Network Rail to spend £6.4m removing autumn leaves from Scottish railway lines

Network Rail has announced a multimillion-pound programme to help minimise Scotland’s rail disruption from autumn leaves.

The body will spend £6.4m to help keep trains on time and avoid disruption from leaves on the railway lines.

It will use specialist trains (RHTTs) and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) will be deployed to tackle any build-up.

High-pressure water jets will clean the rails, with around 155 tonnes of sand expected to be used to improve traction throughout the season.

In order to carry out these preparations, minor alterations to timetables will be made.

Network Rail owns, operate, maintains and develops the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales.

Nearly 400 circuits of treatment will be carried out covering 82,000 miles, with railway staff working more than 25,000 hours to keep the network safe and reliable.

On key routes in central Scotland, Fife and the Highland Main Line, teams are set to deliver shorter, more frequent bursts of activity to keep trains running smoothly.

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “People might not realise just how challenging autumn can be for the railway, but it’s a season that demands serious levels of preparation and action.

“Our teams across Scotland have been planning this operation for months. It’s a huge logistical effort involving specialist staff, trains, and technology, all working together to keep passengers moving safely.

“We know how vital reliability is throughout the year, and even more so as we head into the darker, colder months. That’s why this work is so important. It aims to strengthen the resilience of the network, reduce delays, and help trains operate safely and efficiently, whatever the season.”

Leaves on the railway are the equivalent of black ice on roads. When they land on damp rails and are compressed by train wheels, the heat and weight bake them into a thin, slippery layer that can affect braking and acceleration.

Network Rail is collaborating with ScotRail to make some minor timetable changes.

It says most of the alterations are minor, and only impact a very small number of services, with the majority of routes retaining the same schedule.

Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We understand how frustrating it can be when trains are delayed due to leaves on the line. It might sound minor, but the impact can ripple across the entire network. That’s why, this autumn, we’re making a few small adjustments to our timetable to help keep services running smoothly, whatever the weather.

“Behind the scenes, our teams have been working tirelessly to get trains and stations ready for the seasonal change. And throughout autumn, we’ll make sure customers have the latest, most accurate travel information to help you plan with confidence.”