Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 8:20am

Families rail against noisy freight trains on new line

by Matt Meade

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A FLOOD of compensation claims have been submitted from fed-up residents affected by the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine (SAK) all-night freight train service.

It is believed 27 people have lodged formal claims over disturbed sleep patterns and the reduction in house values.

Freight trains transporting hundreds of tonnes of coal have been running as regularly as every two hours from 11pm-6am to Longannet by companies Freightliner and German company EWS (now DB Schenker).

However, Kincardine residents told the Press that it was DB Schenker causing a catalogue of problems, including vibrating houses and rattling windows, from allegedly travelling too fast in the dead of night.

It"s believed most of the compensation claims come from the central belt, which, if successful, could mean Kincardine residents follow suit.

Nick Whyte, of Forth Street, said, 'It"s like chalk and cheese. Freightliner are as good as gold – every time their trains go past it"s fine, but with EWS you know they are coming because everything vibrates and shakes.

'At night it does seem to be worse. The guys (drivers) think that if it"s dark nobody can hear them. I can hear them rumbling past at three in the morning and the kids have been woken a few times.

'We live in an old property from the 1790s which was here before the railway. It"s a tall sandstone house which is cracking up and the railway has not helped. If they did what Freightline do it would be much less of an issue.'

Another resident, who has lived in a house in nearby Station Road for seven years, said, 'There"s a real difference in speeds between the operators. I don"t know if it"s because Freightliner are being ultra-cautious.

'The problem is not the engine but the rolling stock. There is one train where every wheel seems to squeak.

'We"re not complaining about the trains but about night-time operations – we did not believe that would happen – but both companies are within their rights to do it because there is nothing saying they can"t.'

Transport Scotland claim that during a consultation process carried out in 2003, DB Schenker ran only a daytime timetable and they were told that freight traffic would operate on a similar timetable on the SAK line.

A spokesperson said the issue lies 'outwith their remit' as they have no legal powers to deny access to the SAK line.

He added, 'Transport Scotland acknowledges the concern expressed by residents adjoining the new railway, especially since freight trains commenced operation at night. A public meeting with Transport Scotland and Clackmannanshire Council representatives was held as recently as 27th May to address these concerns.

'We are currently analysing the results of 24-hour noise monitoring along the length of the new line and these will be used to ascertain which properties qualify for noise mitigation measures.

'Transport Scotland has also agreed to carry out vibration monitoring at representative sites next week to confirm the assumptions made during the promotion of the project.

'We are working closely with Network Rail and Clackmannanshire Council to address these concerns about noise and vibration as quickly as possible.'

Dunfermline and West Fife Lib Dem MP Willie Rennie carried out his own survey of Kincardine residents living near the line and found that around 30 households were affected.

His colleague, MSP Jim Tolson, said, ' Whilst realising that the operator has commercial reasons for changing their operational requirements, the residents should have been told about these changes long before they happened and given the opportunity to express their concerns.'

A spokesperson for DB Schenker said, 'DB Schenker is now aware that residents on the line of route were informed that trains would not operate at night.

'We are unable to comment over why this pledge was made – that is for the parties who made it to comment on. DB Schenker has moved the coal trains away from the Forth Bridge to this line at Transport Scotland"s request.'