To help keep Scotland’s passenger and freight services running on time this autumn, Network Rail Scotland is investing over £7 million in drone technology and seven specialist ‘leaf-busting’ trains.

Eighteen leaf fall teams will also be deployed working around the clock to remove fallen leaves, which are the railway’s equivalent of black ice on roads and can cause trains to lose their grip on the rails.

When this happens, braking distances increase, which can cause trains to overshoot signals or platforms and affect signalling systems.

The specialist rail-head treatment trains (RHTTs) and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) will allow more miles of track to be covered than ever before, including the newly opened Levenmouth Rail Link.

These trains clean the rails with high-pressure water jets, then coat them with a sandy gel that sticks to the rails, helping to improve the adhesion of the train wheels.

The use of drones will be trialled by rapid response teams who will be able to inspect the rails for leaf contamination from above, avoiding the need for staff stopping trains to access the track.

From September 16 until December 6 over 81,000 miles of track will be treated by the rail-head treatment trains whilst specialist teams target known leaf-fall black spots.

‘Hydrophobic’ sand, which sticks to the rails, will also be used by the leaf-fall teams to give trains more traction in slippery conditions.

ScotRail‘s Class 334 fleet will also trial using the same sand on several routes, including between Helensburgh Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

Train timetables will also be amended to provide more resilience against adverse weather conditions. Most changes will be minor, affecting very few services in changes to their calling patterns and arrival times. Most services will operate to the same schedule as present.

On the West Highland Line and between Balloch and Dalreoch, Network Rail will use two ‘SandRovers’, which are Land Rovers modified as road-rail vehicles to clean and treat rails.

Drones will be used for the proactive inspection of tracks for overgrown vegetation, especially in high-risk areas, and a trial will take place of portable tribometers, which take accurate measurements of railhead conditions to determine the adhesion of the track.

They are small, portable, easy to operate, and take measurements in less than 60 seconds. Network Rail has leased several from Rivelin Rail for trials across Scotland.

Last autumn, Network Rail also used drones and Rail Head Treatment Trains in the West Midlands.

“Leaves on the line are dangerous, affecting trains like black ice affects road vehicles. To prepare for this, we’re using tried and tested techniques, as well as some innovative technology, such as drone inspections and hydrophobic sand, that will help break down leaves and improve traction for trains.”

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland

“Throughout autumn, we’ll make sure customers are kept up to date with accurate information about their journeys.”

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director