have been analysing if the autumn trains which were fitted with superheated plasma jets and laser beams are as effective at cleaning the rails as with their current high pressure water system trains which use around 200M litres of water to do so.

It is during the autumn months that train wheels compress and compact the leaves onto the rails.  This compaction process then forms a black Teflon-like residue which can cause low adhesion levels between the train wheels and the train track.  The collision which occurred at Salisbury Tunnel Junction in October 2021 was blamed because of low adhesion levels between the train and the track.

If this new space age technology is successful then this will reduce Network Rail’s need for water and the fuel to transport it around the country.  Saving costs to the taxpayer whilst also helping the environment.

The new technologies are being carried out by 2 different companies and these are:

• Laser Precision Solutions – The ‘LaserTrain’ uses three high powered beams per railhead to treat the rails. When the intensity of the lasers hits the railhead the contamination instantly vaporises (ablates), without heating up the rail.
• PlasmaTrack – Uses direct current (DC) plasma technology which uses heat and active electrons to split things apart. The high energy electrical plasma beam tears apart the leaf layer as well as heating and burning it off.

Network Rail project engineer Suhayb Manzoor said: “Leaves on the line are often seen as a joke on the railway but they can cause serious problems and we’re always looking at new ways to tackle this age-old problem.

“It’s also not unique to Britain, with railways all over the world having issues when trees shed their leaves. For that reason, it’s exciting to be putting some of the newest technology out there to the test with the hope that one day it could help Network Rail keep passengers and freight moving safely at this operationally challenging time of year.”

Image Credit Network Rail

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