Hugh Robertson meets with Minister to demand action on rail noise

Hugh Robertson has today attended a meeting with the Minster, Tom Harris, to raise his concerns about the level of noise from train horns.

Hugh has received countless complaints from Constituents and has attended trackside meetings in Teynham and Faversham to address the issue.

At the meeting with the Minister, Hugh agreed that a series of whistle boards have been put up without any consultation with local residents. Furthermore, the new type of train horns employed on the latest rolling stock is much louder than its predecessor.

The Minister acknowledges both points and said that he had asked a cross industry safety body to report to him by Christmas with a list of recommendations to solve the problem – including removing unnecessary whistle boards and installing less intrusive horns. He hoped that the recommendations would be implemented in the New Year.

Hugh said, “This is an issue that is causing huge distress to Constituents living close to a railway line. Nobody doubts the importance of safety on, or near, railways, but this can be achieved without destroying the lives of local residents. I was enormously encouraged by the Minister’s response and look forward to an early resolution of this issue”.