COMMUTERS on the Portsmouth to Waterloo line are the first in the South West Trains area to cope with the annual problem of leaves on the line.
A special leaf-fall timetable was introduced this week reducing the number of slow trains between Portsmouth and Waterloo from two to one. The two fast trains an hour are unaffected.
Posters at railway stations along the route through Petersfield inform passengers of the action being taken to ease the autumnal problem.
ÒIt is just one of the measures we are taking to make sure trains run on time,Ó said a spokesman for South West Trains.
More coaches will be added to the three trains an hour, to give more weight and make them better able to grip the lines. Fast trains will stop at additional stations to make up for the cancellations.
The spokesman said leaf fall was a very real problem.
ÒThe leaves get ground into the rails and then form a Teflon-type coating Ð it is like riding on black ice.Ó
As well as giving train drivers extra training to cope with trains slipping on lines, tracks are also sprayed with a special compound to help with the problem
The special timetable will be in place for the next four weeks.