Heat-seeking helicopter will help keep railways running this winter

The aircraft is among some £1.2 million of measures announced yesterday by Network Rail to combat snow and ice, which wreaked havoc on the network over the past two winters.

The firm, which runs tracks and signals, will also deploy insulation used by Nasa in space- suits to prevent sets of points at junctions from freezing. The UK first is being copied from Canadian railways.

A new £1m winter-weather engineering train will be used to transport engineers and equipment more quickly to troublespots to defrost key junctions, especially when roads are closed.

Monitors will be installed to warn of other track problems in sub-zero temperatures, including heaters failing to work because cabling has been stolen due to the high price of copper.

Points will also be protected by snow “displacers” to stop build-ups. The helicopter’s thermal imaging equipment will check that heaters at points are working and for any other problems.

More off-road vehicles are also being made available.

The measures are in addition to Network Rail’s fleet of ten Scottish-based snow-clearing trains, which are being readied for action.

The plans come three days after ScotRail, Scotland’s main train operator, said it would spend £2m on power showers, polytunnels and depot heaters to try to keep more trains running in extreme conditions.

David Simpson, Network Rail’s route managing director for Scotland, said its measures should improve performance if winter returned with a vengeance.

He said: “We are confident this will make a real difference.

“We are introducing a wide range of new equipment and working methods after reviewing how the severe, prolonged snowfalls of last year affected the railway.”

Mr Simpson said track problems had initially been the greatest challenge during last winter until they were cleared.

However, trains then took over as the main problem as their undersides became encrusted with up to three tonnes of ice. Damage was also caused by the ice breaking off and bouncing back to hit the train.

Transport minister Keith Brown said: “Thinking ahead and being prepared for winter at home, on transport networks and within local communities, is something everyone can do easily.”

“That is why we welcome Network Rail’s efforts to prepare for the coming winter though recognising that we must all continue to be vigilant throughout the winter months,” Mr Brown added.

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: “We are working closely with Network Rail to be better prepared this winter.”