Dutch railway operators NS and ProRail are to experiment with lasers to keep lines leaf-free this winter.

The experiment, carried out in partnership with TU Delf, will see lasers fitted to one or two trains which will burn away the leaves, the Noordhollands Dagblad reports.

The pilot trains will also have a water sprinkler to keep the tracks wet so that leaves slip off, the paper says.

The technique has already been used with success in England.