Nicholas Soames, Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, met with the Chief Executive of Network Rail, and representatives of the Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) and the Association of Train Operating Companies, yesterday in the House of Commons to seek urgent action to tackle the unacceptable and increasingly intrusive problem of train horn noise.

Nicholas Soames said; “It is paramount that we strike a balance between protecting the health and safety of people who use rail crossings and footpaths with that of local residents whose health is being adversely affected by this intolerable nuisance.”

“Following the meeting I am confident that we are now heading in the right direction to find a solution. An industry steering group comprising Network Rail, RSSB, ATOC and Train Operators was convened earlier in the month to review this problem and my Parliamentary Colleagues and I will be meeting again when the group produces is progress report in March.”

Nicholas Soames said; “I have sought assurances that the Noise Abatement Society will be consulted by the steering group so that residents’ views will be heard.”

All new whistle boards have been suspended pending the outcome of the review.

The MPs have urged the RSSB to investigate the benefits of trialling broadband technology.

The meeting was called by a cross-Party group of MPs whose constituents’ lives have been blighted by the increasing level of train horn noise.

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Notes

Nicholas Soames has signed an Early Day Motion on this issue tabled by his colleague, Peter Ainsworth MP

EDM 841

That this House deplores the distress and disruption to sleep and day-to-day life caused by noise from train horns; believes that the installation of broadband horns would produce a significant reduction in the nuisance caused by train horns; notes that industry estimates indicate that broadband horns can be fitted at a cost of £700 per train; urges train operating companies to take effective action to end the blight of excessive train horn noise; and calls on the Office of the Rail Regulator to discharge its duties under section 4(3)(b) of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended) to ensure that members of the public are not subjected to severe noise pollution arising from the operation of the railways.

Mr Soames has been campaigning on this issue since September 2004. He has met with the Management of Southern Railway and made representations to the Secretary of State for Transport.