- Researchers from the Universities of Sheffield and York have identified the chemical processes that enable leaves to form slippery layers on railway lines
- Findings could be used to design more effective solutions to leaves on the line - an issue that has long caused chaos for rail passengers and train companies during leaf fall season
- Leaves on the line are equivalent to black ice on the roads - causing delays for passengers, timetable changes and costs Network Rail an estimated £350 million per year
A new insight into how leaves transform into slippery layers on railway lines, causing delays for passengers and costing the rail industry millions of pounds every year, has been revealed by engineers at the University of Sheffield.
The study, led by Dr Joe Lanigan from the University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, has revealed the chemical mechanisms that take place when leaves on the line are crushed between the wheels of a train and the railhead, forming slippery layers that make it difficult for trains to start and stop.
Findings from the study could be used to develop more effective solutions to the long-running problem that affects rail travel every autumn and winter.
Leaves on the train tracks have long caused chaos for both commuters and railway companies, often leading to significant, costly delays.
The problem arises when leaves are crushed against the tracks, forming a layer that dramatically reduces the friction between the train wheels and the rails, a situation described by Network Rail as the 'black ice of the railway'.
