A WINCHESTER firm is playing an integral role in helping the rail industry fight one of its biggest autumn problems - leaves on the line.

Network Rail is to invest £1.6 million in new technology designed to help keep trains running during the autumn leaf fall period.

Hampshire-based company Laserthor has been developing a revolutionary system that will clean rail lines of contamination using laser beams.

One of the uses of the technology could be to tackle the problem of leaves on the line - and the system is currently being tested on rail lines in the south and is scheduled to be in operation next year.

Laserthor has been working in conjunction with the rail industry since the company was founded in 1999 by Malcolm Higgins.

Over the three years of testing, the track-cleaning lasers have proved to be safe, cost-effective and efficient in removing railhead contamination from leaf residue to oil and grease.

Peter Henderson, Network Rail's Director of Major Projects and Engineering, said: "For years leaves have been the butt of jokes about the railway, but they do present a problem for trains.

"When crushed they form a hard Teflon-like coating on the rail head that can cause slipping and adhesion problems, rather like black ice on the roads. Every year we spend millions of pounds combating the problems Mother Nature throws at us.

"Although this is not a cure, we believe the Laserthor project could become an important weapon in our armoury and that this partnership confirms Network Rail's commitment to a safer, more reliable rail network."

Malcolm Higgins, Managing Director of Laserthor, said: "Over three years of research and development are now paying dividends with the first pre-production laser-train now on the tracks. Network Rail's support, commitment and belief in this new technology has been invaluable in making it a reality."