What does ‘leaves on the line’ mean?

‘Leaves on the line’ can feel like the most ‘British’ excuse for trains not running on time. Unbe-leaf-able, if you will! After all, why would leaves cause your train to be late? Here’s our handy guide to what those pesky leaves can do to trains and what rail operators do to try and minimise delays.

What does ‘leaves on the line’ mean?

In part, it’s exactly what it sounds like! In the Autumn, when trees start to shed their leaves, they end up everywhere. One of those places is all over the railway.

While leaves alone won’t do any harm, the problem starts when trains run over them repeatedly and the ground becomes damp. Wet weather combined with a build-up of leaves turns them into a sort of slippery and mushy substance, which causes train wheels to skid. It’s a bit like driving your car on black ice. You can’t get any traction and you lose control.

Why do leaves on the line cause delays?

If a train is trying to speed up on a section covered in leaves, this can cause the wheels to skid. This is known as ‘wheel slip’. When this happens, it can’t gain any power or traction, so it can’t gain any speed. This means that trains will take longer to get where they need to go, as drivers need to apply power more gradually to avoid wheel slip.

Similarly, if a train is trying to brake, the wheels will slide again, so it’s unable to slow down quickly. To counter this, drivers will often slow down earlier and more gradually to avoid wheel slip and ensure a smoother ride for passengers.

What does the railway do about leaves on the line?

During the Autumn, you might see some different-looking trains out on the network. They’ll be rather short and have a locomotive on either end of some blue-coloured equipment. These are called ‘Railhead Treatment Trains‘ and they use a high-powered water jet to wash away leaf mulch from the tracks.

In areas of the network where leaves on the line are known to cause a particular problem, these trains will often run overnight to ensure that the line is clean for the first trains in the morning.

Will train times change?

Some rail companies will introduce a leaf fall timetable, which adds a few extra minutes or removes some stops in order to give trains more time to run safely.

Here are the currently announced changes for 2024 in a nutshell:

Chiltern Railways

From 30 September, trains running towards London on the Aylesbury Vale Parkway to London Marylebone via Amersham route may depart up to three minutes earlier until Rickmansworth. This is due to a 40mph speed restriction on London Underground between Amersham and Rickmansworth.

London Overground

Some services will arrive at their destination a few minutes later than normal. You should check the TfL Journey Planner for more information.

Merseyrail

From 12 October, there’ll be some minor changes to arrival and departure times on the Ellesmere Port and Chester lines.

Northern

From 7 October to 14 December, there’ll be a special leaf fall timetable on these routes:

• Newcastle to Carlisle
• Blackpool/Preston to Colne
• Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe
• Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton
• Sheffield to Huddersfield.

South Western Railway

From 22 September to 14 December, there’ll be a special leaf fall timetable on these routes:

• Aldershot to Ascot
• Alton to London Waterloo
• Basingstoke to London Waterloo (stopping services)
• Dorking to London Waterloo
• Exeter St Davids/Salisbury to London Waterloo
• Farnham to London Waterloo
• Guildford to London Waterloo via Bookham, and via Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon
• Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo via Guildford
• Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour
• Shepperton to London Waterloo
• Weymouth to London Waterloo
• Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo.

Trains will leave their origin stations between one and five minutes earlier than usual on these routes.

Southeastern

Some morning services will leave their origin station a few minutes earlier than usual.

How do I know when my train is going to run?

Journey Planners have been updated to reflect the new timetables as a result of leaves of the line. So, when you book your ticket with Railsmartr, you’ll know exactly when it’s due to leave. You can also check the dedicated National Rail page.

Unfortunately, in the wrong kind of weather (usually light rain or drizzle), it’s almost impossible to factor these conditions into a timetable. If your train is delayed as a result of leaves on the line, you may be entitled to compensation.

Is there anything else I should know?

If you want to book a train journey, then we’d recommend doing it with Railsmartr. We don’t charge any refund or exchange fees, so there’s no penalty for changing your mind. We’ve just introduced a brand-new account feature too, so if your tickets are refundable, you can do this yourself in a couple of clicks.

We’ve got a bunch of other Expert Tips to help you travel smarter. Don’t forget to visit our Instagram page for more trip inspiration and travel tips, too.