Network Rail is inviting the public to vote for their favourite name for one of its autumn leaf-busting trains.

More that 1,300 name suggestions were received by Network Rail, from which four have been selected for the public to make the final choice.

During the autumn, the leaf-busting trains travel the length and breadth of Britain to keep the rails clear.

The winning name will feature prominently on one of these leaf-busting trains as travels throughout Britain to keep the lines clear.

The public submitted more than 1,300 nominations, and they whittled down to the four finalists by a panel of judges consisting of railway historian, presenter and author Tim Dunn, Minister of State for Rail, Lord Peter Hendy, and Network Rail’s seasonal delivery director Lisa Angus.

Among the fantastic names suggested were ‘Britney Clears’, ‘Buster Grimes’, ‘Don’t Stop De-Leafing’, and ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Anti-Leaf Machiney’. These didn’t make it to the final shortlist, proving how tough the competition was.

The final four names in alphabetical order on which the public are invited to vote are:

• Ctrl Alt De-leaf
• Leaf-Fall Weapon
• Pulp Friction
• The Autumn Avenger

The poll is now open to vote for a favourite name and closes at midnight on Friday, 11 October. The chosen name will be announced on Thursday, 24th October.

Votes can be submitted by clicking here.
Further information about how Network Rail keeps Britain’s trains running through the Autumn is also available from the same site.

The cost of clearing autumn leaves is not cheap, as Network Rail Scotland has just invested £7 million in drone technology and seven specialist ‘leaf-busting’ trains.

“Who needs Leafy McLeafFace when we have this shortlist of terrific – and really quite fitting – names to bestow upon one of these legendary leaf-busting behemoths.
“I knew Britain wouldn’t let us down: entries ranged from the witty, clever and even touching – through to utterly shameless Dad-grade puns. It’s been a joy to be a part of the judging process to name a leaf-buster, my fellow judges and I found it tricky to narrow down all the brilliant entries to just four names.
“So a massive thank you to all those who took the time to submit a name – now it’s over to YOU, the British public. Head over to Network Rail’s website right now to vote for your preferred name for one of these ‘mulch’-loved machines.”

Tim Dunn. railway author, presenter, and historian

“We had a lot of fun reading through the name suggestions, so a huge thank you to everyone who took part.
“Though this competition is just a way of bringing some light-hearted ‘re-leaf’ this autumn, it’s been great to see a growing awareness of the serious problems leaves on the line pose to the railway, both here and across the world, and an appreciation of the mammoth task we undertake each year to keep passengers moving through the season.”

Lisa Angus, Network Rail’s seasonal delivery director