The levels of noise on the Northern Line between Euston and Tufnell Park are beyond the pain threshold and capable of causing permanent hearing loss. Please answer the following questions: 1. What are the highest noise levels in dBA that have been recorded on this line? 2. Is TfL management aware of the discomfort and the danger? 3. Why has TfL not acted to warn passengers of the potential discomfort and danger and to advise them how to protect their hearing when travelling between these stations? 4. How and when will TfL reduce the noise to acceptable, safe levels?

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TfL Ref: FOI-0404-1920

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 8^th May 2019 asking for information about noise levels on the Northern line.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require.

You asked:

“The levels of noise on the Northern Line between Euston and Tufnell Park are beyond the pain threshold and capable of causing permanent hearing loss. Please answer the following questions:

1. What are the highest noise levels in dBA that have been recorded on this line?

2. Is TfL management aware of the discomfort and the danger?

3. Why has TfL not acted to warn passengers of the potential discomfort and danger and to advise them how to protect their hearing when travelling between these stations?

4. How and when will TfL reduce the noise to acceptable, safe levels?”

Your questions are answered in turn below:

1. The following table shows measurements recorded in June 2018 as part of an assessment of noise levels on the Northern line:

Interstation section	LAeq dB (A)	LCpeak dB (C)
Euston to Mornington Crescent	86.3	114.1
Mornington Crescent to Camden Town	81.7	109.1
Camden Town to Kentish Town	89.2	119.3
Kentish Town to Tufnell Park	90.9	118.6
Tufnell Park to Kentish Town	81.3	108.8
Kentish Town to Camden Town	87.9	115.0
Camden Town to Mornington Crescent	78.1	109.7
Mornington Crescent to Euston	85.5	115.6

LAeq is the equivalent A-weighted sound pressure level; LCpeak is the peak sound pressure.

2. We are aware of the levels of noise on this section of line and while acknowledging that this may cause some discomfort for passengers we refute the suggestions it is dangerous. The noise exposures, while high for the network, still fall well below the Lower Exposure Action Value threshold from the Noise at Work Regulations 2005. We do, however, continue to investigate ways that we can mitigate the noise experienced by customers in tunnels.

3. While we accept some discomfort may be caused, we refute the suggestion that the noise levels are dangerous.

4. Engineering options to reduce noise levels inside London Underground’s tunnels are limited. TfL undertakes assessments on specific track sections where noise levels are reported as a concern, and wherever possible completes appropriate noise-reducing works. There are sections of track on the Northern line with corrugation (high rail roughness), and therefore the wheel-rail interface rolling contact may cause higher levels of noise. We maintain a rail grinding programme to address areas of highly corrugated track, but this can only achieve temporary improvements. One particular effect of corrugation on the rail is that the energy created causes noise that can be heard in residential properties. To address this we have  used a track dampening system which has significantly lowered the noise levels recorded in local homes but created uncomfortable noise being experienced by our customers as a result.

Anyone affected by noise can contact TfL’s dedicated customer services line, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the link below:

https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/

If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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