by KYW's Al Novack

SEPTA has launched an all-out effort to cut down on delays and hazardous slippery rails caused by falling leaves.

In the past, fallen leaves have been a major problem for the transit authority's rail system, since they create a slick coating that's just like ice on a roadway.

According to spokesman Felipe Suarez, SEPTA has designed a machine to eliminate the leaf problem and has built three of them.

"Since we've used these high-pressure washers, we've been able to cut down the number of delays on average by 1,000 trains."

How do they work?

"They move at about 15 miles an hour over the track, and blast water onto the tracks at 10,000 pounds per square inch."

Suarez says they've been very busy with these new track scrubbers, each of which carries up to 20,000 gallons of water:

"They operate six nights a week on the regional rails, the Norristown high-speed line, and the Market-Frankford line."

For the commuter, it means greater safety and more on-time service.

(Photo: SEPTA)