Joan Lockwood lives close to the line

ALARM bells are ringing among people living near the railway in Primrose Hill after they learned engineering work will take place most weekends for the next four months.

Network Rail will be on the tracks from early April through to late July, working in the early hours of the morning to avoid disruption to services.

It has warned neighbours that disruption is likely as they use handheld mechanical tools and residents are fearing a series of sleepless nights.

Joan Lockwood, who has lived in Adelaide Road opposite the tracks for nearly nine years said last week she was woken up at around 2am by a “sawing on metal” sound.

She said: “I don’t know if the work will be taking place outside my window the entire time but it seems excessive.

“Everyone is going to be affected in the area if you live near the tracks and if your bedroom faces it it will be incredibly loud and I feel anxious that this is what the next couple of months are going to be like as I sleep with the window open. Everyone who lives on the railway understands the noise and no one is going to complain unless it is way over and above it.”

Network Rail sent a letter to residents informing them that the work would be renewing the track below to keep the railway reliable and safe.

It has apologised in advance for potential disturbance which will include work taking place during the Easter weekend from 8pm until 7am in the morning.

The railway lines

Lara Blake who lives on the other side of the tracks said she was also up at night last week after noisy works on the railway began.

“It fills me with dread knowing this will be going on for weeks straight,” she said.

“I have a small child and I’m worried it may impact their sleep. The short notice of this has given me no mental time to prepare. I wish they would outline exactly what is happening and where so we can get an idea of the type of noise in the next few weeks.”

Ms Lockwood added: “They should communicate what kind of work will be completed. Is it going to be that loud all the time or not? “There is a lot of work going on around here. Why are they having five different building projects going on at one time and not think about the people that are going to be impacted.”

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “While some noise is unavoidable, such as machinery engines and use of tools, we try our best to schedule the loudest activity early in the night shift and work to keep disruptive periods as short as possible.

“The programme is spread over several weeks, including weekends and Easter, because we need to make use of times when the railway is closed or when fewer people are travelling.

“We are taking steps to minimise disruption, including using quieter equipment where possible and briefing our teams to work considerately. Residents are being kept informed through advance letters outlining the timing and nature of the works.”