HUNDREDS of residents could be in for "sleepless nights" if Network Rail's plans to abandon measures to limit noise and vibration in North Oxford go ahead, it has been warned.

The rail firm had agreed to a number of conditions to alleviate the impact of the new East-West rail link, which will bring more frequent and faster trains, on more than 200 homes.

But just four months before the proposed opening of the route between Oxford and Oxford Parkway it has applied to withdraw plans to install specially-designed 'silent track', to reduce noise created by trains, and reduce future monitoring of noise and vibrations to people's homes.

Oxford Waterside Residents Association chairwoman, Kay Gordon, said: “They just don’t care – when all the work is completed this part of the line is going to be at the centre of traffic going north, south, east and west.

“They are trying to reduce costs at the expense of Oxford residents living along the line.

The Merrivale Square resident added: “We have 199 families – lots of them with young children – living and sleeping in homes which back onto a railway line where substantial increase in traffic is forecast over the coming years

"The trains coming through here at night-time do cause people to lose sleep and it's going to get worse."

At the moment, about 30 trains each day use the line, at an average of 30mph, but by 2019, up to 170 trains could run daily at speeds of 75mph.

Adrian Olsen, who lives in Lark Hill further along the line, said it was "outrageous" of Network Rail to scrap the 'silent track' idea altogether without at least a trial.

The chairman of the Waterways Management Company said: "I have heard of people taking ornaments off their shelves when they go on holiday because the vibrations are so bad.

"The increase in traffic we will see is the equivalent of living on a country lane and then having a motorway built in your back garden.

"We were told noise will be reduced at source, wherever it is practical to do so. But now Network Rail are reneging on their commitments. It's unacceptable."

Over the last week Network Rail has been visiting the worst-affected residents offering them stronger windows in anticipation of the increased traffic.

Diane Wilson, who lives in Stone Meadow, north Oxford, which directly backs onto the railway, had a visit but said the new windows may not be enough.

The 77-year-old widow said: "I have had Network Rail workers measure my windows with a view to putting in stronger ones.

"I'm sure that will help but they are only doing it for the second and third floor windows at the back.

"The vibrations are a big problem and it's got to the stage where I don't believe anything Network Rail tells us anymore."

Network Rail spokesman Simon Masters said: "Network Rail considered all options when carrying out the upgrade work to the railway line in Oxfordshire.

"The ‘silent track’ system was considered, however the additional cost far outweighed any tangible benefit to the public.

"Network Rail has gone to great lengths to limit the impact of the railway on local residents and where the ‘silent track’ system could have been installed they are already protected by around two-and-a-half miles of extensive noise reduction barriers which is either in the process of, or already installed."