MSP Jackie Baillie held "positive talks" between the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, and Cardross Community Council on Thursday- to discuss nuisance from train noise in Cardross.

Ms Baillie has been pursuing the issue for years on behalf of local residents who are fed up with loud train horns blaring late at night and early in the morning.

Train drivers sound the horns as a safety measure when they reach whistleboards placed in advance of level crossings.

The piercing sound can, however, be heard throughout the village up to six times an hour.

Residents frequently complain about noise during the middle of the night- despite horn use being forbidden during the ‘night time quiet period”- between midnight and 6am.

The Scottish Government had made £10 million available to facilitate the closure of level crossings in Scotland but only half of the funding has been allocated to projects.

As the crossings in Cardross are not eligible for closure, Ms Baillie asked the Minister to allow grants to be made from the scheme to fund improvements to level crossings.

This, in turn, would mean that horns would not require to be sounded.

She said: “Loud noise from train horns at all hours of the night and day has been a significant factor affecting quality of life for many residents in Cardross.

“I have been pursuing the issue for some time but the recent decision to cut the night-time quiet period has made matters even worse.

“There is a solution which would see mini lights replace the whistleboards and I hope the Scottish Government will work together with the ScotRail Alliance to make this happen.

“There is plenty of funding left in the Level Crossing Closure Fund so I hope the Scottish Government will find a way to support the project in Cardross.

“If not, local residents will need to wait until 2019 when a new funding scheme is introduced.”

Rural and Environment spokesperson for Cardross Community Council, Bob Murray said: “While we understand that safety is a primary concern, we see no reason why residents in Cardross should have to put up with the frequency and intensity of noise. “There used to be eight-hour ban on the usage of horns during the night but this has recently been slashed down to six hours.

“After Thursday's positive meeting I am hopeful that we can find a way forward.”