NJ Transit has started its seasonal use of two AquaTrack machines to clean and remove leaves from the rails.
The AquaTrack system, which NJ Transit has used since October 2003, is a high-pressure power washing system that removes the oily residue left behind by fallen leaves on the tracks to prevent train delays caused by “slippery rail” conditions.
Fallen leaves left on rail tracks can cause a condition known as “slippery rail,” a challenge facing all railroads in the Northeast and other parts of the world where deciduous trees are prevalent. The decaying leaves create an oily residue that coats the rails and causes poor traction.
The decreased train speeds, in turn, create delays.
The system consists of two 250-horsepower diesel-engine units mounted on a flat car with an operator control cab. Two pressure-pump units dispense water up to 20,000 pounds per square inch directly to the top of the rail. The process uses 17 gallons of water per minute.
The original AquaTrack operated primarily on the M&E and Montclair-Boonton lines, which face challenges including the hilly areas around Glen Ridge and Summit stations, washing the rails twice a day Monday through Friday — once overnight and again during midday hours. The Pascack Valley and Main/Bergen County lines are usually covered on weekends.
In 2016, NJ Transit unveiled its second AquaTrack unit, which allows the cleaning process to maintain a larger coverage area, helping prevent delays caused by slippery rail. In addition to AquaTrack, NJ Transit trains are equipped to spray sand on the rails in front of their wheels to increase traction.
The agency also trims trees to help stem the number of leaves on the tracks.
