Trains travelling from Staines to Waterloo sound their horns as they approach the footpath crossing at Shortwood Common, Staines. The reason for sounding their horn is to alert any pedestrians using this crossing, however the intensity and duration of these horns causes excessive noise pollution for the local residents. We knew that a rail track existed when we moved to this area of Staines, however the problem has become worse in recent years. This petition is raised to highlight the problem, and seek alternatives to trains using their horns.
Residents of Silverdale court, Leacroft, Staines started complaining about train horns to South West Trains (SWT) in 2007, when trains first started sounding their horns approaching this footpath crossing. With up to 16 trains per hour (in both directions) sounding their horns over an 18 hour period, that’s up to 288 trains per day; 7 days per week; 52 weeks per year, the noise pollution has become intolerable. (It would be like sounding your car horn every time when approaching a zebra crossing …. with nobody on the crossing!)
The horns have gradually changed from short/ muted blasts to longer duration and/or higher intensity. The night time quiet period (NTQP) was changed without notice at the end of 2016 from 23:00/07;00 to 23:59/06:00. Residents of Silverdale Court, Leacroft and Chestnut Manor Close, submitted complaints to Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC). Network Rail’s position is that “modern trains have become faster and more frequent, train horns have necessarily become louder to ensure that crossing users continue to receive sufficient protection”.
The footpath crossing at Shortwood Common is rarely used
(approximately four pedestrians/cyclists per day according to
Network Rail). There are alternatives to horns, e.g. other means of
crossing the railway; audible warning systems; warning lights;
reduced train speed approaching the crossing; adjusting the NTQP to
align with crossing usage.
Started by: David Wyatt
This ePetition ran from 22/07/2017 to 18/12/2017 and has now finished.
88 people signed this ePetition.