Residents say new trains are keeping them awake.

Graham Pask who lives in Eclipse Drive in Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, said: "My neighbours and I have been blighted by the noise of train horns being sounded at a couple of points between Kemsley and Sittingbourne.

"I have lived here for 12 years but it has only been since January when Southeastern changed the rolling stock that the decibel of the horns has increased. And some drivers seem to be horn happy and sound it longer than others."

He said the horns are sounded every half-hour between 6am and midnight.

Mr Pask said: "They are waking children up and even interrupting adults' sleep. In this day and age alternative methods should be used to warn of a train's arrival rather than blasting a horn that half of Swale can hear."

Southeastern said they had to change the carriages to comply with new disability access rules to toilets.

But Mr Pask said: "That is nonsense as the old trains are still in use elsewhere. Southeastern also says it is Network Rail's orders as to when and where the horns are sounded. But both Network Rail and Southeastern have been unsympathetic to our complaints."

Train blasting its horn

He said the horns are sounded for a maintenance point, which is gated, padlocked and has a telephone to gain access to the line at the junction of Volante Drive and Atlee Way and at a pedestrian crossing from the back of Middletune Avenue to the fields behind.

He said: "Firstly, the access point should never be in the middle of a housing estate. It should be moved to somewhere like Fleet End behind the Morrisons distribution centre. That would be much safer and more convenient for all concerned."

He said a gas main in the fields opposite is reached by contractors driving over the line but he said: "They should for now use off-road vehicles across the field. There are already plans to build a massive housing estate on this field which would mean the gas main would be accessed by road anyway."

He added: "With that housing estate in mind, the pedestrian crossing will link the Middletune Avenue estate with the new one. With two schools also being built I have suggested the developers fund a footbridge over the line. Surely we can't condone children using a path across the line to go to school in the 21st century?"

He said he had written to Sittingbourne and Sheppey Conservative MP Gordon Henderson and has the backing of Labour councillors Tony Winckless and Steve Davey on Swale council.

Cllr Winckless (Milton Regis) said: "At the present time this audible warning has to be sounded at the crossings for safety regulations. I sympathise with residents because the warning is far too loud.

"Our MP is already dealing with this complaint. I understand he has had one reply from Southeastern and is waiting on a second. He will let me know what the second reply is.

"I am also looking at other possible options to resolve this problem and have assisted the residents on this issue. My colleague Cllr Steve Davey, who also represents the Milton Regis ward, is going to come to the two crossings to do a noise assessment evaluation."

Mr Pask added: "I'm not joking, the sound actually hurts my ears. Before this year it was a nuisance but I could live with the noise. Now it's ridiculous the length of time the horns are used and the decibels. We want a solution."

Darrell Kennard, also of Eclipse Drive, said: "I cycle and can hear the horns when I'm in Bobbing or Iwade. It's ridiculous. I have been here 17 years. It was never as bad as this. You don't hear the trains themselves, it's the horns.

Robert Day, also of Eclipse Drive, added: "I've been here eight years and have never had this problem until this year. We don't have an issue living near a railway track but Southeastern has moved the goalposts with these new horns. Their guidelines are to sound it for no longer than two seconds but some do it for longer."

His wife Lisa said: "We are worried about the resale value of our house as well. I wouldn't move here with it being that loud."

Stephen Freeman of Britannia Close said: "We can't have a lie-in and we can't get eight hours sleep. If we are lucky we get seven."

A Network Rail spokesman said horn volume was set by Southeastern but added: "Safety is our first priority. However, residents should call our help desk on 03457 114141 to log their concerns. We may then re-evaluate if a 'whistle board' is still necessary at those locations.

"I have sympathy with them and realise one crossing has a phone line to the signal box. But we have to take into account the possibility that someone won't call and the unthinkable happens. It's always a balancing act."

Southeastern said in a reply to Mr Henderson: "Whilst we endeavour to be a good neighbour to line-side residents, our drivers are required to sound their horn where Network Rail have provided whistle boards associated with level crossings and in other circumstances

"Our train horns are set to an industry standard volume between 86 and 94 decibels for mainline services and between 101 to 109 decibels for high speed services. This is so they are audible when the train is up to 400 metres away in compliance with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Audibility and Visibility of Trains guidelines.

"The sound levels are tested regularly to ensure they comply with the guidelines. Use of the horn by drivers is monitored by Southeastern through our driver competence management system.

"While we are very sorry for any inconvenience and disturbance this may cause where safety is concerned, and given the dangers level crossings pose to users, we’re unable to lower the tone or volume of horns without breaching RSSB guidelines."

Mr Pask said: "It is totally bizarre why this complaint is constantly turned around by the health and safety aspect. Is it healthy to have a train horn blasting your ears every 30 minutes disturbing sleep patterns and mental health?

"Is it safe having an access point for children to cross the rail line out of sight of adults, especially considering the planned housing?

"And is it safe to have an access point for heavy plant and machinery in the middle of a housing estate?"

He added: "The answer to all the above questions can only be answered with 'no'. The access point should be moved from Voltente Drive to Fleet End and developers should be made to contribute to replacing the current pedestrian crossing with a footbridge.

"Our proposals are forward thinking as opposed to the archaic attitude of Network Rail and Southeastern. We are far more aligned with health and safety and, very importantly, the long-term advantage to rail and train operators on this line.

"KCC and Swale Councils should have been duty-bound to look at the pedestrian crossing when building permission was requested years ago. A footbridge should be built before it's too late and the worst happens. It is time for all interested stakeholders to get round the table."

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