Dry ice to be used to clear rail leaves in trial
The new technology blasts dry ice on to train tracks to clear them of leaves
A trial that blasts dry ice on to train tracks to clear them of leaves is taking place this autumn.
A Northern train will run between Bishop Auckland and North Road station in Darlington to help clear the line by freezing the leaves using dry ice pellets, which then turn back into a gas.
Fallen wet leaves can cause trains to slide, Northern said, leading to delays as drivers pull away from stations more slowly and brake earlier to avoid any issues.
Currently drivers rely on forecasting and mapping, with Network Rail using railhead treatment trains to clear mulch off the tracks and apply a gel, containing a mix of sand and steel grains.
[SRC] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7pm724j84o