Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
SEPTA officials are waging their annual battle against colorful leaves that fall from trees around the region.
The reason: fallen leaves shed from trees are crushed by Regional Rail trains and leave behind a sticky residue that can cause safety problems for the train cars full of passengers.
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The problem, commonly called “slippery rail,” can decrease friction between train wheels and the rails. One major side effect of slippery rails are speed restrictions due to a loss of braking or traction caused by the residue.
SEPTA works each fall to try to stop slippery rail. The transit agency operates high-pressure washing equipment along its rails. The special equipment blasts away leaves and the residue that can cause problems for trains. The tracks are cleaned with a combination of water, gel and sand, officials said.
To keep customers abreast of any problems, SEPTA has placed notices at area stations to explain slippery rail. They also announce information on delays via several ways.
