A specially adapted Land Rover is just the ticket for helping keep Devon’s railway track leaf-free this autumn.

The adapted 4x4, known as the Sand Rover, can travel on rails and on the road.

A successful trial saw an average reduction of 80 per cent in delays as a result of leaves on the tracks.

Owing to specially mounted wire brushes, the Sand Rover, designed by Aquarius Railroad Technologies Limited, can clean slippery leaf mulch off the rails as it travels.

The Sand Rover also applies a citrus-based treatment to the track, which helps to break up any leaves as well as coating the rails with dry sand which helps trains grip the rails in the wetter weather.

Each autumn, thousands of tonnes of leaves fall onto the railway and stick to damp rails. These leaves quickly break down into a slippery layer which acts like black ice on a road and makes it difficult for trains to stop quickly.

This can cause trains to overshoot signals or platforms and means that train drivers have to accelerate more slowly, causing delays for passengers and freight customers.

During autumn 2020 Network Rail trialled the use of a Sand Rover on the Tarka line (which runs between Barnstaple and Exeter), resulting in an 87 per cent reduction in delays caused by fallen leaves when compared with previous autumn seasons.

Last autumn, Network Rail widened the scope of the trial and the Sand Rover was put to work on the Dartmoor line (which runs from Exeter to Okehampton) too, with the equipment working in each area on alternate nights.

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The lines were specifically chosen owing to their locations – they both experience a high volume of leaf fall and are not accessible by the traditionally used rail head treatment trains (RHTTs), which use high-pressure water jets to clean the tracks.

Across both locations, there was an average of 80 per cent fewer delay minutes when compared with the three prior years.

Scott Harrison, managing director of Aquarius Railroad Technologies, said: “We’re delighted that the Sand Rover has been so successful for the team in Devon.

“We understand that seasonal weather can be a real concern when trying to keep tracks safe for rolling stock, and ensuring a seamless service is of the utmost importance to Network Rail and operators alike.

“Sand Rovers are available for deployment across the UK, and we are proud to report that they can access even the hardest to reach areas of track. If a leaf can fall there, a Sand Rover can get there!”

This year the Sand Rover will be back in action across branch lines in Devon, complementing a number of other activities to keep the railway lines leaf-free including using RHTTs and traction gel applicators, which provide adhesion in key areas.