Advice wanted on house next to rail lines

[gazzak]

I have a friend who is going to be looking at a house this weekend. The only thing concerning him is that the house backs on to the railway, and he's worried about the noise.

Can you well informed people let me know the amount, types and speed of trains that are likely to go past the end of his garden, which is about 400 meters north of Leighton Buzzard station.

I have a friend who lives near a tube station, (overground), and the train noise is negligible, and an ex used to live by a high speed line where the trains used to scare the life out of me every morning for the first few weeks. I know you get used to regular noise, and personally I'd be quite happy living next to a rail line, but my friend is a little apprehensive.

 

[work-traveller]

No direct answer from me, but things to consider:

Track type - if it's CWR (continuously welded rail) then you'll not get the clickety-clack of the train bogies running over it.
Points - google maps shows this section to have no points, therefore another source of noise/nuisance isn't present.
Maintenance access - there appears to be a maintenance vehicle access from the station up to the area your friend is looking. Is could generate a little noise at weekend nights. However, having been on the giving and receiving end of such activity, it's generally low-key and highly likely you wouldn't even know someone is there.
Train types/numbers - as you can see from this link (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...edule_type=0&show_wtt=1&show_var=1&show_stp=1), it's a busy old bit of railway your friend is looking at. It looks like a daytime average of 1 train every 30 seconds. Even at night there are lots of freight movements through this section. Mostly electric trains, but also some diesels too.

If he's a train spotter he could build a little observation platform at the end of the garden

 

[Searle]

At Leighton Buzzard, on the southern WCML you can expect in the day to have about a train every two minutes, and probably more often in the peaks. Fortunately, most of these are electric and are therefore not too loud, but they will be going up to 125mph, meaning it is a high speed line.

 

[LCC106]

The responses above coupled with your friend's apprehensive feeling would lead me to suggest it's not an ideal place for him to live. My opinion, for what it's worth.

 

[GodAtum]

A few questions. Double glazing? Is his room in the front or back of the house?

 

[LCC106]

Added to which, will he want to / be able to open windows on spring or summer days or nights?

 

[Cab2Cab]

I have a friend who is going to be looking at a house this weekend. The only thing concerning him is that the house backs on to the railway, and he's worried about the noise.

Can you well informed people let me know the amount, types and speed of trains that are likely to go past the end of his garden, which is about 400 meters north of Leighton Buzzard station.

I have a friend who lives near a tube station, (overground), and the train noise is negligible, and an ex used to live by a high speed line where the trains used to scare the life out of me every morning for the first few weeks. I know you get used to regular noise, and personally I'd be quite happy living next to a rail line, but my friend is a little apprehensive.

Is the location all running lines, no loops or freight sidings, only trouble if freight is stabled their for a length of time, somebody may have to do a brake test in the early hours of the morning.

I hated doing this, i use to open the tap as slowly as i could to let the air expel quietly. (i tried), honestly

Cheers

 

[Dan-Dan]

Hi All

I am the friend!

house is LU7 2XA Broadrush Green

The front (adult) bedroom is at the front , and the house has DG and a conservatory at the back , the garden is approx 70 ft sloping downwards and then a block of garages and perhaps 30 feet more is the lines.....

is there a lot of freight (night) trains on the line ?

thanks all!

 

[Dave1987]

You also need to look at the topography of the land between the house and the line. Are there plenty of trees in between the house and the line? Things like that are going to absorb noise from the line. The house is a quarter of a mile away from the line so is hardly on top of it. Double glazing would probably be enough to eliminate most of the noise and like you said you get used to the noise after a while. I used to have a room right next to the runway at Brize Norton. Trying to sleep when a VC10 takes off isnt the easiest at first but you get used to the noise.

On a side note if your friend does move in please dont let them right a letter to the council asking for the trains to stop running after 10pm at night. Another couple a fair few years back moved into a house right next to the WCML and wrote a letter demanding that the trains not be allowed to run after then as they couldn't sleep. Needless to say they were told no. :roll:

 

[soil]

Said house

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/27535428

It would appear overpriced by at LEAST £10,000.

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/house-prices/leighton-buzzard/broad-rush-green/lu7-2xa

 

[Cab2Cab]

Hi All

I am the friend!

house is LU7 2XA Broadrush Green

The front (adult) bedroom is at the front , and the house has DG and a conservatory at the back , the garden is approx 70 ft sloping downwards and then a block of garages and perhaps 30 feet more is the lines.....

is there a lot of freight (night) trains on the line ?

thanks all!

Hi Dan Dan,

I'm not trying to worry you but something to consider about the freight, if no sidings or loop you should normally be ok, trains just passing by.

If at the back of the property it is the four conventional track layout system (eg. up/down main, up/down slow) trains will normally pass straight through unless there any signals at the rear of the property you might get a few stopping/starting.

Get gazzak to googlemap the property and the railway and check it out.

I think you should buy it put a decking area outside overlooking the line with a bar and let people from this forum use it who want too, .

 

[LCC106]

The house itself looks very nice! That said, it would be too close to the line for me - especially if there could be up to 4 trains passing every 2 minutes! Has the vendor said why they're selling? Could you ask the neighbours how they cope with the noise? May be worth going for a walk nearby during peak times to get a feel for the potential noise levels...

I do like the decking suggestion with bar though!!!

 

[Dan-Dan]

I tell you what , decking up , hundreds of bottles of Whitstable Bay and Spitfire , and your all welcome!!

I gues the pictures being posted by Soil answer a few queries ?

When you look closer (as in , physically , we parked the car at the back at the w/e and had a listen) there is 4 lines and then one other line sort of on its own , i am assuming its some sort of slow line for when works are being carried out ?

Soil - house last sold in Oct 2011....could it be , i ask myself , because of train noise.....hmmmmmmm


I am a light sleeper but more with the kids crying or something , i dont normall wake with regular `normal `noises , its definelty something to chew over because i beleive this house could be a potetnial new home

 

[Dave1987]

This is a google earth pic

 

[Dave1987]

Looks like there is another row of houses between the house and the line

 

[superdrive1]

Hi All

I am the friend!

house is LU7 2XA Broadrush Green

The front (adult) bedroom is at the front , and the house has DG and a conservatory at the back , the garden is approx 70 ft sloping downwards and then a block of garages and perhaps 30 feet more is the lines.....

is there a lot of freight (night) trains on the line ?

thanks all!

Given it is the West Coast Mainline, you will almost certainly find the railway will never be quiet! Freight will run the entire night pretty much every night! If it's of any assistance, I live in a house backing onto a railway which is pretty busy, with windows open you can obviously hear everything, but with windows closed you can't really hear anything, but when freight trains pass they do make a fairly loud noise even with windows closed and cause the house to shake! Looking at the picture of the garden for this house, it looks to be at about the same distance (and possibly closer) to the line than my house is, and the WCML is substantially busier than my line is! I think if you could adapt to the sounds and shakes of all the trains then I wouldn't let them put you off buying the house personally!

Adam

 

[LCC106]

dave1987 The "A" pin on the map is not the house he's looking at. His is in the row that backs immediately on to the railway. Useful to see the lie of the land though.

 

[Dave1987]

dave1987 The "A" pin on the map is not the house he's looking at. His is in the row that backs immediately on to the railway. Useful to see the lie of the land though.

Ow ok I just put the post code in and it selected that house, apologies!! It looks a lot closer than 400m.

 

[cuccir]

From the description, the house is presumably one of the ones sloping down towards the railway. The buildings between those houses are garages, which will help absorb some of the noise.

Presumably if you're viewing it, you'll be there a good half hour or so - you'll at least be able to gauge noise levels while you're there!

 

[sammyg901]

I live next to the WCML at Camden and I would think about it carefully and try spend a bit of time in the house if possible.

I don't find it too bad (trains are obviously going much slower as they approach Euston) but the big big issue for me is not being able to sleep with open windows in the summer - I'm a heavy sleeper but it is just impossible! I would think though that even having the bedroom at the front instead of the back would make this much less of an issue.

It is pretty much a 24hr railway as others have mentioned here.

Also I've had about 5 nights where I've had no sleep due to track works

On the plus side Leighton Buzzard has a great train service!

 

[Dan-Dan]

Thanks All

Yes, the house is one of those directly looking at the line , and its the one with the red car outside the garden fence (next to the `block` of garages) and looking at that , yes it does appear to be less than 400ft doesnt it! , also , that picture doenst really show all the lines , im sure theres 4/5 !

 

[DarloRich]

It is the West Coast Main Line - it is canny busy!

Looking at the Google plan you are close to the line. You are also close to the Linslade tunnel entrance. The tunnel entrance may create extra noise as a the piston effect of air pressure of a train entering or leaving the tunnel creates extra noise.

The closest line to you will be the northbound (down) fast line. The next line will be the southbound (up fast) line. The majority of trains on those lines will be electric powered trains but Virgin do have some diesel trains. There is noise but it should be fleeting as the trains should be moving at full speed of 125mph. The slow lines are on the other side of the line corridor and are used by the local London Midland electric trains and the majority of the freight trains. These freight trains will be mostly diesel hauled, are slower and will create more noise and it will last longer. You should acknowledge that the line is well used throughout a 24 hour period. I note the line is in a shallow cutting but there does not seem to be any attempts at noise screening, such as a strand of trees.

The worst night time noise will come from engineering work which does happen on a regular basis as this is an intensively used line. Lots of mechanised equipment is used to repair and replace the railway line and it, along with all the men make noise. It is after all a construction site. However it should be for limited periods.

Perhaps your solicitor could raise a specific enquiry of the seller as to how many times Network Rail have informed them of work on the track. I would also have a look at http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/ (select advanced and make sure the top three STP indicators are checked then enter Leighton Buzzard. Also visit the area at times you are concerned during the week and at the weekend and check the noise for yourself.

TBH you get used to the noise after a short while. I have lived near railway lines all my life and never had a problem. You only then notice an out of the ordinary noise or of there is a track defect causing strange noise. It is continuously welded track so there should be little track noise from the trains.

 

[Greenback]

TBH you get used to the noise after a short while. I have lived near railway lines all my life and never had a problem. You only then notice an out of the ordinary noise or of there is a track defect causing strange noise. It is continuously welded track so there should be little track noise from the trains.

I concur. Although i have only lived near to railway lines for 19 years, I can honestly say that noise from trains has never impacted on my day to day life in a negative way. It becomes part of what you expect to hear, just like cars passing, doors banging, next door having a row, children playing outside and all the other background noises of modern life.

 

[Dave1987]

Better image

 

[Rich McLean]

I live in the next runway. These days I don't hear planes taking off while I am asleep at all

 

[Cab2Cab]

I concur. Although i have only lived near to railway lines for 19 years, I can honestly say that noise from trains has never impacted on my day to day life in a negative way. It becomes part of what you expect to hear, just like cars passing, doors banging, next door having a row, children playing outside and all the other background noises of modern life.

........and like the missus moaning in your ear!!!

I think you forgot about that one.

 

[Condor7]

I bought a house about 18 years ago backing onto the Aire Valley line in Yorkshire. Fine for me as a enthusiast, but my wife was concerned.

After just a few weeks we never noticed the trains, and it was only visitors that would sometimes draw our attentions to them.

Interestingly I looked at a property right next to the West Coast Main Line a while ago, and the owners said the same thing, they just never noticed them.

 

[TheKeymeister]

I've agreed to buy a house close to the WCML in coventry, although that section probably isn't as busy as where yours is, it doesn't seem to be too bad. Mine has got 2 houses between me and the railway, and the railway is in a cutting at that point. I currently live the other side of the railway but a couple of hundred yards further away, whether I can hear the trains at night seems to depend on which way the wind is blowing.

I experienced the same when I lived on top of a hill in Sheffield, I could hear the motorway when the wind was blowing towards me as I could see the Tinsley viaduct out of my bedroom window!

 

[Dan-Dan]

It is the West Coast Main Line - it is canny busy!

Looking at the Google plan you are close to the line. You are also close to the Linslade tunnel entrance. The tunnel entrance may create extra noise as a the piston effect of air pressure of a train entering or leaving the tunnel creates extra noise.

The closest line to you will be the northbound (down) fast line. The next line will be the southbound (up fast) line. The majority of trains on those lines will be electric powered trains but Virgin do have some diesel trains. There is noise but it should be fleeting as the trains should be moving at full speed of 125mph. The slow lines are on the other side of the line corridor and are used by the local London Midland electric trains and the majority of the freight trains. These freight trains will be mostly diesel hauled, are slower and will create more noise and it will last longer. You should acknowledge that the line is well used throughout a 24 hour period. I note the line is in a shallow cutting but there does not seem to be any attempts at noise screening, such as a strand of trees.

The worst night time noise will come from engineering work which does happen on a regular basis as this is an intensively used line. Lots of mechanised equipment is used to repair and replace the railway line and it, along with all the men make noise. It is after all a construction site. However it should be for limited periods.

Perhaps your solicitor could raise a specific enquiry of the seller as to how many times Network Rail have informed them of work on the track. I would also have a look at http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/ (select advanced and make sure the top three STP indicators are checked then enter Leighton Buzzard. Also visit the area at times you are concerned during the week and at the weekend and check the noise for yourself.

TBH you get used to the noise after a short while. I have lived near railway lines all my life and never had a problem. You only then notice an out of the ordinary noise or of there is a track defect causing strange noise. It is continuously welded track so there should be little track noise from the trains.

Hi mate

thanks for this post , i really appreciate it , i honestly believe its `nice noise` if that makes sense , as in living on a main road is `bad noise` but i obviously will make sure we get the best listen avaialble over a few occasions....

also , thank you for the link , i will have a better look when at home later..

Thanks again
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Better image

Cheers Dave

why is that train in the lane on its own? , is that the fast line northbound?

 

[Freightmaster]

why is that train in the lane on its own? , is that the fast line northbound?

yes - it's the fast nortbound (or 'down' in railway language) line.

The reason for it veering off to the west is because of the way the
tunnels are laid out just to the north:

http://goo.gl/maps/8wCVe


MARK