Research short

We’re looking at alternative sand products to see if they improve track circuit and braking performance in contaminated rail conditions.

Testing alternative sand products for better operational performance

Low adhesion conditions have been estimated to cost industry and wider society more than £350m every autumn. They’re also a barrier to increasing network capacity. If trains can’t stop reliably and predictably in all sorts of adhesion conditions, it compromises service performance.

When leaf mulch coats the running lines, it increases the risk of wheel/rail isolation. This, in turn, increases the chance of reduced wheel/rail adhesion. Sand can help here, but this can combine with the leaf layers and affect the proper functioning and performance of track circuits.

Over the past few years, our research team—working with the University of Sheffield—has been looking at alternative sand products that don’t have this downside. If such a product can work, and is commercially feasible, it can be used for braking in low adhesion conditions and may reduce the risk of wrong-side track circuit failures (WSTCFs).

In 2022–23, tests were run on several alternative products. Two were found to show promise with regard to their effects on train detection.

On-track testing
To further examine these products, normal speed brake testing was conducted in contaminated railhead conditions. On-track testing took place at the Rail Innovation and Development Centre Tuxford over three days in March 2024.These tests involved driving a South Western Railways Class 158 with a range of sander setups. The goal was to see if the specific products used had at least the same low adhesion-mitigating properties of GB rail sand when braking on contaminated rail. While the results are still being analysed, there are some clear early wins. First, there’s the potential to help mitigate WSTCFs in low adhesion conditions. This could have several knock-on benefits, including:

driving down operational delays

reducing signals passed at danger

helping lay the groundwork for increased network capacity.

Second, and just as importantly, this project shows what’s possible when we collaborate with our valuable members. The results of those trials will soon be published, so keep an eye on our Research Catalogue. Now, the RSSB/University of Sheffield team are working with Northern to pilot the use of the alternative sand products on passenger units on routes known to experience frequent WSTCFs.

Want to learn more?

To read the most recent findings in full, head to our Research Catalogue.

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Which of the potential benefits mentioned are most important to you?

^{Reduced operational delays}
^{Decreased signals passed at danger}
^{Increased network capacity}
^{Improved braking performance}
^{Reduced risk of wrong-side track circuit failures (WSTCFs)}