Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce noise pollution from (a) normal services and (b) maintenance work on railways in Coventry.

All new rail vehicles are required to meet strict noise limits before they are permitted to enter into normal service. These are governed the Technical Standards for Interoperability (TSIs). Network Rail are also undertaking a number of activities during the current control period (CP5), including rail profile grinding, resilient track supports and noise barriers, which have helped mitigate noise impacts during normal service. During maintenance work, each renewal or upgrade project undertaken by Network Rail must be in line with the Government’s rail noise action plan. These strategic action plans estimate people’s exposure to noise from road, rail and aviation. These plans will provide guidance to those responsible for tackling the noise on how best to do so. In particular they are aimed at those areas worst affected by transport noise.