TfL Ref: 1202-1819

Thank you for your email received by us on 30 July 2018 asking for information about noise levels on London Underground’s Northern line.

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

1. Do you hold a record of any noise level monitoring taking place on the Northern Line between South Wimbledon and Morden Stations for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018 (a 3 month period)

Please find attached a copy of the Technical Report which provides further details.

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’.

2. If you do hold a record of any noise level monitoring on the Northern Line between South Wimbledon and Morden Stations then for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018:
a. How many times did noise level recording take place

This occurred on four occasions.

b. What was the highest recorded noise level (in decibels please)

This was 113.4dB(C).

3. Do you hold a record of any complaints made by your own employees (or workers, or contractors) about the noise levels on the entirety of the Northern Line for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018? If so, how many in total?

There were no complaints received by our employees during 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018 concerning this matter.

4. Do you hold a record of a “plan” from the Engineers referred too by Derek Wilson in his correspondence to me (dated 30 July 2018).

We plan to install a different rail pad under the resilient track fastenings and are currently undertaking this work and assessing how successful it is. We are also looking at other technologies to see how effective they could be in reducing noise levels on the Northern line in the long-term.

5. What is the “short duration” definition used by TFL for the purpose of quantifying the length of time that an excessive high decibel noise is acceptable and not impairing health or hearing (I reference to Derek Wilson’s statement about “short duration” and relationship to “hearing damage”, which I am assuming has an evidential basis)?

The Government’s Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Control of Noise at Work Regulations have limits for noise over an eight hour period, as well as peak limits. The period of high noise between South Wimbledon and Morden is approximately 20 seconds. As detailed in the attached report, noise levels are below the Lower Exposure Action Value and the drivers are not at any risk of reaching or exceeding the Upper Exposure Action Value.

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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