The ScotRail Alliance will spend £2.6m this autumn in a bid to prevent lengthy delays caused by leaves on the line.

The train operator will deploy 11 "leaf fall teams" around the country in the coming weeks in a bid to combat build-ups, which can result in a slippery layer forming on the tracks.

In extreme cases it can cause trains to skid and overshoot signals and platforms.

As a result, drivers have to accelerate and brake more gently, causing services to go more slowly than usual and causing delays for passengers.

David Dickson, infrastructure director for the ScotRail Alliance, said: "We are working hard to build the best railway Scotland has ever had and part of that is keeping people moving during autumn when the weather can create major safety risks.

"We know few things annoy customers more than when their train is delayed because of leaves on the line.

"People are always a bit sceptical but the reality is that leaves on the line can be dangerous and lead to disruption. "

Seven specialist treatment trains will be deployed to clear leaf debris and spray the lines with a glue-like coating to help train wheels grip the tracks.

The ScotRail Alliance, a formal alliance between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail, said much of the country's railways are lined by trees, meaning fallen leaves on the line are a common cause of disruption.

The work will be led by Network Rail from the middle of this month and is expected to last several weeks.

The leaf fall teams, which are each made up of 30 members, will be based at locations including Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Tayside, the Borders and Fife.