Spalding transport forum wants train complaints

Campaigners for better transport links between Spalding and the rest of Lincolnshire are asking people to bring their complaints about train noise to them.
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Rail transport news.

Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum is concerned that a rise in passenger and freight trains using the Great Norther Great Eastern (GNGE) Line between Lincoln and Peterborough, which runs through Spalding, could be bringing problems of noise to people living near the line.

Network Rail completed a £280 million upgrade of the line last November, but people from two villages near Peterborough have spoken to the forum’s chairman, George Scott, about their problems with trains passing by their homes, particularly at night.

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Mr Scott said: “We’re working with an action group in Werrington whose members have got problems with noise pollution from trains passing through the village.

“But they’ve not been successful in getting Network Rail to do anything about it.

“What we want to do is take complaints from people in Spalding who might have similar problems and then get our MP (John Hayes) to speak to the Department for Transport about it.

“I’ve not had any complaints personally, but I’ve heard other people talking about it and it might be something that’s annoying an awful lot of people who live near Spalding Rail Station or near level crossings along the GNGE line.”

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If enough people respond to Mr Scott’s invitation, it could see the forum working with MPs from other areas along the GNGE line who have already taken up residents’ complaints about noise, vibrations and polution caused by increased rail traffic.

One of those is Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson who said: “I have met with a number of constituents who are concerned that Network Rail are not doing enough to mitigate the problems caused by increased traffic on the freight line.

“I have been corresponding with Network Rail on their behalf, I presented a petition to the Government and lobbied Ministers so that they have a full understanding of local concern.”

Another MP to have joined the campaign is Stephen Phillips, whose Sleaford and North Hykeham constituency includes Billingborough.

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In a House of Commons debate earlier this month, Mr Phillips said: “Since the upgraded (GNGE) line came into full use, serious problems have become apparent.

In particular, my constituents and those of other (MPs) who live beside the line are now subjected to a level of traffic that they never could have reasonably anticipated when they moved into their homes.

“These trains — both passenger and freight — are now more frequent, faster and heavier than before, with more trains during the evening, (overnight) and early morning.

“However beneficial to our rail infrastructure this (GNGE) upgrade is, it should not have come at such a cost to those who live beside the line.

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“I will keep fighting for (improvement) measures to be put in place and I hope this debate will have put some more pressure on Network Rail to do the right thing.”

To contact the forum, email [email protected]