New technology which clears fallen leaves from train tracks using dry ice will be trialled this autumn in the UK’s North East as part of an effort to reduce delays caused by leaf build-up.
As part of the trial, an empty train will be fitted with a cleaning system developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield. The system, called Cryogrip, works by firing dry ice pellets – a solid form of carbon dioxide – in a stream of air at supersonic speed at the railhead.
Any frozen leaves will then be blasted away as the dry ice pellets turn back into gaseous CO2.
The train will be run by rail operator Northern and is scheduled to run between Bishop Auckland and Darlington.
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