To help combat fallen leaves on the line, Northern is trialling a train fitted with cryogenic cleaning equipment known as Cryogrip. The train, which will not carry any passengers, will be running between Bishop Auckland and North Road station in Darlington between scheduled services to help clear the line.
The Cryogrip train works by firing dry ice pellets at the railhead in a stream of air at supersonic speed, and was developed by engineers from the University of Sheffield. Once the leaves are frozen, they are then moved away from the line as the pellets return to gas form.
