GO Transif Train gets stuck in leaves

[TorenHynes]

Hello,
On Yahoo News I read about the 6:18 GO train being stopped due to fall leaves on the tracks. Leaves can reduce traction by making a Teflon-like coating and make the train have to slow down, but they can't make it derail. Why was the train cancelled?
CN says that they fight the problem by cleaning the tracks frequently.
ONR says that sanding gear fixes the difficulty.
Why didn't GO do the same thing?

 

[pommie]

Sand does not always work, and while leaves will never derail a train they certainly can make them lose traction and prevent them from stopping, and spadding (SPAD= Signal Passed At Danger) is most definitely a risk in those conditions.
Making a hard brake application and not slowing down approaching a red signal is, shall we say, time for a change of trousers
The drivers would have been consulted before the decision was made to cancel.
Don't worry they do not cancel trains just because they are 'chicken', if there is any danger running the train it will be canceled for passenger safety.

Cheers David