§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the national noise mapping project, launched on 12 December 2002, will include the regular sounding of horns by trains at particular points on rail lines. [102530]
§ Alun MichaelThe information being collected for the noise mapping project considers the level of noise on the basis of the 16 hour day, 4 hour evening and 8 hour night period, when averaged over a year.
The initial stage of the project does not consider short-term noise events such as the regular sounding of horns by trains.
Train drivers are required to sound their horns at level crossings and on the approaches to tunnels to give extra warning of the approach of trains to those who may wish to cross or are working on the track. This is done on the grounds of safety.