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| Anglia trains cancelled due to wheel damage on 'too light trains' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Trains across the East were cancelled because lighter diesels were unable to mulch leaves, a rail expert has said. | Trains across the East were cancelled because lighter diesels were unable to mulch leaves, a rail expert has said. |
| Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) services were affected this autumn between Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Cambridge and Peterborough. | Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) services were affected this autumn between Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Cambridge and Peterborough. |
| Philip Sutton, editor of Rail Exclusive, said leaf build up on lines created a hard surface that caused trains to skid, damaging wheels. | Philip Sutton, editor of Rail Exclusive, said leaf build up on lines created a hard surface that caused trains to skid, damaging wheels. |
| AGA said up to two damaged trains per day were having to be withdrawn. | AGA said up to two damaged trains per day were having to be withdrawn. |
| Trains being taken out of service led to rolling stock shortages, causing cancellations. | |
| Mr Sutton said leaves lodged in wheels often caused skids or sliding, damaging the track by rail burn and creating flat sections on wheels. | Mr Sutton said leaves lodged in wheels often caused skids or sliding, damaging the track by rail burn and creating flat sections on wheels. |
| 'Poor rail conditions' | 'Poor rail conditions' |
| "Trains are lighter now so they don't squash the leaves as heavier trains used to," he said. | |
| "Leaf damage can place undue stresses on the wheels, which then have to be removed to be re-profiled or repaired, meaning the train is out of service." | "Leaf damage can place undue stresses on the wheels, which then have to be removed to be re-profiled or repaired, meaning the train is out of service." |
| Sim Harris, editor of industry publication Rail News, said there were millions of trees alongside tracks. | Sim Harris, editor of industry publication Rail News, said there were millions of trees alongside tracks. |
| "When Network Rail wants to demolish them they attract a great deal of opposition from people who fear their barrier against train noise will disappear. | "When Network Rail wants to demolish them they attract a great deal of opposition from people who fear their barrier against train noise will disappear. |
| "So each autumn leaf fall creates huge problems." | "So each autumn leaf fall creates huge problems." |
| This year there has been a significant increase in the amount of leaves and Network Rail, responsible for ensuring tracks are clear, said it was running extra rail clearing trains. | This year there has been a significant increase in the amount of leaves and Network Rail, responsible for ensuring tracks are clear, said it was running extra rail clearing trains. |
| A spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption and will continue to work with Abellio." | A spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption and will continue to work with Abellio." |
| Currently services are not running between Norwich and Great Yarmouth due to trains being damaged. | |
| Services have been regularly cancelled in recent weeks since high winds hit Britain. | |
| An AGA statement added: "The problems are due to some of our diesel trains suffering wheel damage as a result of poor rail conditions." | An AGA statement added: "The problems are due to some of our diesel trains suffering wheel damage as a result of poor rail conditions." |