Sleepless in Swampscott: Railroad Commotion Keeps Neighbors Awake

One Norfolk Avenue resident said noise from overnight work on the nearby railroad tracks sounded like a pile driver hitting the tracks and caused a sleepless night.

Others said the commotion shook houses on their foundations.

A spokeswoman for the MBTA said this morning that she is looking into the matter and will respond once she receives information on it.

Railroad crews and heavy equipment including tie inserters and extractors have been moving along the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line between Lynn and Salem.

It's unclear if last night's noise was related to that work.

Crews were working on the rail section behind Essex Street and near the Swampscott Train Station last week.

In addition to replacing railroad ties  — to improve reliability and performance — crews are conducting routine maintenance at train stations, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail (MBCR) Company said earlier.

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