Autumn is the worst time of the year for weather related train delays
A survey by Network Rail has found just one percent of people in Wales think fallen leaves are a major issue
Network Rail is asking the public to help name one of its fleet of leaf-busting trains, which they say, are crucial to keeping the country’s railways running smoothly this season.
A recent poll by the train company highlighted how central weather is to British culture, with 72% of people in Wales ranking it as a quintessentially British conversation topic, ahead of drinking tea (57%) and queuing (40%).
Despite this, only 1% of respondents identified fallen leaves as the most disruptive weather event for their daily lives.
Network Rail explained to us that when leaves fall onto the railway tracks, they can cause serious issues.
The weight and heat from passing trains bake the leaves into a thin, slippery layer, similar to black ice on roads.
This can make train wheels lose traction and interfere with signalling systems, delaying journeys.
Their research found that 13 million trees line Britain’s railways and more than 1.12 million miles of track need treatment between September and December every year.
To combat the risk, Network Rail operates a leaf-clearing operation every autumn, deploying a fleet of specialised vehicles known as “leaf-busters” that clear and treat the tracks.
Network Rail is teaming up with railway historian and TV presenter Tim Dunn, inviting the public to submit creative names for one of the leaf-busters.
Tim said: “I’m confident you can do better than my entry: ‘Trainy McTrainFace.’”
Network Rail’s weather response director, Lisa Angus, emphasized the scale of the task: “The operation to keep passengers moving through autumn is monumental, and this year will be our biggest yet, with more miles covered and more technology in use than ever before.
"Our leaf-busting trains are the unsung heroes of the British autumn, and we’re eager to hear the public’s creative name suggestions.”
Nominations for the perfect name can be submitted via email to nametheleafbuster@networkrail.co.uk before Friday, 20 September.