The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway project team has produced a leaflet for residents providing them with information regarding noise and vibration impacts from the route reopening.
Unlike England and Wales, there are no legal requirements to control noise from railways in Scotland. However, Clackmannanshire Council as the Promoter of the project is required and wants to act responsibly. Accordingly, the Council will apply the Noise Insulation (Railways and Other Guided Systems) Regulations 1996 as if they were in force in Scotland.
The railway has been specifically designed to keep noise and vibration impacts to a minimum. The track has been laid on extra deep ballast and continuously welded rail is used throughout the route. Modern trains will be used on the railway and the timetable has been developed to minimise early morning and late evening services.
When trains start running frequently on the railway, Clackmannanshire Council will measure actual noise levels at a number of locations along the route. Measurements will be taken at those locations which are believed will be those worst affected by noise and it is hoped they will be complete by the end of summer 2008. Permission will be sought from property owners to take measurements at the façade of their house; the surveys will not harm properties in anyway. These measurements have to be undertaken when passenger and freight services are running on the railway in order to obtain the noise levels which will be experienced by residents in future. If measurements were taken during the driver training period, they would not be representative of the noise experienced in future.
Scott Prentice, Senior Project Manager for Transport Scotland, explains why the publication has been produced:
“This leaflet is designed to be a simple guide to the situation regarding noise and vibration with regards to the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway. The laws and procedures relating to this area are very complex so we hope that this leaflet will provide an overview for members of the local community, answering some commonly asked questions and directing them to sources of further advice.”
For a copy of the leaflet or further information please call 0141 229 7648 or email info@s-a-k.co.uk
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For further information, please contact:
Fergus Reid/Katrine Pearson/Suzanne Clark
SAK Press Office
T: 0141 229 7647
M: 07971 583 535
E: info@s-a-k.co.uk
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