TfL Ref: 0567-1920

Thank you for your request received by us on 25 May 2019 asking for information about complaints regarding noise levels experienced by passengers on the Northern Line since June 2018.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:

a list of all complaints - with brief details explaining the complaint - received by TfL in relation to the noise levels passengers hear on the Northern Line since June 1, 2018.

We are aware of the levels of noise on the Northern line, particularly between Euston and Tufnell Park. 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.

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.

A snapshot of how the complaints received can be categorised is provided below:

Core Motivation Explanation Category Explanation Line Owning Line (Station) Station Contact Type
Built environment (on and off-board) Noise Pollution Noise Northern Northern Highgate Underground Station Complaint
Built environment (on and off-board) Noise Pollution Noise Northern Northern Tufnell Park Underground Station Complaint
Built environment (on and off-board) On-board: Built Environment Noise - Non-PA Northern Victoria Euston Complaint

Therefore to provide a more detailed insight of these complaints, a copy of each complaint received within the requested period can be found in the attached file.

Please note that in accordance with TfL’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) some personal data has been removed, as required by regulation 13 of the EIR. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the DPA, specifically the first principle of the DPA which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions of regulation 13 of the Data Protection Act, which would make the processing ‘fair’

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, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, 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

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London

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