Northern has spent nine months preparing to tackle the "big problem" of fallen leaves on the line.

The train operator has said it is ready to tackle the issue, which can cause delays and longer journey times.

Seasonal performance improvement manager Rob Cummings, who is in his 10th autumn with Northern, is working to minimise disruption for customers and ensure they can reach their destinations safely.

Mr Cummings said: "Leaves on the line is a serious safety and performance issue for the railway.

"You have a steel wheel on a steel rail and anything that causes low adhesion can be a big problem."

Leaves are compressed in wet weather and form a thin, slippery layer on the rail which can cause trains to slide.

Drivers must pull away more slowly and brake earlier for stations and signals to make sure they stop in time.

This can lead to longer journey times and delays.

Northern spent nine months preparing for this autumn and completed the roll-out of additional equipment on its fleet of trains in July.

Mr Cummings said: "We conduct a review in January with Network Rail and begin planning for the following autumn.

"Winter and summer are a bit unpredictable in the UK but you know that for two months of the year – in October and November – autumn will bring fallen leaves.

"There have been some improvements over the years and we’ve got better at dealing with fallen leaves, especially since we introduced our new fleet of trains with modern technology that helps reduce the impact of low adhesion.

"But I’ve not been in this position before where we have new equipment and technology that can be used across the network.

"This is the first season we are using Double Variable Rate Sanders and Water-Trak equipment across some of our fleet.

"I think we will see a big benefit once the drivers are confident using it."

Mr Cummings has mapped out the routes which are usually covered with leaves when the weather turns, like the line which links Horsforth and Harrogate, and he makes sure drivers receive the latest guidance and regular weather forecasts so they can navigate the difficult conditions.

Northern works closely with Network Rail, which runs railhead treatment trains along the lines six days a week to blast leaf mulch off the tracks and apply a gel – containing a mix of sand and steel grains – to help services run smoothly.

The train operator has also fitted its trains with the latest technology to minimise disruption.