Chiltern Railways – Stourbridge depot noise management project

Chiltern Railways was receiving growing noise complaints from the community around their Stourbridge depot.

They asked us to carry out a noise assessment and develop a Noise Action Plan to address the issue and demonstrate their commitment to resolving the problem and making improvements.

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Background

Chiltern Railways, a leading UK train operating company, faced increasing noise complaints from the community surrounding their Stourbridge depot. The depot, which had recently started handling Class 65 locomotives for maintenance and fuelling, became the source of several noise-related issues, prompting local residents to voice concerns.

In response to the complaints and involvement from the local Environmental Health Officer, Chiltern asked us to help them to understand the scale of the problem and develop a solution to address it.

The brief

Chiltern Railways approached us with two key objectives. Firstly, they required an initial noise assessment to measure and baseline the current noise levels at the Stourbridge depot. This would help establish a clear understanding of the noise impact. Secondly, they needed a depot-specific Noise Action Plan. This plan would not only help manage and reduce noise levels but also demonstrate to the local community that Chiltern was taking the issue seriously and was committed to making improvements.

The growing number of complaints, combined with the pressure from the Environmental Health Officer, made it essential for Chiltern to show that they were actively investigating the problem and taking meaningful steps to mitigate it.

The solution

Drawing on our extensive experience in noise management, including developing noise management strategy templates for the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), we approached Chiltern Railways with a tailored solution.

The first step was to conduct a comprehensive noise assessment at the Stourbridge depot. This assessment provided us with a detailed benchmark of the current noise levels, especially around the maintenance and fuelling activities related to the Class 65 locomotives. Using this data, we were able to identify the specific areas that required attention.

Following the assessment, we worked closely with Chiltern to create a Noise Action Plan specifically for the Stourbridge depot. This plan included clear, actionable recommendations aimed at reducing noise levels and preventing future issues.

Key components of the plan included:

  • Proposing operational changes to minimise noise during peak complaint times
  • Revising the environmental complaint process to ensure quicker responses and improved community relations
  • Identifying areas within the depot where noise-reducing modifications could be implemented.

We provided Chiltern with a strategic framework that not only addressed the immediate noise issues but also set out a long-term approach to better noise management at the depot.

The result

The result of the project was a comprehensive noise assessment report and a detailed Noise Action Plan that met Chiltern Railways’ needs. With our support, Chiltern was able to present a clear plan of action to the community and the Environmental Health Officer, demonstrating their commitment to resolving the noise problems at Stourbridge depot. They are now better equipped to manage noise at the depot and could confidently communicate their efforts to the local community.

If you’re facing similar challenges or need assistance with noise management, we’re here to help. With our experience in rail industry projects and environmental noise assessments, we can provide tailored solutions that meet your specific needs. Get in touch today to discuss how we can support your organisation.

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