Move over Boaty McBoatface, there’s a new train on the block

If you thought the polar vessel Boaty McBoatface was iconic, you haven’t met the latest star of the railways.

When the Arctic exploration vessel RSS Sir David Attenborough was almost named Boaty McBoatface in 2018, it broke the internet like Ibiza final boss did this summer.

Hundreds of train enthusiasts put forward name options for a leaf-busting train, which battles every commuter’s worst nightmare – leaves on tracks.

The British public was asked to name one of the giant machines keeping the UK railways clear of leaf mess – and the public answered, with names like ‘Pulp Friction,’ ‘Leaf-Fall Weapon’ and the ‘Autumn Avenger’ nearly making the cut.

But one suggestion beat the more dad-joke-esque options – ‘Ctrl Alt Deleaf.’

Ctrl Alt Deleaf train will launch into action from the Network Rail Surrey depot next week, wrapped in an autumn-themed branding.

The shortlist of four names was picked from around 1,300 nominations by railway historian and TV presenter Tim Dunn, the rail minister Lord Hendy and Network Rail’s weather response boss Lisa Angus, and the public voted for their favourites.

Dunn, who presents the Secrets of the London Underground, said: ‘It was fantastic to see so many members of the public get involved with naming a leaf-busting train. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a name and vote for a winner!  The leaf-busting trains are a vital tool in Network Rail’s operation to tackle the impact of leaf fall on the railways.’

Lisa Angus, Network Rail’s industry weather response director, said: ‘Our leaf-busting trains are the unsung heroes of the British autumn travelling the length and breadth of the country to keep the railway running.

‘The scale of the operation involved in keeping passengers moving through the autumn is monumental: Ctrl Alt Deleaf, and our fleet of leaf-busters trains, will cover over a million miles, as well as deploying fast-reaction teams and using more technology (such as drones) than ever before. 

‘Our teams will be working non-stop to try and keep the tracks leaf-free this the autumn so that passenger and freight services can continue running safely and reliably.’

One of the many quirks on UK railways – besides pesky delays – is the annual leaf fall timetable, which most operators roll in from autumn until December when trees shed thousands of tonnes of leaves on tracks, creating a slippery pulp and causing delays and disruption.

The army of specialist cleaning trains is part of Network Rail’s £100 million ‘battle against Mother Nature’ to clear the tracks of the sticky layer, which is the railway equivalent of black ice on roads.

The leaf-busting fleet treats around 1.12 million miles of tracks every autumn.

In areas with heavy leaf fall, the special leaf-fall timetable allows extra time for drivers to go slower than usual due to safety, as the leaf mulch can make braking and acceleration less effective.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.