Slippery Rail Season: Information & Safety Tips for Riders

What is Slippery Rail Season?

Slippery Rail is a condition that occurs when falling leaves, crushed by passing vehicles, deposit a residue on the tracks. This coating decreases the friction of a train's wheels, creating slippery rails. When this happens, travel speeds are reduced to maintain safe operations, especially on inclines, declines and when vehicles approach the station platform.

How does SEPTA Tackle Slippery Rail?

SEPTA has an aggressive maintenance program that employs a combination of water, gel and sand to remove oily deposits on the tracks. The Authority also uses high pressure washing equipment on Regional Rail to blast away the leaves and leaf residue. This action is effective in removing debris from the tracks, but customers may still experience intermittent service delays caused by slippery rail.

How long does Slippery Rail Season last?

The length of slippery rail season depends on fall weather conditions, but typically runs from late October through mid-December. Until the weather turns frosty and all the leaves have fallen, SEPTA maintains a consistent program of cleaning and removal.

Rider Tips during Slippery Rail Season

Getting customers to their destination without delays or inconvenience is very important to SEPTA, but ensuring your trip is safe always takes precedence. Please allow some extra time to complete your trip and be alert if slippery rail causes trains to slide past selected stations.