Machine dissolves 'leaves on line'

The Virginia Water derailment was probably caused by leaves

A company has come up with a machine to banish the "wrong kind of leaves" on railway tracks, which causes hours of delays for train passengers.

The device created by Portec Rail Products puts a gel on the track which breaks down the cellulose film on the wet leaves.

Leaves on the line annually causes havoc to rail services.

Just last month, a train crashed off the track near Virginia Water in Surrey after apparently skidding on wet leaves.

The solution to wet leaves is a solar-powered trackside cabinet, which pumps out a gel made from sand and wallpaper paste.

The gel then breaks down the wet leaves and hopefully eliminates the problem.

Over 100 machines have been sold to Railtrack UK at a cost of £7,000 each.

Portec, based at Ruabon, north Wales, has also received orders from overseas.

Specially equipped

But - like the rail network - the company also faces its own technical problems.

Portec has experienced difficulties with a new batch of motors, manufactured in Italy.

The gel has previously been used by specially-equipped trains.

But the new machine is seen as a major step forward for banishing platform announcements about leaves on the line.

The train derailment at Virgina Water involved four carriages on the 0821 BST South West train travelling from Weybridge to Staines.

Unlike the Hatfield accident on 17 October, all the carriages remained upright.