Who can I complain at?

Alexandria

Does anyone know who is responsible for train track maintainence? Last night at 2am I was woken up by what my sleep-adled brain thought was an alien invasion, turns out it some kind of weird tracking-whacking carriage thing. The rail track at the bottom of my garden is a local line and trains stop at 11pm so it never causes us any bother. This noise was like an incredibly loud hover with a combination of clacking, banging and metallic plonk sounds over the top.
It woke my 4 year old (who was terrified) and my 9 month old baby. Even after the noise had passed our hearing (about 2.30pm) it was hard to get them to settle.
We were given no warning of this work taking place and if we had been informed we would have taken the girls to stay at my mums.
Alex

maninthestreet

You want Network Rail:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/

Dave_Brooker

Alexandria wrote: »

Does anyone know who is responsible for train track maintainence? Last night at 2am I was woken up by what my sleep-adled brain thought was an alien invasion, turns out it some kind of weird tracking-whacking carriage thing. The rail track at the bottom of my garden is a local line and trains stop at 11pm so it never causes us any bother. This noise was like an incredibly loud hover with a combination of clacking, banging and metallic plonk sounds over the top.

Would you rather they didn't bother maintain the lines and just allow for a few train crashes now and then?

maninthestreet

I think the point Alexandria was making was that no warning was given of this work:

"We were given no warning of this work taking place and if we had been informed we would have taken the girls to stay at my mums."

Dave_Brooker

maninthestreet wrote: »

I think the point Alexandria was making was that no warning was given of this work:

"We were given no warning of this work taking place and if we had been informed we would have taken the girls to stay at my mums."

You think they should write to everyone who lives near every railway line to inform them of maintence work???

If you don't like the noise of trains and railway maintence work, don't live next to a railway line...

Alexandria

This is the first time in the 2 years we have lived here that this has happened. Maintainence work has normally taken place during the day and as the track is at the end of our garden we have previously been given warning of workmens presence.
If they can do this for daytime work I think its plausible to say they can do it for nighttime work.
As for not living here what a daft statement, like we picked this house without spending plenty of time observing the train sounds.
As I said its a quiet local line so never a problem until now. I think a bit of courtesy is not too much to ask for if they intend to do work at 2am.

Butlers1982

And you complain so what?
What do you think they will say or do?

Think you need to accept that if you live close to a train line, it is going to get noisey some times.

Alexandria

Oh ok then..I forgot there was a problem with expecting a bit of courtesy. I don't expect anyting more than for them to consider residents in future. I don't want an apology or compensation, I just want to make them aware of the issue this caused and ask that in future they show a little consideration. You'd think I was asking for the moon, is this not a site that is about encouraging companies to consider the little people more?

maninthestreet

This link may be relevant - note the box on the RHS that refers to 'Tamping Machines' :

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1030.aspx

Alexandria

Thanks for that maninthestreet I think that is exactly what was happening last night. I spoke to someone anyway and they said they have had a few complaints today from our area so they are going to look into it.

Bean_Counter

Alexandria wrote: »

Last night at 2am I was woken up by what my sleep-adled brain thought was an alien invasion, turns out it some kind of weird tracking-whacking carriage thing.

I know exactly what you mean! I have seen the same thing a couple of times and it is really, really weird. Alien invasion crossed my mind too (very briefly.)

I just put it down to the joys of having a railway at the end of the garden. Personally I think notification is unfeasible.