Crossrail noise piles on misery for rest of the year

Network Rail ‘doing all they can’ to reduce impact on locals

HILLINGDON residents may face night-time noise for the rest of the YEAR, as Network Rail electrifies the railway line ahead of the introduction of Crossrail.

For the last year, Network Rail has been carrying out this work in Hillingdon, Slough, South Bucks and Maidenhead, but more work now needs to take place, particularly around the new flyover at Stockley at the junction to Heathrow Airport.

The work is part of the Crossrail programme to electrify the Great The Uxbridge Gazette Series Western Main Line in preparation for the introduction of new, quieter and more reliable trains for the Elizabeth line and Great Western services.

The work forms part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and will involve installing the foundations for the overhead lines by driving them into the ground. This process, known as ‘piling’, can be noisy.

Wherever possible a relatively quiet method of foundation installation is used, Network Rail says.

However, where the ground conditions are more challenging, a noisier method may need to be used to drive some of the piles into the ground.

Rail passengers were recently praised for their patience after bank holiday disruption, and after £30m worth of work was carried out during the Easter break.

Programme director for Crossrail at Network Rail, Matthew Steele, apologised in advance for any inconvenience that the work may cause.

He said: “We are doing everything we can to reduce the impact on local people and to make sure that they know about work that is going to affect them.

“Installing these foundations is an essential part of our work and means the residents of Hillingdon and the surrounding area are a step closer to the longterm benefits that electrification will bring.

“These include more trains that can carry more people and less noise and cleaner air for those who live close to the railway.”

For safety reasons the noisy work has to take place when trains aren’t running, which tends to be at night.

Network Rail has gained consent from local authorities along the route and is working hard to make sure that local people are informed about work that will affect them.

This includes letters to those who live close to the railway and follow-up visits from Network Rail representatives, to enable residents to find out more and ask any questions.

Matthew White, surface director at Crossrail, said: “The Elizabeth line will provide a step change in public transport for local people – quicker journeys, better stations and new trains.

“The electrification of this section of the track is a vital part of the Crossrail project’s upgrades and will deliver quieter, greener and more reliable services for people in the local area.”

Once the foundations are complete, the gantries can be erected and the overhead power lines installed between the structures.

The work is expected to last until the end of the year between Hayes in Hillingdon and Maidenhead.

However, at most, lineside residents should only be disturbed on a small number of occasions during that period.