An innovative Aquarius road-rail Land Rover is playing a key role in Network Rail’s seasonal battle against one of the railway’s most persistent autumn hazards: leaves on the line.
Each year, falling leaves are crushed under train wheels, forming a slippery black layer on the railhead. This residue dramatically reduces friction between wheels and track, and can even interfere with train detection systems—two notorious causes of delays and safety risks.
To combat this, Network Rail deploys 67 railhead treatment trains (RHTTs) across the country, blasting 200 million litres of high-pressure water every autumn and applying sandite—a gritty paste that restores grip. But RHTTs can’t reach every part of the network. That’s where the converted Land Rover Defender steps in.
For most of the year, the vehicle serves as part of the North & East route’s maintenance fleet, transporting staff safely along the railway. Come autumn, it transforms into the ‘Flon Rover’, spraying Interflon OTR—a specialist solution that breaks down leaf matter and prevents contamination.
Covering up to 20 miles of track per night across Yorkshire and the North East, the Flon Rover visits locations including Goole, Howden, Saltmarshe, Knottingley, Stocksfield, and Strensall. The solution is applied via rear-mounted nozzles, controlled by a pump at the front.
Developed in collaboration with Aquarius and based in York, the Flon Rover operates both proactively—following a seasonal treatment calendar—and reactively, targeting hotspots where contamination persists.
Rhiannon Jones, signalling maintenance engineer for Network Rail, said:
“We’ve integrated the ‘Flon Rover’ into our seasonal maintenance routine and have been making as much use of it as possible.”
It’s made a real difference in reducing the number of failures relating to leaves causing problems on the line.
“It’s part of a huge team effort at this time of year, from inspection and treatment out here on the railway to performance analysis and weather forecasting. Every role contributes to keeping passengers safe and services running smoothly.”
Image credit: Network Rail
