Category: Latest Developments
Trains Stopped, Abatement Order Withdrawn
The Court Case Result
In Stirling sheriff court, on the 26th of April 2016, it was confirmed that coal freight movements had stopped and would not resume. As a result, Stirling Council withdrew the statutory nuisance abatement order served on DB Shenker and Freightliner in December 2015. There was no longer any need for them to appeal.
Why the Shaking Stopped
The noise and vibration of the coal freight wagons was sufficient to damage the glass canopies in Stirling station, according to a Network Rail spokesperson. 
Rail chiefs said this station was being damaged by freight(see news report) . Network Rail managers showed little sign of concern that the physical pollutants that were damaging their own infrastructure were undermining the health and sleep of those living next to the line.
The coal freight came to an end. It might seem, at a glance, like an amicable agreement had been reached, but all is not as it seems.
DB Shenker, Freightliner-Noise Abatement Update
Rail Noise and Vibration Abatement Case.
The court case, in which DB Shenker and Freightliner have appealed against the noise and vibration abatement order served by Stirling Council, has been moved to the 26th April 2016. Venue: Stirling Sheriff Court.
Update on Failure to Protect Public.
AECOM, the consultants who advised there was no need to provide mitigation for night noise, continue to refuse to reply to questions (see previous post) about the criteria they used, their version of the World Health Organization night noise guidelines, ethics and Human Rights.
END OF UPDATE
Posted from WordPress for Android
UK Rail Reaches the End of the Regulatory Line
An Important Day in Railway Legal History
On the 15th of March 2016, in Stirling Sheriff Court, two rail haulage companies, DB Shenker and Freightliner, will be appealing against an abatement order served by Stirling Council.
Whilst Stirling Council are attempting to protect the health of the general public by stopping noise and vibration at high levels during the night, the freight haulage companies, are expected to argue that UK law and ‘statutory authority’ gives them the right to run their operations (and thus pollute UK residents regardless of impact) without regulation or restriction.
The Lack of Responsibility Within UK Rail.
AECOM face Ethical, Human Rights, Professional Standards Questions
Who are AECOM?
AECOM describes itself as a global provider of professional technical and management support services in markets that include: transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government. With headquarters in Los Angeles, California, United States and clients in more than 150 countries, AECOM reported a revenue of US$8.0 billion for the year ended March 31, 2014.
PERSONS RUNNING THE COMPANY:
John M. Dionisio chairman and on Board of Directors.
Michael S. Burke- chairman and CEO.
Stephen M. Kadenacy-chief financial officer and president.
Kevin Lynch executive vice president and chief strategy officer
Carla Christofferson– executive vice president and general counsel.
AECOM HAVE BEEN SENT THE FOLLOWING LETTER
CONTEXT
I understand that AECOM has high environmental and ethical standards. However, as with any large corporation, things can, in certain sectors or situations go awry. I trust that AECOM, in keeping with its reputation, seeks to resolve occurrences such as the one outlined here involving as it does: Human Rights, public health, professional standards, ethics.
SUBJECT AREAS
The situation concerns:
•exposure of the public to high levels of noise pollution
•environment
•public health
•human rights
•presentation of misleading information on health impact of noise pollution
•provision of advice in areas outside AECOM’s expertise
•the ad hoc creation of exposure criteria not approved by any competent health authority
•deviation from AECOM’s own stated role in the project
•advising that non-health based standards that were 30yrs old and that do not appear in the ES should be used rather than the health-based modern standards specified in the Environmental Statement for the project.
•allocating night noise mitigation based on 30yr old standards that had not been approved in the official process.
•making unsubstantiated and irrational claims- noise of unlimited loudness, if limited to two occurrences per hour, is conducive to undisturbed sleep.
SECTOR
AECOM provided consultancy services, carried out noise and vibration assessments for the reopened Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway, and generated subsequent reports, as required by the Environmental Statement for the development. This included advice on the provision of mitigation and advice on allocating mitigation in compliance with commitments made in the ES.
The geographical location is Scotland.
EVIDENCE
Documentation obtained by FOI requests and other measures is held for all of the above.
REQUEST
I would be pleased if you would provide a contact person who will address this complaint and to advise on your formal complaints process.
RESPONSE FROM AECOM -NIL
So far, AECOM have been contacted five times. They have yet to respond to this letter. The AECOM website contact form was completed twice, they have been emailed, they have been contacted via twitter @AECOM twice. The only response has come via twitter once advising of an email address to use, once saying that an email had been received. No formal acknowledgment or reply has been received for the letter quoted above.
THE FUTURE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, CSR
If AECOM wants to be recognized as an ethical, sustainable, socially responsible company, then it has to be honest: that means not just publicising accomplishments but acknowledging and tackling it’s failings. We have seen VW’s reputation collapse primarily due to failure of standards. The consequences are massive and may cripple the company. VW are now seeking whistleblowers to expose the extent of the problem. AECOM’s senior personnel, CEOs, president, the board of directors, are ultimately responsible for the standards within their own corporation. As such, they have a key role in rooting out malpractice or failings wherever and whenever such arise. We look forwards to AECOM fully addressing not just the pollution, ethics, human rights, professional standards issue, but the apparent reluctance of personnel at corporate communication level to even acknowledge notification of this problem.
Posted from WordPress for Android
Pollution Solutions-Noise, Vibration, HS2
After the Damning Report on Rail Noise & Vibration . . .
Network Rail have been sent a copy of the report that documents the high night rail noise and vibration levels recorded by consultants, Sandy Brown Associates. The report concludes that such exposure constitutes a statutory nuisance.
Network Rail run the UK rail network and claim in their sustainability policy that they manage noise and vibration. Currently their management system has seen night noise one metre outside bedroom windows reach levels eight times louder than the maximum advised by the World Health Organization.
Network Rail and Babcock Rail at site
All Change?
Perhaps change is in the air.
Council to Decide on Rail Noise Vibration Problem
Council to Decide on Pollution
Following a public petition in 2013 and receipt of commissioned reports on exposure levels, Stirling Council will meet in Nov 2014 to decide what action to take on the area’s rail noise and vibration issue.
DB Bahn, DB Shenker coal freight train in Stirling
Train Vibration a Major Problem
Rail Vibration Shaking Houses and People Inside
Box wagon overloaded with coal
We asked, and we got responses. Freight vibration is a real problem. Even residents who didn’t have a problem before are finding there is a problem now. This could be due to wear, lack of maintenance, heavier loads, different speeds or acceleration of the train, etc. Many complained about the ‘square wheel’ wagons that are dragged, clunking, back and forth along the line.
The standard of rolling stock being run by German-based firm D B Shenker is, according to a report (see later), much lower than that of the other freight company, Freightliner, that used to run on this line. The DBS owned locomotives and wagons were originally owned by EWS, hence the white EWS lettering on brown background. DBS is a global freight corporation that describes itself as ‘a pioneer in environmental performance’.
A report on rail vibration presented by Michael Mathieson, MSP, to the Scottish Parliament, explained that DBS wagons have a very basic design of suspension system that puts several tons of unsprung dead weight on the rails. The report points out that wagons of this standard would not have been permitted on UK lines prior to privatization of British Rail because of the damage to infrastructure from vibration. It also notes that they would not be permitted on many European railways. Why does Networkrail allow them to run day and night right next to family homes, wakening children who have to go to school next day, shaking the beds, the tables, the fittings of the elderly and the infirm who need proper rest?
What about standards? Do Networkrail manage noise and vibration? The Office of Rail Regulation say they do however we have asked Networkrail repeatedly for the noise and vibration standards they apply but to no avail. Do they apply the British Standard for levels of residential/domestic vibration, the standards that resident were told would be used on the new 21st Century SAK line? Do they even measure noise and vibration on the rail network? We are still awaiting an answer.
Action. The Environmental Statement for the SAK line said that vibration mitigation measures would be implemented. If they were, they appear not to be working. Stirling Council will be measuring vibration levels in areas where complaints have been made. If they constitute a statutory nuisance, it’s likely abatement orders will be served.
What Now? . . . Read more on health and solutions to this issue.
Trains, Fast, Slow and BPM.
Slow Trains.
Whilst construction work was ongoing (building new bridge for electrification, EGIP prog), train speeds in certain areas was lower than normal. Now the lengthy construction work is done, we’d like to know if:
a) train speeds are back to normal
and, importantly
b) what difference if any the lower speeds made to noise and vibration levels.
Protecting Residents
The rail companies argued at the Scottish Parliament that they couldn’t impose speed restrictions on rail traffic to reduce noise and vibration for residents yet when it became important for the operators, ie when they were engaged in engineering works, they had no difficulty imposing speed restrictions for the best part of a year.
Best Practical Means
This is important. Rail companies can defend themselves from legal action resulting from environmental pollution by claiming that they employ ‘best practicable means’, BPM, to limit emissions or the level of exposure for residents. Do they? The rail operators might argue that they use BPM for maintaining and running the lines, but can they say the same for protecting residents? We don’t think they can. There are many practical methods for limiting rail noise and vibration levels (BPM), methods that are already considered standard and are used in other countries, methods that could be implemented by rail operators in the UK. We see little sign of these being applied here except, perhaps, in a few high-profile situations.
Feedback
Did the slower speeds help? Are speeds back to pre-construction works level? Email us at nvaguk@gmail.com about changes in noise and vibration levels in your area.
A McI, NVAG Chair.
Stirling Council Taking Steps to Monitor Noise and Vibration
Stirling Council are issuing letters to residents who have made noise and vibration complaints about the Stirling Alloa Kincardine (SAK) railway line prior to taking measurements. Clackmannanshire Council asked residents who complained to keep a diary of the impact of the trains, and now, we have been told, are going to measure levels.
Again, we encourage anyone who is exposed to significant levels of noise to put in a complaint form, this is the trigger for the Council to act on your behalf.
Noise Stresses the Cardiovascular System
IMPORTANT This is not just about noise as a possible ‘nuisance’, it is not about hearing loss, and it is definitely not about ‘being used to it’. Noise is a Public Health issue. It stresses the whole body. You are more likely to be taken into hospital with cardiovascular problems. This Report from Harvard University gives some idea of what is at stake . . . Continue reading
Stirling- New Noise and Vibration Measurements- Legal Advice- Enforcement
Stirling Council have agreed to:
- undertake noise and vibration surveys
- if levels are above acceptable thresholds, to commission independent legal advice
- to decide on enforcement action based on the above
Councillor Danny Gibson, chairperson of Stirling Council’s rail noise and vibration working group, a group that has received cross-party support, issued a statement of the group’s decision. Continue reading
Noise Vibration Action Group 