Innovative points heaters
The new heaters are designed to keep points from freezing for longer in the worst of the weather.
The new heater strips are:
- Insulated to retain heat in the rails
- Fitted to the inside of the rail, preventing water getting in and shielding the heaters from direct exposure to wind chill
Track-defrosting train
We’re investing nearly £1m in a new winter-weather engineering train that quickly defrosts rail junctions.
The train has hot-air blowers, known as munters, at either end and uses blasts of steam, hot water and compressed air to quickly thaw frozen points.
We also use it to transport equipment and people quickly to wherever they’re needed on the network.
Intelligent infrastructure
To keep the railway running during bad weather, we need to detect problems as early as possible.
We're using “Intelligent infrastructure” such as current monitors which measure the power supplied to points heaters and notify our maintenance teams if there is any change. This lets them investigate quickly before there is any chance of an impact on services.
Thermal imaging helicopter
We're using a helicopter equipped with thermal imaging cameras to identify any points heaters that are not working.
Our maintenance teams will then be able to renew the heaters before the bad weather arrives.
Snow displacers
We're fitting Vortok snow displacers which stop snow building up between point ends and blocking them.
The displacers, which are fitted in to the wedge between the rail and the points, prevent snow and ice being driven through the points by passing trains. They're also hydrophobic - they don’t soak up moisture and therefore don't freeze, even in sub-zero temperatures.
Working 24 hours
During severe weather, snow-clearing teams based at busy junctions and other key locations will be working around the clock to keep trains running.
They will be working long, hard days during hazardous weather conditions often in isolated places so we’re providing them with self-heating meals to keep them sustained.
Snow-clearing trains
We'll be keeping Scotland moving by deploying a 10-strong fleet of snow-clearing trains to prevent snow from having the chance to freeze, which can cause damage and further disruption.
The fleet will be in full operation throughout the winter.
More 4x4s for maintenance teams
We've increased our fleet of 4x4 all-terrain vehicles by 55%.
These will transport key people, such as signallers and maintenance staff, to where they need to be to keep the railway running.
Preventing "frost heave"
To prevent snow and ice building up and causing an obstruction, we're reducing the depth of ballast (the layer of crushed rock or gravel on which tracks are laid) under points fitments.
Reducing lthe evels to 100mm will reduce "frost heave" where ballast expands in very cold weather disrupting the operation of point switches. It will also help prevent metal components sticking to the ballast.