COUNCIL bosses have voted to force Network Rail to install Silent Track along a further stretch of railway in North Oxford.

The rail firm's noise and vibration assessments for the track between Oxford Station and Aristotle Lane - once East West Rail services begin - were accepted by city councillors who claimed their 'hands were tied'.

But councillors then moved to force Network Rail to install rail damping to protect residents. 

From December more trains will be using the line towards Oxford Parkway and beyond.

A stalemate over Silent Track between Aristotle Lane and Wolvercote was reached last month when Oxford City Council refused to allow Network Rail to back out of its commitment to at least trial the technology.

Network Rail said that it would cost £3.6m, which it called a "waste of taxpayers' money" due to the lack of benefit it would bring to residents.

The same stalemate has now been reached further south of Aristotle Lane.

At a planning meeting on Tuesday night Network Rail representative Ian Gilder revealed that a number of houses would see a noise increase of more than 3 decibels - which means 'at-source' mitigation such as Silent Track must be looked at.

But Mr Gilder said it had not been "type-approved" for that section of track.

Rewley Road resident and county councillor John Howson called for noise barriers to protect houses in both the Waterway and Waterside Estates.

City councillor Jean Fooks agreed and called upon Network Rail to install the barrier to "re-assure" people their concerns were actually being noted and prove the firm were doing all it could for trackside residents.