The peace of Christmas Day is due to be shattered in parts of north London by the crash of heavy machinery carrying out railway demolition works.
Network Rail has warned residents in streets near Mornington Crescent in Camden that “disturbance is unavoidable” on Christmas Day and Boxing Day for the Government’s £63 billion HS2 high-speed rail project.
Twelve hours of “preparatory” works for a cargo shed demolition will start at 7am on December 25, lasting right through lunch and the Queen’s speech.
Heavy machinery will include diggers, cranes and diesel locomotives to shift rubble, while powerful lights will illuminate the working area for operations at night.
Nearly four days of around-the-clock disruption start at 10pm on Christmas Eve between Primrose Hill Tunnels and Granby Terrace.
Network Rail said the works, which also include cabling inspections, are needed over the festive season as overhead electrical lines are switched off because there are no trains.
Local residents received a letter from Sarah McArdle, Network Rail’s community relations manager, to inform them about “planned works near your property over the Christmas period”.
She wrote: “We need to undertake this preparatory work in order to allow for the demolition of the west-side carriage shed.
"The existing building currently supports vital overhead line equipment, which allows electric trains to operate in and out of the existing Euston station.”
Ms McArdle added: “Overhead line equipment needs to be relocated and modified with some alterations to the existing tracks to enable the continued safe operation of the railway.
“We understand the inconvenience and disruption our works may cause.
“Unfortunately the type of equipment and machinery we have to use does mean some disturbance is un-avoidable.
“We will continue to minimise any unnecessary noise by using best practicable means.”
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Network Rail claims noise barriers and “silenced generators” will dampen sounds heard in local homes, but local resident Colin Swift remains unconvinced.
Mr Swift, 58, a fashion designer and florist, said Network Rail had given residents little time to make alternative arrangements on Christmas Day.
He said: “Christmas Day should be peaceful for everybody — everyone just wants to be with their friends and family.
“Why can’t Network Rail just give us a break for that one day? They just don’t care about anything.
“The letter arrived on December 10. What are we to do? What time does that give myself and other residents?
“It’s very insulting.
“When they start that work the noise is going to be at a very high volume because it bounces off buildings and is amplified.”
The final demolition of the cargo shed is due to go ahead once the HS2 Bill has been passed by Parliament.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “We are doing this work over Christmas because no trains are running.
“Our engineers will make every effort to do this work as quietly as possible.”
