Train track work means night noise

Rail apology before it starts

Residents living near Perth train station are set for weeks of noisy disruption later this year.

Network Rail has recently sent letters to those living near the railway station apologising in advance for the overnight “disturbances” it will cause.

In April this year, Network Rail will be working to clear debris from the railroad tracks around the station. This will then be followed by five weekends of work to replace the tracks on platform seven later on in 2018.

The letter, sent to neighbouring residents by Network Rail’s community relations manager Evelyn Brown, said those working on the tracks would work with “consideration for the local community”.

The letter read: “We will shortly begin improvement work near your property. Although this work is essential, I would like to apologise for any disturbance it may cause you.

“This work will involve renewal of rail components within platform seven at Perth station. Unfortunately, the equipment we use - in this case engineering trains, road rail vehicles and on track machinery - means that some noise in unavoidable but we will do all we can to minimise it.

“We have also asked those working on site to work with consideration for the local community.”

The letter added the overnight works were needed to minimise disruption to train services. It continued: “We understand that working by your property overnight is far from ideal, but we are legally obliged to work on the railways at times that cause least disruption to trains. Unfortunately this means carrying out a lot of our work at weekends or at night.”

These works will run from 10pm on Friday, October 28 until 6pm on Sunday, October 29, and then the following four weekends from 10pm on the Friday night to 5am on the Monday morning.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said they will be undertaking a range of works on the railway line around Perth, including removing vegetation and excess plant growth, improving the area’s signalling systems and renewing stretches of the track.

The spokesperson added: “This investment and maintenance programme is essential to the continued running of a reliable rail network.

“It cannot be completed without some short-term disruption and is being delivered over evenings and weekends to limit the impact of the project on these busy week-day passenger and freight routes.”