The arrival of autumn means that fleets of Network Rail’s special ‘leaf-busting’ trains are setting out on their journeys today. They will travel for a total of 6,200 hours -- the equivalent of 36 weeks -- in their annual bid to keep railheads clean, because fallen leaves create a black film, rather like dry ice, which can make it difficult for trains to stop and also cause damage to motors if the wheels slip.

East Midlands Railway has undertaken to restore more of the services which have been suspended since July because of rolling stock problems. Difficulties with its new Aurora fleet were compounded by delays in maintaining its Class 222 diesel units, but the operator improved its Intercity services from 87 per cent to 92 per cent of the full planned timetable on 1 September.