SEPTA’s ‘slippery rail’ season in full swing

Written by jrood

Classic fall weather has settled in over the Philadelphia region, adding a touch of beauty to SEPTA riders' commutes as trees trade in their drab green summer leaves for colorful mixes of yellows, oranges and reds.

And while SEPTA is happy to
offer customers the opportunity to take in the landscape as they ride the
rails, the Authority also has to be vigilant about what these pretty leaves can
do when they break free of their branches and float onto train tracks. This
turns fall into "slippery rail" season for SEPTA operations
personnel, who are working up a sweat amid the crisp, cool weather to keep
conditions safe for riders.

Slippery Rail is a
condition that occurs when falling leaves, crushed by passing vehicles, deposit
a residue on the tracks. This coating decreases the friction of a train’s wheels,
creating slippery rails and the problems that go with it. In these situations,
speed reductions are put into place for trains in order to maintain safe
operations – and that can lead to delays and other inconveniences for
passengers. These conditions can impact Regional Rail lines, Trolley lines and
the Norristown High Speed Line.

SEPTA takes a proactive
approach to battling Slippery Rails, with the goal of minimizing the impact to
riders. Crews are dispatched along the tracks with high-pressure washing
equipment to blast away leaves and leaf residue. Oily deposits are cleaned with
a combination of water, gel and sand.

In addition, SEPTA is using
all resources available to keep customers informed about Slippery Rails and
related service disruptions. Notices have been posted throughout the system,
and whenever service is impacted, announcements are made at stations. These
travel alerts are also posted on SEPTA’s website and Twitter feed, and sent to
local news media outlets.

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