Network Rail’s Ctrl Alt Deleaf: Railway Leaf-Busting Tech

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Introduction

Network Rail has launched the leaf-busting train, Ctrl Alt Deleaf, as part of its £100 million autumn campaign to maintain railway safety and reliability across Britain. The train, unveiled last week at Effingham Junction depot in Surrey, is scheduled to begin operations immediately.

Main Content

New Train Deployment

Network Rail has introduced Ctrl Alt Deleaf, a new leaf-busting train, as part of its strategy to mitigate autumn-related disruptions. The train is set to operate imminently.

Autumn Challenges

Each autumn, approximately 500 billion leaves fall onto Britain’s 20,000 miles of railway. This leaf fall creates a mulch on the tracks, which can lead to train slippage, signalling problems, and extensive delays. Network Rail indicates that this situation mirrors the effect of black ice on roads, with thousands of delay hours recorded last year.

Operational Strategy

Ctrl Alt Deleaf, along with other leaf-busting trains, will cover over a million miles during the autumn season. Network Rail will also deploy fast-reaction teams and utilize technology, including drones, to manage the situation. The leaf-busting trains will use high-pressure water jets and adhesion-modifying gel.

Naming and Public Involvement

The name Ctrl Alt Deleaf was chosen through a nationwide competition that received over 1,300 nominations. A panel of judges, including railway historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn, the Minister for Rail Lord Peter Hendy, and Lisa Angus, selected four finalists before a public vote. Ctrl Alt Deleaf won with 50% of the vote, followed by Leaf-Fall Weapon (23%), Pulp Friction (14%), and The Autumn Avenger (13%).

Broader Autumn Measures

Network Rail’s autumn strategy includes deploying drones, AI, and rapid-response teams to monitor and address leaf fall hotspots. With half a million tonnes of leaves falling annually, the company emphasizes the importance of this strategy for ensuring safe and reliable journeys for both passengers and freight.

Conclusion

Network Rail has launched the Ctrl Alt Deleaf train and will deploy various resources, including drones and rapid-response teams, as part of its £100 million autumn campaign to tackle leaf fall and maintain railway operations. The leaf-busting trains are a key element of this strategy, which aims to cover 1.12 million miles across the country.

Company Summary

Network Rail: A British government-owned company that owns and operates most of the railway infrastructure in Great Britain.

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