CAMPAIGNERS have notched up a second successive mini-victory in their fight against the unacceptable nuisance of train horns. Last week a delegation of sleep-deprived Bentley residents together with James Arbuthnot, MP for North East Hampshire, had a meeting with South West Trains' chief Graham Eccles to air their views on the issue. Mr Eccles, chairman and managing director of South West Trains, listened as the protesters outlined their three main problems – the temporary whistleboards at the Isington footpath crossing, the general volume and spreading effect of the new horns and the times at which horns are sounded. Mr Arbuthnot told The Herald that the meeting was very "constructive". "First, we were pleased that the temporary whistle boards had now been removed. We said that unfortunately some train drivers continued to sound their horns, and Mr Eccles undertook to ensure that that did not carry on. "Second, it seemed that the new and excessively effective train horns were being adapted by South West Trains to reduce their volume by perhaps 50 per cent to 75 per cent of what they have been producing. "Mr Eccles, though, also undertook to look into the issue of the spreading of the noise caused by the placing of the horns underneath the trains as opposed to on top, as was the case with the old trains. The volume reduction should be completed by the end of June, but it seems likely that the spreading issue will take rather longer to resolve. "Third, we all acknowledged that as regards the timings at which train drivers have to sound horns, South West Trains, like everyone else, does have to obey the law. "We all, though, questioned how appropriate it was to have some of these laws, which had lasted for well over 100 years, and we agreed to consider further the point that safety on footpath crossings ought to be balanced against general levels of health and well-being which can be damaged by the constant sounding of train horns in built-up areas. "We agreed that we would take these points to the authorities who set the rules, and I very much hope that in the medium term we will be able to achieve some changes. "It was clear to me that South West Trains wanted, within the constraint of the rules, to be good neighbours and if there are aspects in which they are falling short of that, I should be grateful to be told so that they can begin to put them right." Meanwhile, Ashley Mote, MEP for South East England, has called on South West Trains to reinstate its twice-an-hour train service at Bentley Station. Mr Mote was approached by local residents who urged him to try and get the half-hourly service restored. But when Mr Mote contacted South West Trains he was told that a half hourly stop at Bentley would result in a three-minute delay in journey time of passengers to Alton. Mr Mote has now penned another letter to South West Trains urging it to reconsider. His letter said: "You will understand my astonishment at your claimed justification for not having all trains stopping at Bentley during off-peak times. Coming from an operator which has recently extended journey times considerably just to make the timetable more creditable, it was a bit rich. "And in any case, why does three minutes on a journey to Alton outweigh users of Bentley having regularly to wait an extra half-hour? Alternatively, why should they have to drive six miles in either direction to catch the same train? Isn't increased rail use supposed to help get cars off the roads? "Years ago there was a funny old-fashioned idea that customers came first. So may I encourage you to think again. Stopping at Bentley inconveniences no one except your timetabling. If all the other stations towards the end of the line can have a half-hour service, why not Bentley? "Whether it is for one person or 100, yours is a stopping service at that stage of the journey, and stop it should." But, Chris Campbell, chairman of Alton Line Users' Association (ALUA), told The Herald that he would not support a half-hourly service at Bentley. "We would not want that, with a single track like we have got," he said. "It is such a slow service anyway and we need to speed it up."
