Media centre

Friday 27 Feb 2004

CHEVENING ROAD – NOISE AND VIBRATION

Region & Route:

| Southern

The railway track opposite Chevening Road between Kensal Rise and Brondesbury Park is structurally sound and meets all railway safety standards. Patrolmen from our contractor, AMEC, inspect the track on a weekly basis.  Following complaints from local residents further detailed examinations of the track were carried out in July 2003 and on13 February 2004.  As expected, investigations showed that the track is fit for purpose. This stretch of track carries passenger and freight traffic.  All services are restricted to 45mph. There are four Silverlink Metro passenger services each hour in both directions.  There is approximately the same amount of freight train movements, although this can vary, day-to-day.   This line is also recognised as a key freight route creating access to the rest of the UK from East Anglia and its ports at Tilbury and Felixstowe.  There is no alternative freight route which doesn’t impact on other residential areas. Network Rail takes its responsibility as a neighbour very seriously and the complaints of noise and vibration have been thoroughly researched by our engineers.  Findings have been conclusive and indicate that the track is structurally sound, vibration is significantly lower than British standards, and the route is akin to other tracks with similar traffic across the UK.  - more - Chevening– 2 This section of the North London Line was built in 1860 and over time houses have been built very close to the railway boundary.  Some noise and associated vibration must be expected and cannot be avoided.  We understand local residents’ concerns, but can assure them that the track is safe and no railway engineering procedures are able to alter the noise and vibration conditions.