Request ID: FOI-0620-2223 Date published: 01 July 2022
You asked
I wanted to find out what is the level of noise tfl busses have to adhere to, and the if the permitted noise levels are different between different times of the day.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0620-2223
Thank you for your request of 13th June 2022 asking for information about bus noise levels.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I wanted to find out what is the level of noise tfl busses have to adhere to, and the if the permitted noise levels are different between different times of the day.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
The attached pdf document - “CELEX_42018X0798_EN_TXT” - shows the maximum noise level permitted based on vehicle category. All TfL buses fall under the M3 category - so, based on the power rating, it can vary from 76 to 80 decibels. However, note further that depending on the type of vehicle (diesel, hybrid or electric) our own bus specification is that the noise limit has to be 1-3 decibels below these limits, as the following extract from our specification shows:
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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
