Network Rail has signed a 5-year deal with GB Railfreight to run Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). These autumn and winter treatment trains help keep tracks clear and ensure detritus doesn’t delay services.

Detritus is when loose leaves fall off the trees on nearby land and fall onto the tracks, and when trains pass over them, they create a slippery ‘mulch’ that can stop the train from gaining traction either when accelerating or braking.

These services will run from August 2025 until 2030, with a possibility for extension.

The services include leaf blasting and weed killing, as well as anti-ice and snow ploughing trains.

The £850 million contract has optional three-year extensions available.

There are six revamped vehicles that will ease the pressure on other overhead line vehicles. During the contract length, it is likely that further vehicles will be added as technology advances.

The Multi-Purpose Vehicles will apply anti-ice fluid to and weed spray to the tracks. Within the autumn months, they will water jet leaf litter from the rail head and apply an adhesion modifier.

Both GB Railfreight and Colas will manage the treatment trains based on the circuits they run.

Network Rail has previously invested in Rail Head Treatment Trains and Multi-Purpose Vehicles to help keep trains running in 2024.

“Running trains reliably and safely in autumn and winter is a tough challenge and we rely heavily on specialist operators and equipment. Leaves on the line get crushed under train wheels and leave a material like black-ice on tracks, which can cause signals to fail and trains to slide. Ice on live rails can cause trains to stall and we all know the disruption that heavy snow can cause.

“These contracts with established hauliers see our fleet of treatment trains maintained and run well for the next five years at least, providing passengers and freight customers with a reliable service whatever the weather.”

Network Rail’s supply chain delivery director Adam Southern