TfL Ref: 1459-1819

Thank you for your email received by us on 29 August 2018 asking for information about the new train door sounds on TfL Rail trains.

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 for the following:

The new TfL rail train doors make a loud two-tone sound as they are opening. My request is for information on the testing that has taken place (including dB readings from varying distances) concerning the loudness of this noise and the reason why it has been decided to set the loudness as high as it is.

The audio requirements for the passenger door sounders are set by Appendix G of European legislation 'COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1300/2014 of 18 November 2014 on the technical specifications for interoperability relating to accessibility of the Union's rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility', which specifies a range of 70 dB LAeq,T (+ 6/– 0).

The internal measurement criteria are as follows:

- Tests to be carried out in the vestibule using an averaged reading from a multiple microphone array consisting of 8 microphones evenly spaced around a circle of radius 250 mm;
- Testing to be carried out with the array arranged horizontally with all microphones the same distance above the floor with the average of the readings from all 8 microphones will be used for the assessment.

The internal opening measurements were taken using an array of 8 microphones in the centre of the door vestibule at a height of 1.5 metres above floor level.
The recorded values were as follows:
Opening internal: 73-74 dB
Opening external: 73-75 dB

The external measurement criteria specify:

- Tests to be carried out using an averaged reading from a multiple microphone array consisting of 8 microphones evenly spaced around a circle of radius 250 mm;
- Testing to be carried out with the array arranged horizontally with all microphones the same distance above the platform with the average of the readings from all 8 microphones will be used for the assessment.

The external opening measurements were taken using an array of 8 microphones in the centre of the door vestibule at a height of 1.5 metres above platform level.
The recorded values were as follows:
Closing internal: 73-75 dB
Closing external: 70-71 dB

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