A ‘leaf-line’ for passengers: meet the railway team tackling autumn across the North
Rail campaign highlights the staff keeping the tracks safe this Autumn
Teams from rail providers across the north have revealed the work that goes into clearing the age-old problem of leaves on the line.
Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), and Network Rail collaborate frequently throughout the season to manage slippery rails and mitigate risks to passenger trains on the network.
When wet leaves are crushed under train wheels, they form a thin, slippery layer on the rail which reduces the grip between the wheel and track.
Often described as the railway’s equivalent of black ice, it can mean drivers need to accelerate with greater caution and brake earlier, potentially adding time to journeys.
The scale of the challenge is significant. In 2025, Northern and TPE recorded over 6000 incidents and more than 100,000 minutes of delays linked to autumn conditions.
Louise Tilly, Network Rail’s Seasons Delivery Manager, said: “Leaves might not sound like much of a problem, but once they’re crushed onto the rail they can create very slippery conditions, so a huge amount of work goes into keeping the railway moving during autumn.”
Network Rail says it carries out more than 5000 inspections in the North West each year to check for wet leaves on the line.
Harsher autumn conditions can cause wheels to slide on the rails and in turn create delays for passengers.
Kieron Riley, a controller at TransPennine Express, said: “It’s our job to manage those delays, make sure customers are aware and get them from A to B as quickly as possible.
“They may see slippery rails as a reason for a delay on a service, but our teams, from control to frontline, are all working together to get trains running as smoothly as possible.”
To help show that ‘It’s not just a leaf’, Northern, TransPennine Express and Network Rail have come together to deliver a joint campaign across the North, highlighting how colleagues across the railway work together during Autumn.
It intends to help customers better understand the risks posed by leaves, and also the hard work of staff behind the scenes to keep the network safe for its users.