Residents of Burton Old Road West have won a partial battle with Railtrack over noise and disturbance on the cross city line.

In a letter to Michael Fabricant, Richard Fearn (Director, Railtrack Midlands) says ‘The enhanced maintenance, which includes some track replacement, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month. It is hoped this will alleviate the problem or roaring rails’.

In other words, it is expected that noise and vibration from the track will be reduced by the installation of new rails and sleepers. But so far, Railtrack are refusing to fit an automated crossing at Burton Old Road so residents will continue to suffer from the noise of train drivers sounding their warning horns and the clanging of the manual gate.

Michael Fabricant says: "While I am delighted that Railtrack have upgraded the lines by Burton Old Road to reduce noise and vibration, I will continue to fight for the fitting of an automated level crossing gate. It will then no longer be necessary for drivers to sound their horns. Will Railtrack only fit an automated system after a child has been knocked down by a train?"