RESIDENTS suffering from the noise of new train horns will have to put up with it until at least next year.

Among those complaining have been people living near Newington station, between Sittingbourne and Rainham.

There are several pedestrian rail crossing points near the station so train drivers have to sound their horns for safety reasons.

South Eastern Trains spokesman Sarah Boundy said: "The new train horns sound noticeably louder to line-side residents than those fitted to the older slam-door trains, and this has generated complaints from residents in various places.

"In the past our hands have been tied by the 'Railway Group Standard' governing the volume of the horn. However, following research into the audibility of train horns, the standard governing the level of noise emitted from train horn equipment is being amended to lower the minimum volume by up to eight decibels.

"The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has approved a deviation against the standard which allows train operators to reduce the level of noise from train horns - although it doesn't oblige them to do so.

"So the onus will be on South Eastern Trains and other train operators to reduce the volume of the horn if they feel it is necessary.

"We are working with train manufacturer Bombardier to find a solution so we can lower the volume of the horns so that lineside residents are not disturbed. Obviously we are keen to implement an inexpensive solution and modify the train horn equipment as quickly as possible but it's likely this will not take place until sometime in 2005."

Among the Newington residents affected are Steve and Rosemary Small, of School Lane.

Mr Small said: "Our home is several hundred yards from the track but we are still constantly woken up in the night by the sound of the horns.

"This matter has now got so bad that we have contacted the Noise Abatement Society because nobody seems to take responsibility for it. We will believe it when we hear if the noise is reduced sometime next year."