Central Trains is going into battle against leaf fall this autumn with an array of tactics, including specialist driver training using its own ‘skid pan'.

As part of their preparation, drivers get the opportunity to try out driving in areas of low adhesion using the driver simulator and also by trying out the conditions for real during specially arranged night-time training where special detergent is spread on the tracks to simulate leaf mulch contamination. This creates poor railhead conditions where drivers can practice low adhesion driving techniques safely in a controlled environment. The recent ‘skid pan' training sessions took place between 01.00 hours and 04.00 at Shenstone Station on the Birmingham , Lichfield Cross City Line.

Across the country, autumn costs the rail industry approximately £60 million a year, including: £10 million for vegetation management over 21,000 miles of track, £34 million for autumn train-borne operations, £5 million for ‘hot spot' teams and other staff/operational costs as well as £10 million for the repair of damage to trains and track because of leaf fall. Weather and seasonal factors account for 10% of all delay minutes across the network in any one year.