Residents living close to the railway line in the West End of Dundee are furious after a noise compared to the “gates of hell” kept many awake for hours.
After suffering a hugely disturbed night of sleep, many have complained to Network Rail who carried out “vegetation management” work on the line.
Locals claim the disturbance was caused by “saws, clanging metal and thundering generators.”
Vegetation management blamed
They say the work lasted for three hours between 2-5am on Friday making it near impossible to sleep.
And they claim that Network Rail didn’t even bother to notify local people or the councillors for the area.
Noise from chainsaws and other tools can be heard piercing through the quiet streets in footage recorded by a resident in the early hours.
Numerous complaints have now been submitted to Network Rail with Dundee residents saying this isn’t the first time this has happened.
Network Rail claim the work being carried out was “vegetation management” which needs to be carried out through the night.
They also say that people living within 200 metres of the line were informed in advance.
‘Gates of hell’ noise sparks fury
West End resident Sean Hamilton said: “I was awake from 2-5am while Network Rail apparently opened the gates of hell right outside the bedroom window.”
Sean said he tweeted his complaint at the time to Network Rail.
He said: “Whoever was on Twitter duty for them overnight let slip that it was vegetation management.
“The crux of the matter here is that if this hellish racket was ‘vegetation management’ then it was planned work rather than emergency work. So why didn’t Network Rail let nearby residents know it was coming?”
Sean said that for three hours residents had to listen to “circular saws, clanging metal and thundering generators.
Residents claim noise is a regular issue
He said: “If this was a one-off from Network Rail it would be annoying enough, but they appear to be 100% committed to treating their neighbours with absolute contempt.
“I’ve lost count of the number of complaints I’ve made over the years about this sort of thing.
“I appreciate that sometimes emergency work will present itself that, for safety reasons, requires to be tackled overnight.”
He added: “But in this instance – and in a great many before it – planned work is undertaken in the small hours of the morning without Network Rail making any effort whatsoever to alert residents and give them the opportunity to prepare.”
I was shocked to see and hear that Network Rail was carrying out work on the railway line at this time of the morning.
Local resident
Another local resident, who asked not to be named said: “The noise was awful and this isn’t the first time this has happened.
“I was wakened up by the racket and looked out the window to see what was going on.
“I was shocked to see and hear that Network Rail was carrying out work on the railway line at this time of the morning.”
Wildlife concerns
Chairman of West End Community Council Russell Pepper said: “There is no need surely for this level of work to be carried out in the small hours of the morning.
“Work like this has previously been undertaken during the day.”
Mr Pepper said he was also concerned that the “vegetation management” was too harsh and could have a detrimental impact on the local bio-diversity of the area.
Mr Pepper said: “This area is a recognised nature corridor in the city. This week alone I have seen magpies nesting.
“I would hate to think they have been disturbed by overly harsh pruning.”
Numerous complaints
Lib Dem councillor the the West End Fraser Macpherson said that he had received numerous complaints about the noise on Friday morning.
He said: “I have made a formal complaint to Network Rail about this.
“They have responded to me saying that when it comes to track work this needs to be undertaken at night-time.
“They advised that they need possession of the railway line, and can’t block part of the railway during the day. ”
Mr Macpherson said: “They have missed my main point that there was no notification for either myself or local residents.
“The noise was extremely loud and I do not believe that 200 metres is an adequate coverage area for notification.
“Further overnight work at 3am in a highly residential area is not acceptable. ”
More consideration needed
West End Labour councillor Richard McCready said he was appalled.
He said: “I understand the importance of the railway being safe and operating efficiently but local people tell me that there was no notice and that this is a regular occurrence.
“Given that this area is very close to a particularly built-up area of houses where Roseangle meets Magdalen Yard and Bellefield Avenue I think that more consideration is needed for local people.”
Network Rail has been asked to comment.
