Network Rail is trialling lasers and plasma jets as a way to clear train lines of leaves and other debris.

Train wheels compress leaves throughout Autumn into the track, which creates a slippery surface on that make the trains less efficient at breaking and accelerating.

The current method for clearing the tracks is a treatment fleet of trains with high pressured water jets. The fleet travels 1 million miles between October and December and this results in 200 million litres of water being used every year to clear UK tracks.

Trials took place in October across the East Lancashire Railway for the laser and plasma clearing methods. The laser method, called the “LaserTrain” uses three high powered lasers that when pointed at the track can vaporise any debris without heating up the track itself.

Plasma Track uses direct current plasma technology. The high heat burns away the layer of leaves on the track, and the track is left clean and dry.

If the tests can show either method is effective further tests and development will be required to show that the technology will work even when dealing with the complexity of the entire train network.