Leaves on the line – why treatment matters to freight operators
It might be the English-speaking UK where the lyrical “leaves on the line” was first coined. But in any language, autumn spells a season of adhesion problems. These are made all the more troublesome when several thousand horse-power of traction and several thousand tonnes of cargo need to start, keep going and most importantly stop at the appointed time. Fortunately, there is a solution – and it is a solution – applied by a seasonal fleet of Rail Head Treatment Trains, deployed with annual regularity.
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It’s not only the problem of acceleration and braking. Train detection (when delivered by track circuits) can be affected as well – the thick film of leaves can create insulation (or at least to increase to impedance between wheel and rail), especially for light trains. The best solution to secure proper detection in any conditions is to use axle counters.