Pile driving to disturb residents

Network Rail has warned that overnight pile driving work will take place in and around Stirling this summer.

Letters were last week sent out to residents in Riverside alerting them to a three-month programme of work due to start on May 30.

It is the latest phase of the project to electrify the rail line through Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane.

Pile-driving is needed to prepare concrete foundations for the masts carrying power lines for the new electric trains.

Network Rail intend to carry out the work around Stirling Station from May 30 to August 31 between 11pm Saturday and 8am Sunday and 9pm and 5am between Sunday and Thursday.

The company say in their letter:“Piling is noisy but for a limited period before moving on at about 50-metre intervals to the next location.

“Every effort will be made to minimise noise where possible and our contractors are continually briefed on working responsibly in communities, particularly at night.”

It is understood the work will start in Larbert and piling will continue through to around Stirling station between now and July. Subsequent phases will then progress to Alloa and Dunblane.

The detailed scheduled is still being drawn up but the company are planning to complete about 10 piles per night, covering a distance of between 200 and 300 metres but that depends on ground conditions.

A Network Rail spokesman said:“Piling involves our engineers working out on the tracks using heavy plant and equipment and it cannot be safely completed while train services are also running.

“Unfortunately this means we predominantly carry out piling work overnight so that the railway is available for the busy commuter services which run through Stirling each day.

“The piling programme will be completed as quickly as possible and, as these are moving worksites, our engineers should not be in any one location for an extended period of time.”