Scarborough train depot noises still disturbing residents a year on

Residents in Scarborough are still having problems with the noise coming from the town's train depot more than a year on since it started.

Author: Karen LiuPublished 8th Mar 2021

Residents in Scarborough are still having problems with the noise coming from the town's train depot.

It has been more than a year since we told you people have been unable to sleep due to the disruption from the Seamer Road facility.

Councillor Rich Maw, Scarborough Borough Councillor for Weaponness and Ramshill, said:

"I have got huge sympathy for anyone resident who is losing sleep due to these Nova 3 trains. Complaints are dropping into my inbox daily and have done actually for over a year now and obviously it's an on-going issue.

"Scarborough Borough Council is trying to resolve this with TransPennine Express. The Council's noise nuisance investigation is on-going and SBC remain in dialogue with company reps at TPE in order to try and reach some improvements for affected residents.

"It's primarily noise concerns to do with what time engines are switched on and off on a night and what time they're geared up in the morning. There has been some complaints with regards to lights and questions and queries with air pollution too.

"I know that solutions have been worked on with regards to how to implement train timings, so that they can be moved off and things can be done further down the line. So I know improvements have been made throughout this time and obviously Covid has had an impact on timetables as well.

"Scarborough Borough Council is there to try and help and we can do that by taking your concerns on board and we do listen. There are machines that we can install if you're quite willing to record and monitor noise so we can gauge exactly what times people's sleep are being disrupted."

Anyone who is affected by the train noise coming from the train depot on Seamer Road is asked to contact Cllr. Rich Maw via email: Cllr.Rich.Maw@scarborough.gov.uk or you can ring Customer First on 01723 232323

In response, Paul Staples, Fleet Director for TransPennine Express commented:

"We take the concerns of local residents very seriously regarding noise emitted from our train depot and are doing all we can to minimise the inconvenience caused while also providing a vital train service.

"Over the last 12 months, a huge amount of work has been undertaken to try and find ways of reducing the amount of engine noise and we would dearly liked to have reached a solution sooner, but the restrictions of the Covid-19 lockdown delayed a lot of the investigative work and measurement we needed to do.

"It is essential that we have a train depot in Scarborough, as this allows us to run our Nova trains in and out of the town, but we are absolutely committed to seeing this through, working closely with Scarborough Borough Council to find an answer that works for everyone."

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