Sometimes waiting for a response or comment from an official governmental agency can be the bane of a reporter’s existence; the old adage “hurry up and wait” comes to mind, however, in this instance some might say the wait was worth it.
Last December, Bristol Borough residents living along and near Trenton Avenue lost patience with Conrail (Consolidated Rail Corporation) because freight trains sat idling on the tracks for at least 70 straight hours, locals told Lower Bucks Source.
Conrail freight trains idling for hours, especially late at night and in the early hours of the morning has been the focus of complaints by families and officials dating back at least 10 years in Bristol, if not longer.
At one point the Bristol officials studied the issue seeking their own remedy for noise complaints stemming from the train line and yard. The study, which cost $7,500.00 revealed constructing a “sound wall” would have little to no value in diminishing the noise coming from the trains because the sound traveled through the ground, officials said last year.
Concerned citizens voiced concerns about a family with a young child with respiratory issues and a military veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to Lower Bucks Source, living near the freight line location. The crux of those concerns focused on the fumes and loud noise emanating from the trains while idling the weekend after Christmas.
A Conrail spokesperson said, in response to a request for comment, the issue was a “one-off” due to weather related issues that week on the railways in the northeast corridor. The Conrail spokesperson said the company recently revised its rail freight policies for northeast operations which include a directive stopping trains from idling in residential areas. Freight trains, now will be held at the Morrisville switching station if trains are to be delayed in the future for any reason.
The Conrail spokesperson said operations managers are acutely aware of the noise complaints in Bristol Borough and have adjusted company policy to have a more community friendly presence moving forward.
As a terminal and switching service provider for its owners, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern, Conrail continues to provides “safe and efficient” rail service for many local rail freight customers in Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
And to this publications knowledge, since that one long “irritating” weekend last December there have been no other complaints of Conrail trains noisily idling all night.
