Train Ctrl Alt Deleaf aims to manage leaves on the railway track
Next week, a new addition to the British railway network will be making its debut. The leaf-busting train named Ctrl Alt Deleaf, a pun on the computer keyboard command Control-Alt-Delete, will be deployed from a depot at Effingham Junction, Surrey.
This unsung hero of the British autumn, according to Lisa Angus, Network Rail's industry weather response director, travels the length and breadth of the country to keep the railway running smoothly. Tim Dunn, a railway historian and television presenter, echoed her sentiments, stating that these leaf-busting trains are a vital tool in Network Rail's operation to tackle the impact of fall on the railways.
The naming of the leaf-busting train was a public competition with over 1,300 name nominations. Tim Dunn was on the judging panel for the competition and expressed his delight that the public has been able to honour these marvellous machines with such a fantastic name. Other shortlisted names included Leaf-Fall Weapon, Pulp Friction, and The Autumn Avenger.
Network Rail's fleet of leaf-busters will deploy fast-reaction teams this autumn to combat the major disruption that leaves cause every autumn. Leaves stick to damp rails and become compressed by train wheels, creating a thick, slippery layer similar to black ice. This slippery layer can reduce trains' grip, potentially leading to signallers being unable to detect when a train has entered a new section of track.
More technology than ever before will be used by Network Rail during the leaf-busting operation. The company behind the development of the Leaf-Bustern train, Ctrl Alt Deleaf, has ensured that the train is equipped with the latest technology to manage the challenges posed by the autumn leaves.
The British railway network stretches for 20,000 miles and deals with approximately 500 billion leaves annually. Speed restrictions are often imposed to reduce accidents, such as the crash between two trains outside a tunnel near Salisbury, Wiltshire in October 2021, which resulted in 13 passengers and one driver requiring hospital treatment.
Tim Dunn thanked everyone who took the time to submit a name and vote for a winner. He also expressed his gratitude for the public's involvement in naming a leaf-busting train, stating that it was fantastic to see such engagement.
The leaf-removal train named Ctrl Alt Deleaf will cover over a million miles during the operation. As the autumn leaves continue to fall, this unsung hero will be working tirelessly to keep the railway running smoothly, ensuring that the British public can continue to travel safely and efficiently.
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