PEOPLE living within earshot of the rail line between Melksham and Trowbridge have been warned about potentially noisy maintenance work over the next two months.

The works are taking place over a two-mile stretch in open countryside west of Melksham between Broughton Gifford and Staverton.

Graham Ellis, vice-chairman of the Melksham Rail Users Group, said: “We are delighted they are maintaining and looking after the track. As the work is in open countryside, it shouldn’t disturb too many people.”

The works are being scheduled in three phases from Monday, January 21 to Thursday, January 24; Saturday, February 9 to Monday, February 11, and Monday, March 4 to Thursday, March 7.

Lineside residents in the Staverton and Hilperton area have already been contacted by Network Rail to be given advance notice of the works.

The rail operator’s contractors will work between 10.30pm and 6am and during the second phase of the works loud machinery will be used.

Emily Maiden, Network Rail’s local spokeswoman, said: “We will be renewing parts of the railway track to ensure trains can continue to run safely through Melksham.

“We are aware that we are working close to your homes and at times this work may be noisy.

“We work hard to minimise the noise where we can, but we apologise in advance if we do disturb you.”

She said the work is part of the normal maintenance and no changes will be made to the track layout.”

A spokesman for GWR said the works are not expected to lead to any disruption of services between Melksham and Trowbridge.

He added: “This work is scheduled to start after the last service of the night and finish before the first service the following morning, so should not impact customers in any way.”

The work is not connected to Network Rail’s £2 billion electrification programme for the Great Western main line, which will extend to Thingley Junction near Chippenham.

The company has already halted plans to electrify the Chippenham-Bath loop but still intends to electrify the main line between Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway and from Bristol-Cardiff.