£6m clean to keep rail free of autumn leaves

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

- By Rachel Keenan

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

It will use specialist trains, and multipurpose vehicles will be deployed to tackle any buildup.

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

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.