Hope for end to train horn misery

People living along the Arun Valley line could soon be celebrating. Network Rail has promised that some whistleboards could be removed from unmanned crossings.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Oct 2005, 17:13 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:36 BST

Residents have been complaining bitterly about disturbed sleep caused by the sounding of horns by passing trains and have been campaigning for action.

Representatives from Network Rail and Southern train company met parish councillors, Arun district councillor Paul Dendle and MP Nick Herbert at a special train horn summit held on September 23.

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Mr Herbert said that dozens of people had complained to him about the volume of horns fitted to Southern's new trains and were upset with having their sleep disturbed.

Representatives from Network Rail said that drivers were legally required by the Rail Safety and Standards Board to sound their horns when they saw whistleboards. The boards are placed at crossings where pedestrians might not be able to see approaching trains in time. There are a number of boards on the line at Warningcamp, Peppering and Pulborough.

Southern representative Matt Ball said that it had already altered a third of the horns on its new trains to reduce the noise from 124 to 166 decibels and had speeded up the programme so that remaining trains would be changed by December.

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, October 6

Related topics:RepresentativesPeopleNetwork RailResidents