Britain's yellow New Measurement Train spots track faults before they escalate, just as forecasters warn El Niño could bring more storms than usual
The distinctive yellow New Measurement Train, known across the industry as the "Flying Banana", has passed two million miles on Britain's railway, a milestone that arrives just as the network faces a tougher-than-usual autumn and winter.
Fitted with lasers, cameras and real-time image analysis, the NMT carries out a high-speed health check of the track. It helps engineers identify faults early, so maintenance can be targeted where it is needed most before small defects become bigger problems.
El Niño raises the stakes for rail weather resilience
The train's work matters most at this time of year. Forecasters are predicting a greater number of storms than normal to hit Britain, owing to El Niño's influence on global weather patterns, which makes an accurate, up-to-date picture of track condition even more important.
Bad weather presents the railway with several distinct challenges:
- Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage and contribute to flooding and earthwork instability.
- Strong winds can bring trees, branches and other debris onto the line.
- Autumn leaf fall can reduce the grip between wheels and rails, affecting trains' ability to brake and accelerate. Around 13 million trees stand on or beside railway land.
Lisa Angus, Network Rail's Industry Weather Response Director, said:
"The NMT is a brilliant example of how technology helps us understand what is happening on the railway, spotting developing problems early so our teams can take action before they affect passengers.
"But it is just one part of a much bigger effort taking place across the railway this autumn and winter. From leaf-busting trains and drainage work to weather monitoring and better forecasting, we are using data, technology and the expertise of our people to understand where the risks are greatest and act earlier."
Angus added that severe weather cannot be prevented, and services will sometimes need to be slowed or changed for safety reasons. "But by preparing carefully and targeting our response where it is needed most, we can help keep as many passenger trains and freight services moving safely and reliably as possible," she said.
Leaf-busting trains to cover more than a million miles
Across the network, teams have been managing vegetation and closely monitoring locations vulnerable to flooding or landslips. Control rooms have introduced seasonal timetables where necessary to keep trains moving and passengers informed.
This autumn, the fleet of 67 leaf-busting trains, formally known as railhead treatment trains, will cover more than one million miles, equivalent to circling the Earth more than 40 times. They use powerful water jets to strip away the slippery layer formed when wet leaves are crushed onto the rails, then apply a special treatment to help wheels keep their grip.
£2.6 billion investment in climate resilience
The rail industry is investing £2.6 billion between 2024 and 2029 to improve weather and climate resilience, helping the network better withstand increasingly extreme weather and recover more quickly when disruption does occur.
Image credit: Network Rail
