Network Rail's 'Flying Banana' passes two million miles of track checks

Network Rail's New Measurement Train, the yellow high-speed train nicknamed the "Flying Banana", has passed two million miles of track inspection since it entered service in 2003. Running at up to 125mph, it scans the rails for developing faults so that maintenance teams can fix them before they become safety or performance problems.

Network Rail announced the milestone on 12 November in a statement on its winter preparations. The timing is deliberate: forecasters expect more storms than usual this winter because of El Niño's effect on global weather, and the infrastructure manager wants an accurate picture of the network before they arrive.

A health check at line speed

The train carries lasers, cameras and real-time image analysis, and Network Rail describes its runs as "a high-speed health check of the railway". Because it records the track at up to 125mph, it can cover long distances without a line being closed for inspection. The data shows local teams where faults are developing, so they can target maintenance where it is needed most.

That is the point of a recording train. A fault in track geometry rarely appears overnight: it grows over weeks as ballast settles or drainage fails. Spotting the trend early turns an emergency speed restriction into a planned repair.

Why autumn and winter matter

Network Rail lists three main risks in stormy weather. Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage and destabilise cuttings and embankments. Strong winds bring trees and debris onto the line, and there are about 13 million trees on or next to railway land. Wet leaves crushed onto the railhead reduce the grip between wheel and rail, which affects braking and acceleration.

Against the last of these, the railway's fleet of 67 railhead treatment trains will cover more than one million miles this autumn, according to Network Rail. They blast the rails with high-pressure water jets to remove the leaf film, then apply a treatment to help wheels grip.

Lisa Angus, Network Rail's industry weather response director, called the measurement train "a brilliant example of how technology helps us understand what is happening on the railway". She also warned that there will be times when trains have to slow down or change their pattern to keep people safe.

The industry is investing £2.6bn between 2024 and 2029 in weather and climate resilience. Track renewals are part of the same effort, such as the nine-day Derby to Matlock closure that starts on 14 November. Passengers are advised to check their journey before travelling when severe weather is forecast.

Sources: Network Rail, "Two million miles and counting: railway's 'Flying Banana' helps keep passengers moving through autumn and winter", 12 November 2026, accessed 12 November 2026.

Photo: the New Measurement Train at Danesmoor, Derbyshire — Phil Sangwell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited, and reviewed by the TrainsNews editorial team before publication.