You will find above the updated tube noise map from TfL. I am certain we still have gaps in the overall complaints being picked up by TtL. For example, the response to my last blog on the issue informed me of complaints of the tube noise from the Central line underground in Shepherds Bush where residents have been complaining for over 10 years to TfL Engineers who suggested that TfL either buy up the properties or build another tunnel within the tunnel to insulate from the tube noise.
Which makes me think there is still a body of work to do getting us completely up to date with tube noise complaints in London. So please tell us of your complaints and we can begin comparing them against those TfL map above has and get them somehow to register them.
Another useful comparison to make with tube noise complaints now with an analysis made by London South Bank, University Acoustic Group Noise Tube Map by Dr Stephen Dance in 2012. The analysis is shown graphically above on the London tube map by the thickness of tube lines for stations in Zone 1-3 by averaging the noise levels measured between stations.
The general analysis then was that the noise levels on surface trains is about 65-70 dBA, the sub-surface stations 70-75 dBA, however for the deep lines it ranges from 80-85 dBA. The highest levels were dangerously loud, greater than 85 dBA, these were Northern Line between Hampstead and Golders Green, Bakerloo Line between Baker Street and Marylebone, Central Line between Liverpool Streret to Mile End, and Piccadilly Line between Bounds Green and Wood Green.
I think this general analysis appears to stand up from my observations in Central London though again it will need updating to today’s levels of noise as its 4 years out of date and we have the night tube in operation on five of the those lines and more upgrading work undertaken though we are not sure whether those have contributed or reduced the noise levels.
This analysis tells one thing at least, it would be useful for an updated tube noise analysis to be commissioned by TfL to Acoustic experts across the whole of the tube system.
I live in n19 and the northern line runs under my home. the last few months the vibrations have got worse and the windows now vibrate. I have lived in this house for 40 years and during that time you knew trains ran but you only heard distant noise. Now you can hear them clearly and due to the all night trains you can hear them when in bed on the first floor. What can one do?
Sorry to hear this Janice but it conforms that l suspect, there are a lot more people affected by tube noise than is being acknowledged by TfL.
What borough do you live in Janice? I can help you get in touch with an Assembly Member at City Hall.
Murad
I live in W9 near Maida vale station and there is increased noise and vibration from the Bakerloo line. It’s got so bad that I can hear the trains from every floor of my house all day and evening.
We never had any noise from the trains for 15 years and unfortunately it has got increasingly worse in spite of many complaints to TFL and having their engineers to take readings.
TFL use the line that are being “good neighbours” and are not obliged to do anything else..
This is obviously not acceptable as the noise is severely reducing our quality of life!
I welcome any help you can provide and if any other residents are being disturbed.
Sorry l hadn’t go in touch over the weekend.
You will need to make a compliant to TfL to the Commissioner of Transport, Mike Brown Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London SE1 8NJ.
Do you know if other neighbours and residents around you are also affected by the noise and vibration from the Bakerloo line.
I am happy to meet to discuss – how to put this letter and any other things we can do like getting publicity about the issue – as l go through Maida Vale regularly to get to Padd Rec.
Look forward to meeting up soon.
Dalya,
I haven’t heard from you. Please get in touch via my e-mail which is murad.qureshi2012@gmail.com
Murad
Hi Murad, very pleased to find your webpage after many sleepless nights, and exhausting days now. I have lived in Belsize Road NW6 for 10 years (next to Swiss Cottage tube station.) Not a single problem with tube noise. In the last few weeks it has suddenly gone from 0-100, every 30seconds loud loud rumbling and vibrations. Friday and Saturday bring 24hour disturbance which is unbearable. A few residents have complained to TFL but no response back. Can you help?!!
Emma,
I am very sorry to hear of your plight with tube noise along Belsize Rd. Since l raised the issue with the previous Mayor in 2016, the problem appears to have got bigger around London particularly Central London.
Alas l am no longer at City Hall but please get in touch with your Assembly Member at City Hall for Barnet & Canden, Andrew Dismore. His e-mail is andrew.dismore@london.gov.uk He can then make direct representations for you to TfL. Your immediate concern is to get TfL to acknowledge the problem. For example in Marylebone the issue was to do with the Jubilee line maintenance works and also the 24 hour service on friday & saturday.
In the meantime, if you want to link up with others affected by this problem, please get in touch with Kevin Lee ( kevinlee@gmail.com ) based in Marylebone who administrators a e-mail group called tubenoiseactiongroup@gmail.com.
I hope thats helps for now.
Murad
Hi Murad,
Pleased to have found your page now that we’re experiencing tube noise at 43dB and vibration readings of 70mm/s2 throughout our home at Mornington Crescent all of a sudden, since around 6-10 months ago. The noise is coming from the Bank branch of the Northern Line. Prior to that, and I’ve been in this flat for 13.5 years, the tube was only a faint distant rumble which didn’t bother me at all. I’ve raised a complaint with TfL who have come back to me last week (about a month after I raised it with them) to say they have no plans for remedial works but will “monitor the situation”. I can’t sleep for the noise nor relax in my home as the noise happens every few minutes. Please would you let me know who I can escalate to? I feel stuck 🙁 Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Dear Sam,
l am ver sorry to hear of your plight with tube noise under your home in Mornington Crescent.
I am glad to hear that your complaint has been acknowledged by TfL though no remedy has been offered.
Unfortunately l am not at the London Assembly but l would strongly recommend that you get in contact with my ex-colleague at the London Assembly who represents Barnet & Camden, Andrew Dismore. His e-mail is andrew.dismore@london.gov.uk.
I am sure him and his office will make representations for you to the Mayor and senior Management at TfL. Do mention to him that l recommend him.
Hoping it all improves soon.
Murad
I live just by the Oval tube station. I have lived there for over 30 year. In the last 15 years the rumbling has got louder and louder. TFL have done a reading and I was promised grinding work to deal with it in 2015 which of course never happened (and they forgot to tell me). Since then I have given up my complaints and turned to pills instead! After news coverage about a group of residents on the news yesterday, I am inspired to start a campaign to sort the problem out again. I am so happy to find this website.
Apols for the delay in responding Rosemary.
I am very sorry to hear this. It is quite clear the problem of tube noise is clearly spreading through out London!
Unfortunate whilst l raised the issue with the previous Mayor, l am no longer at City Hall to help Londoners like yourself. Can l suggest you get the London Assembly Member (AM) for Lambeth & Southwark to raise the issue for you, who is florence.eshalomi@london.gov.uk She should be able to raise the issue with TfL via their office. I do know other AM’s are getting a lot more tube noise complaints like this.
I hope that is useful. If not do get back to me.
Hi Murad
We live on Eastern avenue between Redbridge and Gants Hill and the central line runs under my home. I don’t think it’s directly beneath us but recently we have started to feel vibrations every 5 mins and hear the line as clear as day.
Before it was just a noise and light rumble but now the vibrations are now getting fierce.
Is there anything that you can do to help?
Apologises for the delay in responding Adi.
I am very sorry to hear this. It is quite clear the problem of tube noise is clearly spreading through out London!
Unfortunate whilst l raised the tube noise issues with the previous Mayor, l am no longer at City Hall to help Londoners like yourself. Can l suggest you get to an London Assembly Member (AM) to raise the issue for you, who is tom.copley@london.gov.uk who should be able to raise the issue with TfL via their office. I do know other AM’s are getting a lot more tube noise complaints like this as well.
I hope that is useful. If not do get back to me.
Dear Murad,
We live on Cornwall Gardens in Kensington and are extremely affected by the screeching tube noise from various open air rail tracks around Point West development. Why on Earth would not TFL build a roof over them? This is city centre, residential area – so many building and flats around need to deal with district and circle line trains coming out of the ground, screeching past and going back underground. Are there any plans to do anything about it and if not, why not??
Irina,
I am sorry l didn’t get in touch earlier with you. Theses tube noises issues are arising across London and in particular Central London locations like Barons Court, Marylebone and Kensington. I have come across complaints on the other side of Cronwell Rd SW10 from the Piccadilly line.
The problem we have is that TfL do not acknowledge that these are tube noise should be considered as a statutory nuisances particularly when its a public body like itself.
It maybe an idea to meet up and get your details – which tube line? when the noise is made and whether its the night tube etc? I have raised these issues as am Assembly Member (AM) with the previous Mayor when the night tube become operational.
I can them forward your details to an AM at City Hall that can raise the issue with the Mayor’s office, who is the ultimate boss for London Underground. I use to be one myself till the last GLA Elections, so l feel l can help you.
Murad
Irina,
I have briefed your local MP on the matter, so please get in touch and l’ll pass your details on to her.
Murad
I am suffering noise from underground trains under my first floor flat in Marylebone. The trains are running under my home every 2 minutes, starting around 5.30 am. The sound is clear, and is well above an acceptable level. I want levels recorded by the environmental health Westminster.
I have grave doubts that any action will be implemented, from experience, nothing will be done.
However all people suffering noise must complain! It is the only chance of anything being done about it, in my opinion.
Who should we complain to?
James,
I am sorry l didn’t get in touch earlier with you. Theses tube noises issues are arising across London and in particular Central London locations like Barons Court.
The problem we have is that TfL do not acknowledge that these are tube noise should be considered as a statutory nuisances particularly when its a public body like itself.
Lets meet up as l also live in Marylebone, so l establish if its coming from Baker St tube or Marylebone, what lines and is it happening during the night tube. We can possible meet at Marylebone station or along Malcombe St, NW1.
Then maybe l can forward your details to a Assembly Member (AM) at City Hall that can raise the issue with the Mayor’s office, who is the ultimate boss for London Underground.
Murad
Murrad,
I also live in Marylebone and noise has gone up exponentially from one day to the next. What used to be one train every so often has gone up to hearing one every 30 seconds. This includes nights and severely impacts my life and sleep.
Happy to discuss further and help draft a common response letter to the mayoral office.
Linde
Linde, l am sorry to hear of your tube noise problems. Where precisely do you live in Marylebone? As we have similar cases in Marylebone Mews and Glentworth St as well. Have you managed to work out which tube line it must be going into Baker St tube station? Murad PS I’ve sent an e-mail as well.
Hi Murad,
I live in Barons Court, and the track running between West Kensington and Barons Court constantly has maintenance works between 2am and 5am. Currently a nightmare during the heatwave! I have left multiple complaints with TfL, and have been told there is “nothing they can do!” These maintenance works occur Monday-Thursday, sometimes every night, and have me exhausted. They usually occur every week, which maintenance teams shouting loudly at each other, using very loud machinery, and putting on bright lights.
Please add this to your map.
Thanks
F
Fatima,
I am sorry l didn’t get in touch earlier with you. Theses tube noises issues are arising across London and in particular Central London locations like Barons Court.
The problem we have is that TfL do not acknowledge that these are tube noise should be considered as a statutory nuisances particularly when its a public body like itself.
Can l forward your details to a Assembly Member (AM) at City Hall that can raise the issue with the Mayor’s office, who is the ultimate boss for London Underground
Murad
Hey Murad,
Its 2am and there’s a massive freight train with HSO written on the side, parked outside my house near Limehouse station.
It has been sat here for about half an hour with its engines running, not moving at all.
Is there anyone I can call in future?
Best
NL
Apols for the delay in responding.
It sounds like your noisy freight train is going along rail tracks rather than tube tracks. So instead of TfL you’ll need to make your complaint to Network Rail.
Sorry l can’t be of more help than that.
Murad
I am really pleased I found this site. I have been struggling with noise from the platform announcements “mind the gap” – Metropolitan Line, at Baker Street. They have increased to an unbearable level. The platform announcements staff are so loud that it is making it difficult for me to be in my own home and do activities such as watch tv, read, sleep or have visitors. The noise from the announcements are incredibly loud and distorted which is evoking feelings of anxiety and distress. This is frustrating and is and affecting my physical and mental health.
I am at a loss at what do as I have exhausted the complaints process. It would be great to connect with anyone else who is experiencing this or similar problems as it is a real issue that TFL need to acknowledge.
Do you live above Baker St in Chiltern Mansions?
I live right by Wembley Central and the train vibrations I can cope with it’s the midnight and all through at different times tannoy announcements I cannot. My young children are being woken up at all hours. My broken sleep I can deal with theirs I can’t. They’re pointless announcements at top whack noise surely even if they are meant for somebody it so quiet that amount of noise is unnecessary. I’m up writing this after having to get my daughter back to sleep twice. It’s awful
I am very sorry to hear that train vibration and tannoy noises are bothering you and your family from Wembley Central. Could you please give me your address, ideally just your post code with do. I think your Assembly Member (AM) for Brent & Harrow – Navin Shah – should be able to help you raise the issue with TfL at least, and clearly your address would be useful to pursue.
Hi Murad,
We have just moved into a property in kentish town (NW5 2HF) and can hear the tube. At first we thought it must be the overground and we’re surprised because we are about 200 metres away from the track, but have realised that due to the times the sound carries on til, it must be tube. And after looking at a geographically accurate tube map and seeing that the tube line is about 40 metres from our house, and also after finding this page, we realise it may be tube vibrations. Quite surprised since never heard the tube line above ground before, and plus i would think being 40 metres away laterally wide be enough (not to mention the fact that the tube should not be causing noise even if it was directly before our house).
Is anything being done about this?
I think I’ll ask my neighbours about this and try and get then to come forward too.
John,
Apologises for the delay in responding.
You should get in touch with your Assembly Member for Camden & Barnet at City Hall. His name is Andrew Dismore and his e-mail address is Andrew.Dismore@london.gov.uk. He will be able to raise you complaint with appropriate person at TfL.
I hope that is useful while you suffer the tube noise nuisance.
Hi Murad,
I live on Balcombe street next to Marylebone station and we have never had any problem at all from tubes ( trains in stations yes but not tubes) about 3 weeks ago we started to near tubes running fast under out house and can hear vibrations even from top floor and feel them too vibrations – what is going on . I have lived here for 8 years and her before have I had the tube to now its every minute. who do I speak to? I feel I am going mad as why didn’t we hear these before 3 weeks ago? nothing has changed in our house.. and its so noticeable you now live with it in your head every 1-2 minutes..
thanks, Kate
Sorry Kat that l did not reply earlier.
Lets meet in the neighbourhood. Maybe for a coffee in Marylebone Railway station and discuss your tube noise issues.
Murad
We are presently looking at property in Ealing and until recently had been unaware of the tube train depot located there. I imagine it’s used for train maintenance which would mean train movements throughout the night. I’d be more than grateful to hear from anyone living around Ealing Common and has had an experience of noise pollution there, especially from the tube train depot.
Thanks in advance for any info.
E.J.