Up to 75% fewer rail incidents caused by autumn leaf contamination

Every autumn, leaf contamination reduces wheel–rail adhesion and disrupts train detection, causing safety incidents, delays and costly maintenance. Traditional countermeasures such as vegetation clearance and Sandite offer only temporary relief.
“This is the most significant improvement we’ve seen in autumn adhesion management in decades,” says Steve Featherstone, former National Maintenance Director, Network Rail.
Interflon Leaf Guard OTR provides a proven alternative. Validated with Network Rail and Irish Rail, it dissolves organic residue, cleans the railhead and leaves a hydrophobic layer that resists re-contamination for a full weekly cycle, reducing low-adhesion and detection-related incidents by up to 75%.

Quick facts

• Independent trials confirmed a significant drop in autumn safety events on treated railheads
• Recovery window 90 minutes: friction dips immediately post-application, then returns to the equivalent of a wet rail and continues improving for several hours until it reaches the level of a clean, dry rail
• Operational standard: apply once every 7 days; begin pre-conditioning from early autumn
• PFAS-free formulation for durable, water-resistant protection
• Deployed by prams, trolleys and Road-Rail Vehicles (RRVs) with peristaltic, speed-synchronised pumps and GPS loggin
• Interflon, Network Rail and Irish Rail winners of the National Rail Awards 2025 – Safety Achievement of the Year

Results & method

Adhesion and detection

• Coefficient of friction (CoF): tribometer measurements during UK trials show a short, controlled dip in friction immediately after application. After 90 minutes, adhesion equals that of a wet rail and continues to rise for several hours until it matches the friction of a clean, dry rail. Lines can re-open once this recovery window is complete.
• Train detection (11.7): OTR reduces track-circuit drop-outs on treated sections, verified on Irish Rail routes.

Incident reduction

• Network Rail: ~75% fewer autumn safety incidents on treated railheads
• Irish Rail: ~70% reduction; week-over-week decline in wheel-slip reports following OTR applications

How it works

Interflon Leaf Guard OTR is a fast-acting, biodegradable railhead cleaner that dissolves leaf polymers, removes residue and leaves a hydrophobic layer. Rain or water-jetting re-activates this protective effect throughout the week.
Application standard (operations)

1. Frequency & timing – Apply once every 7 days. Some sites show effectiveness up to day 14, but a 7-day cycle remains the operational standard. Start pre-conditioning from early autumn, with extra focus on tunnels and heavily contaminated areas.
2. Concentration & consumption – Apply 50:50 as standard and neat on heavily contaminated rail. Typical dose rate (~8–8.5 L per mile ≈ 5.0–5.3 L/km for both rails) using peristaltic, speed-synchronised pumps.
3. Application technique – On heavily contaminated rail, consider scrubbing the railhead before applying OTR. For best results, lightly brush the railhead while applying to ensure full contact and optimal cleaning performance.
    

From left to right:
Trolleys: Hand-pushed, medical-grade peristaltic pump for precise dosing on both rails.
Pram: Hand-pushed unit with pressurised container.
Piggy Back: Mounted on existing trolleys, speed-linked peristaltic dosing for long-section treatment.

Operational rollout

• Fleet-fit Road-Rail Vehicle (RRV) kits for extended routes; prams and trolleys for hotspots, platforms and inclines
• Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) and Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) integration – combines water-jet cleaning and OTR application in a single pass (validated on UK routes)
• Supply & cost – 1000 L IBC deliveries reduce unit costs and handling effort

Safety, compliance & integration 

• 90-minute rule: after application, a short dip in adhesion occurs. Within approximately 90 minutes, adhesion returns to wet-rail levels and continues to improve over the next few hours until it matches or exceeds clean-rail conditions. During this recovery window, drivers may be advised.
• Exclusion zones: initially plain line; progressive expansion into S&C with exclusions near switch tips and around Insulated Block Joints (IBJs). Use OG Grease as a barrier where OTR is intentionally excluded.
• Sandite policy: suspend Sandite on OTR sections due to interference. OTR is complementary with water-jetting.
• Cold conditions: viscosity rises below 0 °C; use heated containers and a trailing wheel for an even film.
  Interflon Leaf Guard OTR stabilises the wheel-rail interface, transforming unpredictable autumn adhesion into a controlled, measurable process that improves safety and reliability across the network.

Author: Janneke van der Pol, MLT I