Interflon LeafGuard® railhead cleaner

Interflon LeafGuard® is a unique solution to deal with autumn's weather challenges and safely run trains on the world’s railway infrastructure. Leaves on the line will no longer cause problems or delays.

Autumn weather can be challenging to safely run trains on the world’s railway infrastructure. There are millions of trees alongside rail tracks, and every autumn many tonnes of leaves fall onto the tracks. Windy conditions can cause heavy leaf-fall in a short period of time and rain causes leaves to stick to the rails.

When trains pass over leaves, the heat and weight of the trains bake them into a thin, slippery layer on the rail. “This is equivalent to ice skating on rails.” Slippery rails make it hard for trains to accelerate and brake effectively. Safety is priority, so when this happens, drivers must be more cautious when pulling out of stations and brake much earlier for stations and signals to make sure they stop in time. This can lead to longer journey times, delays and even train cancellations.

A build-up of leaves on the tracks can also cause delays by forming a barrier between the train wheels and the electrical circuits that are part of the track system that help to pin-point where trains are on the network. Leaf-busting trains which move around the network cleaning the top of the rail by spraying it with high-pressured water jets to rid the rail of leaf mulch and contamination.

Solution for cleaning the rail head, wheel traction improvement and much more

Interflon has developed a unique fast acting liquid that dissolves organic leaf matter and addresses rail oxidation on contact. Interflon LeafGuard® not only cleans the rail head within a few minutes but also vastly improves train wheel traction and track circuit voltage even in the most polluted of track areas. Interflon LeafGuard® self-cleans and leaves behind a thin microscopic layer of cleaner that is reactivated by rainwater and moisture, keeping the rail surface cleaner for longer. It is applied (lightly sprayed) using a knapsack sprayer and left to do its own cleaning. The train wheel passage removes any remaining dissolved leaf contamination. Normal service can be resumed quickly.

Interflon LeafGuard being applied to the rail head

Advantages:

• Quick and easy to apply in track
• No need to remove
• Very fast cleaning action
• Can be diluted with water (max 1.1) for light contamination
• Leaves a micro layer of cleaner behind for further cleaning action
• Improves wheel traction
• Restores track circuit levels
• The product does not damage steel rubber plastic or reflective coatings so will be safe around cabling and insulators / pads and signage.

Before and after Interflon LeafGuard has been applied to a speed sign